[VB6] TaskDialogIndirect - Complete class implementation of Vista+ Task Dialogs

[fafalone]

On some versions of Windows for some configurations, manifests are ignored if they aren't embedded. I had to embed mine in vb6.exe to get comctl6 stuff in the IDE as well. First, to be sure you need to, you named it VB6.EXE.manifest correct? And it was just a plain text file, with the contents of the manifest, and not the .res file, and the file size (*not* size on disk, just the actual file size) is a multiple of 4 bytes (add spaces if not)?

If everything seems fine with the external manifest, you can follow these steps to embed it in the VB6 exe instead:

-FIRST, MAKE A BACKUP COPY OF VB6.EXE. You don't want to have to reinstall if there's an issue.

-Download and install the free, no ads or anything weird, Resource Hacker tool.

-Launch it (as administrator for VB6 since it's in \Program Files (x86)), go to File->Open and choose VB6.EXE from the file dialog.

-Under the Action menu, select 'Add using script template'

-In the dialog that pops up, choose MANIFEST from the dropdown, then click Add

-You'll see the manifest text appear in the editor on the right; replace the default text with the manifest you're using (the default one RH inserts has dpi awareness enabled, which you likely don't want, although cTaskDialog is dpi aware if you do).

-The 3rd icon from the right on the tool bar is a green arrow. Click that to compile the resource.

-File->Save

You'll now have access to the task dialog as well as Visual Styles in the IDE.

[VanGoghGaming]

I see that you've expanded a bit the instructions for including a manifest after your previous failure to get your point across in the other thread! Just having a laugh!

This is a one-liner method to include the manifest into vb6.exe that I've been using successfully:

mt.exe -manifest vb6.exe.manifest -outputresource:vb6.exe;#1

[loquat]

I don't believe making a whole new class for interfaces is more efficient, no. I'll add notes to the other 2 about not calling them, only one has that now.

i have ever seen a EventInterface demo by VANJA ****AR.

[Mith]

Maybe this info helps:

When searching for a win32 side-by-side manifest Windows chooses embedded manifest over any external manifests (*.manifest files). This behaviour can be controlled by a registry setting. To change manifest priority edit the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SideBySide, add a DWORD value PreferExternalManifest and set it to 1.

[Nanni]

Hi
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
I used Mith's information, modifying the registry, because I didn't want to modify the VB6 executable.
Now I can run "TaskDialogIndirect" in Vb6 ide without any problems

Thanks to all for support

[nebeln]

Didn't work for me with the resource hacker. Couldn't save the file.
and now ending up with this..'
Attachment 188917

[fafalone]

Once again, however you're posting attachments is broken and unfortunately it's a known issue but the site owners seem uninterested in fixing it. So I can't see whatever is in what you attached.

But you need to run Resource Hacker as administror like anything else that writes to Program Files... I'll add that. Should probably have included it the first time. My bad.

[VanGoghGaming]

You just copy "vb6.exe" to another location, manifest it and then overwrite the one in "Program "Files". Explorer will ask permission to elevate so that it can overwrite it. You can also keep the manifested copy as a backup for the future.

Also attachments work fine if you click the "Manage Attachments" button and then "Insert Inline". That's how I've always done it.

[nebeln]

This is not working well for me. Whether I do as you explain or if I use a mainfest with name of VB6.Exe in its working directory VB6 throws "Side-by-side" errors and I have also done the change in the registry which was told to eliminate the "side-by-side" error.

[VanGoghGaming]

Sounds like incorrect settings inside the manifest file.

[nebeln]

Can you post out a correct manifest?

[Mith]

Here is the content of my VB6.exe manifest:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity
    version="1.0.0.0"
    processorArchitecture="X86"
    name="Microsoft.VisualBasic6.IDE"
    type="win32"
/>
<description>Microsoft Visual Basic 6 IDE</description>
<dependency>
    <dependentAssembly>
        <assemblyIdentity
            type="win32"
            name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
            version="6.0.0.0"
            processorArchitecture="X86"
            publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
            language="*"
        />
    </dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>

file size: 680 bytes

[VanGoghGaming]

You want a manifest that adds the modern theme as well: VB6.EXE.manifest.zip

[nebeln]

Thanx!! Now its working. I had a faulty manifest.

