using regsvr32

[mitaliano]

In my job I test software applications. To make it easier for me to reinstall new builds I wrote a batch file to unregister the dlls used by one of our apps. (it will not uninstall otherwise) The batch file is very simple: "regsvr32 -u c:\....filename.dll" I would like to convert this to a visual basic 6 application. Clicking a command button to do what the batch file does, another command button to exit and a couple of labels. Should be really simple but I am stuck. I have tried the shell execute function to run regsvr32, I get no error messages but it doesn't work. For something this simple should I be able to use the open command? Nothing I have tried so far appears to work. eg: open "regsvr32.exe -u <path> for binary as #1
Close#1" That statement gives me a whole host of syntex and compile errors. Any suggestions?

thanks,
Myra

[Matthew Gates]

Looks like you are using the wrong parameter the wrong way.

Shell "RegSvr32 /u C:\...filename", 1

And if your wanting to put it into a batch file...

Private Sub Command1_Click()
    Open "C:\RegBat.bat" For Output As #1
        Print #1, "@ECHO OFF"
        Print #1, "@RegSvr32 /u C:\...filename"
    Close #1
    
    DoEvents
 
    Shell "C:\RegBat.bat"
End Sub

[rudgej]

Try this link. It shows you how to register and un-register ActiveX controls using VB.

[Jerry Grant]

'// These are API calls reqired for registering/unregistering ActiveX DLLs & OCXs   //
Declare Function LoadLibraryRegister _
        Lib "kernel32" Alias "LoadLibraryA" _
        (ByVal lpLibFileName As String) As Long
  
Declare Function CreateThreadForRegister _
        Lib "kernel32" Alias "CreateThread" _
        (lpThreadAttributes As Any, ByVal dwStackSize _
        As Long, ByVal lpStartAddress As Long, _
        ByVal lParameter As Long, ByVal dwCreationFlags As Long, _
        lpThreadID As Long) As Long
   
Declare Function WaitForSingleObject _
        Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hHandle As Long, _
        ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) As Long
   
Declare Function GetProcAddressRegister _
        Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetProcAddress" _
        (ByVal hModule As Long, ByVal lpProcName As String) _
        As Long

Declare Function FreeLibraryRegister Lib _
        "kernel32" Alias "FreeLibrary" (ByVal hLibModule As Long) _
        As Long

Declare Function CloseHandle Lib "kernel32" _
        (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long

Declare Function GetExitCodeThread Lib "kernel32" _
        (ByVal hThread As Long, lpExitCode As Long) As Long

Declare Sub ExitThread Lib "kernel32" _
        (ByVal dwExitCode As Long)


Private Function RegSvr32(ByVal FileName As String, bUnReg As _
   Boolean) As Boolean

Dim lLib As Long
Dim lProcAddress As Long
Dim lThreadID As Long
Dim lSuccess As Long
Dim lExitCode As Long
Dim lThread As Long
Dim bAns As Boolean
Dim sPurpose As String

sPurpose = IIf(bUnReg, "DllUnregisterServer", _
  "DllRegisterServer")

If Dir(FileName) = "" Then Exit Function

lLib = LoadLibraryRegister(FileName)
'could load file
If lLib = 0 Then Exit Function

lProcAddress = GetProcAddressRegister(lLib, sPurpose)

If lProcAddress = 0 Then
  'Not an ActiveX Component
   FreeLibraryRegister lLib
   Exit Function
Else
   lThread = CreateThreadForRegister(ByVal 0&, 0&, ByVal lProcAddress, ByVal 0&, 0&, lThread)
   If lThread Then
        lSuccess = (WaitForSingleObject(lThread, 10000) = 0)
        If Not lSuccess Then
           Call GetExitCodeThread(lThread, lExitCode)
           Call ExitThread(lExitCode)
           bAns = False
           Exit Function
        Else
           bAns = True
        End If
        CloseHandle lThread
        FreeLibraryRegister lLib
   End If
End If
    RegSvr32 = bAns
End Function

[mitaliano]

Thanks! I tried

Shell "RegSvr32 /u C:\...filename", 1

and it works like a charm. I did not realize you could use Shell. I had been trying to call the api function shellexecute and it kept getting more and more complicated.