[Tech99]

Maybe this info helps:

For the 32-bit builds, correct registry hive is Wow6432Node:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SideBySide
PreferExternalManifest"=dword:00000001

[Crapahute]

Hi,
With the demo, I try to use an icon file for the buttons but I only get 32x32 icons. The 16x16 is stretch to 32x32. Any idea ?

Here is what I've done :

Private Sub Command16_Click()
Dim hIcon1 As LongPtr, hIcon2 As LongPtr
hIcon1 = ResIconToHICON("ICO_CLOCK", 16, 16)
'hIcon2 = ResIconToHICON("ICO_HEART", 32, 32)
'hIcon2 = ResIconToHICON("ICO_HEART", 16, 16)

' My test :
Dim b() As Byte
b = LoadIcoFile("ICO_HEART.ico")
hIcon2 = IconToHICON(b, 16, 16)


With TaskDialog1
    .Init
    .MainInstruction = "Look at the pretty icons."
    .IconMain = TD_SHIELD_GRADIENT_ICON
    .Title = "cTaskDialog Project"
'    .Flags = TDF_USE_COMMAND_LINKS_NO_ICON
    .CommonButtons = TDCBF_CLOSE_BUTTON Or TDCBF_NO_BUTTON
    .AddCustomButton 103, "Button 1", hIcon2
    .AddCustomButton 102, "Button 2"
    .SetCommonButtonIcon TDCBF_NO_BUTTON, hIcon1
    .ShowDialog
Call DestroyIcon(hIcon1)

    Label1.Caption = "ID of button clicked: " & .ResultMain
End With
End Sub

[fafalone]

Not sure I can help without seeing the alternative functions you're using. The demo with the included functions I can't reproduce:



Those 32x32s clearly aren't scaled. Are you experiencing the same issue with the included ResIconToHICON function, or just your own LoadIcoFile/IconToHICON?


Edit: You can use this... add to mTDSample.bas:

Public Enum ImageTypes
  IMAGE_BITMAP = 0
  IMAGE_ICON = 1
  IMAGE_CURSOR = 2
  IMAGE_ENHMETAFILE = 3
End Enum
Public Enum LoadResourceFlags
  LR_DEFAULTCOLOR = &H0
  LR_MONOCHROME = &H1
  LR_COLOR = &H2
  LR_COPYRETURNORG = &H4
  LR_COPYDELETEORG = &H8
  LR_LOADFROMFILE = &H10
  LR_LOADTRANSPARENT = &H20
  LR_DEFAULTSIZE = &H40
  LR_VGACOLOR = &H80
  LR_LOADMAP3DCOLORS = &H1000
  LR_CREATEDIBSECTION = &H2000
  LR_COPYFROMRESOURCE = &H4000
  LR_SHARED = &H8000&
End Enum

Public Declare PtrSafe Function LoadImageW Lib "user32" (ByVal hInst As LongPtr, ByVal lpsz As LongPtr, ByVal dwImageType As ImageTypes, ByVal dwDesiredWidth As Long, ByVal dwDesiredHeight As Long, ByVal dwFlags As LoadResourceFlags) As LongPtr

Then

hIcon1 = LoadImageW(0, StrPtr(App.Path & "\ICO_CLOCK.ico"), IMAGE_ICON, 32, 32, LR_LOADFROMFILE)
hIcon2 = LoadImageW(0, StrPtr(App.Path & "\ICO_HEART.ico"), IMAGE_ICON, 32, 32, LR_LOADFROMFILE)

[Crapahute]

I use LoadIcoFile and IconToHICON which you provided in mTDSample.
I am under Windows 11 and I encounter what I describe above (#216)

Now with the changes you suggested, it works. Thank you.

PS: ResIconToHICON worked from the start.

[fafalone]

Ah forgot I even had that in there... I'll have to look at where it's differing from ResIconToHICON, must be a small typo somewhere.