The only thing I needed to add was a /s switch to suppress the message boxes from regsvr.

Myra

[nobair]

I have been having a problem on my winME PC at home. When I logout of a windows session I get an application error for the regsvr32 saying that the program has errored and will now close. If I don't OK this before too long the PC hangs up until manually shut down.

I know that this regsvr32 program is supposed to be cleaning up dll info in the registry (correct?) and runs at logout/shutdown and that it is a system application, so I have not tried to replace it with any other version.

Has anyone had this problem before or does anyong have any idea what is going wrong? I would really appreciate it if you could help.

Thanks,

nobair

[gdebacker]

An even better way...

You will love this. I don't know who came up wtih this or who
wrote the reg file. This reg file will add items to the Explore right
click menu that will allow you to register and unregister ocx and
dll files.

This forum won't let me upload *.reg files so I've included the
contents of the file below. Copy the contents below and then
paste them into a new text document in NotePad. Save the file
with a REG extention (e.g. Adddll.reg) and then double click on it
in Explorer.

For now on you can right click on ocx and dll files to register them
and unregister them.

REGEDIT4
; This adds the ability to Right-Click on a .dll or .ocx
; and get the Register / UnRegister options.

; ==========
; .DLL files
; ==========

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dll]
"Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"
@="dllfile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile]
@="Application Extension"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\Shell\Register\command]
@="regsvr32.exe \"%1\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\Shell\UnRegister\command]\
@="regsvr32.exe /u \"%1\""

; ==========
; .OCX files
; ==========

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.ocx]
@="ocxfile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ocxfile]
@="OCX"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ocxfile\Shell\Register\command]
@="regsvr32.exe \"%1\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ocxfile\Shell\UnRegister\command]
@="regsvr32.exe /u \"%1\""

; End

Greg

[nobair]

Thanks, gdebacker! This is awesome!

This leads me to two more questions.

1. How do I stop regsvr32 firing when windows closes?

2. How can I change this to make my own right click menu entries?
I think it would be cool to create a 'Goto ->' menu option with a sub menu of shortcuts that take you to your DIR destination when opening a file from a program (other than Explorer). That way I wouldn't have to spend so much time climbing down a DIR path when attaching an email or going to a network path to open a file in XL.

Could you suggest a reference for this 'Registry Programming' stuff or do you have anything up your sleve?????


Anticipatingly Thankful,

Nobair

[gdebacker]

1. How do I stop regsvr32 firing when windows closes?

2. How can I change this to make my own right click menu entries? I think it would be cool to create a 'Goto ->' menu option with a sub menu of shortcuts that take you to your DIR destination when opening a file from a program (other than Explorer). That way I wouldn't have to spend so much time climbing down a DIR path when attaching an email or going to a network path to open a file in XL.

Have know Idea why regsvr32 is running when you close. You
can look at the Maintance Wizard to see if it is doing it. You could
also try the MSConfig program to see if it is loading it, or scan the
registry to see if you can find a place that it is being loaded from.

As for number 2, you could try my Control Freak program (forgive me for promoting my own application) it allows you to setup a QuickList for folders, files, zip files, ftp sites, ect.. I am working on an upgrade now but the current version is quite useful. http://windsweptsoftware.com

Greg

[nobair]

The ControlFreak program is good. I am now using it instead of using different interfaces for the all of the apps that it includes.

However, this doesn't really address the idea that I have about adding a menu item to the right click menu to allow the user to go to a directory when opening a file from another application, like Word.
EXAMPLE: Open word, select open file, right click empty (white) space in file dialog box, select 'Goto ->' from context menu, select DIR destination MyFiles from sub menu, open file dialog goes to that dir, select the file without having to explor the entire path.

Can I do this somehow (maybe I should start a new thread)?


I would really appreciate any information I can get about this.


nobair