Glad it's working for you now.

[Crapahute]

Hi,
I can't use some shell32/imageres icons. For example number 228 in imageres which is "update" (double circled arrows) does not display. I tried all icons in a loop from 0 to 328 and lots of icons can't be used. Is it normal ?

[fafalone]

What Windows version? Windows 10 imageres does not have a 228; it has 2-198 (with some missing), then a few from each of the 1000s-6000s.

I found one like you describe at 1401 but it displays fine:




There may be some confusion here... the code expects the icon *id*, not the index. Like the one that comes after 198 might be displayed by some programs at '199' as in the 199th icon, but it's ID is 1001 (for the imageres.dll on Win10 1809, anyway), and everything in between would be invalid.

[Crapahute]

Ooops, sorry, silly me. You're right I thought it was index.
Thanks a lot.

[fafalone]

No worries, can't know about these kinds of issues until you first encounter them. I still get confused sometimes with how to reference resources.

[Vibraleg]

Hi Fafalone

First of all, congratulations for the great programming.
I use Task Dialod taken from the site

https://www.accessui.com/Products/VBATaskDialog

because I work with Access.
Is fantastic.
With your new version:
1) Can I use your code directly in Access?
2) When opening a message in access from a pop-up window the message does not remain active. Has the problem been resolved?
3) do you think the AccessUI programmers will provide an update (based on yours?).

Thanks in advance

Lorenzo

[fafalone]

Yes, it can be used. I dropped the new code into the existing AccessUI demos from the downloads (mTDHelper.bas contents replace basTaskDialogGlobal-- remember because of the bug it must remain in the .bas, you can't move that code to the class), it mostly works, but it will need some very minor updates to work with existing code like the Demos:

-There used to be a bug where the DialogCreated event had Long instead of LongPtr for an hWnd; that bug has been fixed so a number of samples (especially the ProgressBar ones) need updating (unless you don't need to retain x64 compatibility).


-The AccessUI version defines the following custom button IDs:

    TDCBF_ABORT_BUTTON = 65536
    TDCBF_IGNORE_BUTTON = 131072
    TDCBF_TRYAGAIN_BUTTON = 262144
    TDCBF_CONTINUE_BUTTON = 524288
    '// Note: Clicking the "Help" button will not close the dialog, but will
    '// raise the TaskDialogPage.Help event.
    'Crashes Access
    TDCBF_HELP_BUTTON = 16384    '104857

(in the same enum as the other TBCBF_ values)

The Help custom button still crashes Access; no idea what's going on there, it appears to be some undocumented feature I've never seen. Will investigate.


In good news. the two red ones Icons on Buttons and Icons on Command Buttons listed as crashing Access no longer appear to do so. Maybe it was the same init issue?


One final note:


-If you copy/paste from the tB IDE, the class has exposed hidden attributes since tB doesn't hide them; you'll need to either comment out 'Attribute VB_MemberFlags...' lines and optionally redo the properties, or delete the existing one and load the new .cls from disk.


For (2), this is the first I've heard of something like this, can you provide more details?

For (3), now that it's already x64 compatible and works in Access, I don't know that there's anything for AccessUI to do. I'm not involved with their version, didn't even know about it until last year when I revisited the project for twinBASIC. Which is fine, nobody needs to inform me of using my code, it just means I don't have any insight to what their plans are. If they want to do an update, it's up to them. They put a lot of original effort into making their port. I suppose a note that since their version doesn't work in other Office products, those who wish to use cTaskDialog in Excel etc should check out my update, would be appreciated, but in no way required.

[Vibraleg]

I downloaded but the date still refers to 2020.
what do you think?

[fafalone]

Downloaded from where? The one attached to the first post of this thread and the one on my GitHub are the correct, recent update. It mentions 2020 as that was the last feature update, but should mention 2023 on the next line for the x64 port and recent bug fix/VBA compat update:

'************************************************************
'cTaskDialog v1.3.8 Universal Compatibility Version
'by Jon Johnson (aka fafalone)
'[email protected]
'
'Originally Released 21 March 2020
'x64 Version released 21 October 2022; update 30 Sep 2023
'************************************************************

If that's what you have at the top of cTaskDialog.cls, you're good to go.

Edit:

For convenience, I'll attach the modified VBATaskDialog64 201015.accdb and associated files I was using to test it earlier, with an additional copy of the zip file in this thread I've checked to be correct.

[Vibraleg]

many many thx... i'll try
Lorenzo

[Vibraleg]

hi fafalone, I'm trying the downloaded file. I'm encountering some errors. even unexpected closures.
Would you like feedback on errors?
I'm trying with ACCESS/OFFICE365 64 bit.

Let me know

Lorenzo

[fafalone]

Is it the same version of Office where the AccessUI one is working?

I was testing on regular Office Pro 2021 64bit. It's possible if yours is an earlier/later version it's having trouble with a file saved by 2021; have you tried it in a new project?

But yes, absolutely if you could detail the errors, and include exactly which version of Office/Access, and Windows, you're on, and I'll install it on a VM to try to replicate if neccesary. If it comes to that, can't guarantee I'll get to it today though, might need a day or two.

[Vibraleg]

At home i use:
Microsoft® Access® per Microsoft 365 MSO (Versione 2310 Build 16.0.16924.20054) a 64 bit
OS: Windows 11 Home
Version:22H2
Build:22621.2715

tomorrow i'll start test at work. (Office 365 and W10)

i'll send you report with problems

Many thx

Lorenzo

[Vibraleg]

Attachment 189414

tomorrow i'll test "really advanced"

[Vibraleg]

second report
Attachment 189418

[fafalone]

Both attachments are invalid... VBForums has a long-standing bug where attachments don't work if posted certain ways. Can you describe in text, attach as a file, or send by email?

[Vibraleg]

Both attachments are invalid... VBForums has a long-standing bug where attachments don't work if posted certain ways. Can you describe in text, attach as a file, or send by email?

i just send you 2 mail

tell me if you see that!
thx

[fafalone]

I got them. Will take a look later today.

[fafalone]

So with the errors you reported... hope you don't mind me addressing them here so others can benefit:

-All AppTitle errors are due to a missing customization outside cTaskDialog; AccessUI had placed Public Const AppTitle As String = "TaskDialog Samples" in the helper module. You can add that to any .bas in the project.

-TD_TRYAGAIN and TD_CONTINUE are custom values added by AccessUI, they're not part of my original cTaskDialog or the TaskDialog API. You can add them back in:

TD_TRYAGAIN = 10
TD_CONTINUE = 11

You'll also need the custom button IDs from post #225.

-For SW_SHOWNORMAL, it appears AccessUI made a private enum public. I do not recommend this. Instead, add this to one of the .bas modules:

Public Enum SHOWWINDOW
    SW_HIDE = 0
    SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1
    SW_NORMAL = 1
    SW_SHOWMINIMIZED = 2
    SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED = 3
    SW_MAXIMIZE = 3
    SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE = 4
    SW_SHOW = 5
    SW_MINIMIZE = 6
    SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE = 7
    SW_SHOWNA = 8
    SW_RESTORE = 9
    SW_SHOWDEFAULT = 10
End Enum

-For the errors with hIcon2, this relates to a bug fixed in a subsequent version. They should be LongPtr, not Long.

-For the MB_ERROR issue, AccessUI has the follow in a bas (add on stuff unrelated to cTD)

Public Declare PtrSafe Function MessageBeep Lib "user32" (ByVal wType As SysBeeps) As Long
Public Enum SysBeeps
    MB_DEFAULTBEEP = -1    ' the default beep sound
    MB_ERROR = 16         ' for critical errors/problems
    MB_WARNING = 48       ' for conditions that might cause problems in the future
    MB_INFORMATION = 64   ' for informative messages only
    MB_QUESTION = 32      ' (no longer recommended to be used)
End Enum

-For the SHGFI_SMALLICON, add the following to a bas (do not use theirs, it has several errors that you can get away with strictly as used, but it's a bad idea, because people (or you, for another use) will copy the code and have problems):

Private Const MAX_PATH = 260
Public Type SHFILEINFO   ' shfi
  hIcon As LongPtr
  iIcon As Long
  dwAttributes As Long
  szDisplayName(MAX_PATH - 1) As Integer
  szTypeName(79) As Integer
End Type
Public Enum SHGFI_flags
  SHGFI_LARGEICON = &H0            ' sfi.hIcon is large icon
  SHGFI_SMALLICON = &H1            ' sfi.hIcon is small icon
  SHGFI_OPENICON = &H2              ' sfi.hIcon is open icon
  SHGFI_SHELLICONSIZE = &H4      ' sfi.hIcon is shell size (not system size), rtns BOOL
  SHGFI_PIDL = &H8                        ' pszPath is pidl, rtns BOOL
  ' Indicates that the function should not attempt to access the file specified by pszPath.
  ' Rather, it should act as if the file specified by pszPath exists with the file attributes
  ' passed in dwFileAttributes. This flag cannot be combined with the SHGFI_ATTRIBUTES,
  ' SHGFI_EXETYPE, or SHGFI_PIDL flags <---- !!!
  SHGFI_USEFILEATTRIBUTES = &H10   ' pretend pszPath exists, rtns BOOL
  SHGFI_ADDOVERLAYS = &H20
  SHGFI_OVERLAYINDEX = &H40 'Return overlay index in upper 8 bits of iIcon.
  SHGFI_ICON = &H100                    ' fills sfi.hIcon, rtns BOOL, use DestroyIcon
  SHGFI_DISPLAYNAME = &H200    ' isf.szDisplayName is filled (SHGDN_NORMAL), rtns BOOL
  SHGFI_TYPENAME = &H400          ' isf.szTypeName is filled, rtns BOOL
  SHGFI_ATTRIBUTES = &H800         ' rtns IShellFolder::GetAttributesOf  SFGAO_* flags
  SHGFI_ICONLOCATION = &H1000   ' fills sfi.szDisplayName with filename
                                                        ' containing the icon, rtns BOOL
  SHGFI_EXETYPE = &H2000            ' rtns two ASCII chars of exe type
  SHGFI_SYSICONINDEX = &H4000   ' sfi.iIcon is sys il icon index, rtns hImagelist
  SHGFI_LINKOVERLAY = &H8000&    ' add shortcut overlay to sfi.hIcon
  SHGFI_SELECTED = &H10000        ' sfi.hIcon is selected icon
  SHGFI_ATTR_SPECIFIED = &H20000    ' get only attributes specified in sfi.dwAttributes
End Enum
Public Declare PtrSafe Function SHGetFileInfoW Lib "shell32" (ByVal pszPath As Any, ByVal dwFileAttributes As Long, psfi As SHFILEINFO, ByVal cbFileInfo As Long, ByVal uFlags As SHGFI_flags) As LongPtr
Public Function GetSystemImagelist(uSize As Long) As LongPtr
    Dim sfi                             As SHFILEINFO
    Dim wd                              As String
    wd = Environ("WINDIR")
    wd = Left(wd, 3)
    ' Any valid file system path can be used to retrieve system image list handles.
    GetSystemImagelist = SHGetFileInfoW(ByVal StrPtr(wd), 0, sfi, Len(sfi), SHGFI_SYSICONINDEX Or uSize)
End Function

NOTE: System image list index values change from version to version. The values they chose are not valid on Windows 10. You'd need to find new icon indexes to use.


----

So all of these are related to customizations made by AccessUI. I won't be updating my copies with their custom buttons, the rest is outside cTaskDialog.

The only one I couldn't address right now is the issue with FindCode; I can't reproduce it. The code button works fine for me in all cases. Since that's exclusively VBA stuff, might need to consult the VBA experts.

[Little John]

Hello,
is it possible to display the DialogBox in the middle of the window and not the screen?

[jpbro]

I haven't tested it, but try setting the .ParentHwnd property to the Hwnd of the window you want to center over.

[Mith]

Hello,
is it possible to display the DialogBox in the middle of the window and not the screen?

ParenthWnd property = form hWnd