Hi,

I am writing an ActiveX DLL to be used from with a spreadsheet.

I want to distribute the DLL to customers (along with the spreadsheet) so that when they open the spreadsheet, it references the DLL.

In development of the DLL, I am using VB6. When I compile the DLL, VB registers it on my PC, so that it is ready for use by VBA in Excel.

However, if I just send the DLL to someone else, how do they go about registering it on *their* PC so that they can use it too?

Is there a quick and painless way for them to effectively "install" the DLL? If so, please can you tell me what it is?

Many thanks.

James

Yes, tell them they need to copy the DLL to the WINDOWS\SYSTEM (or WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder in NT/2K/XP) and click Start, Run and type REGSVR32 YourDllName.DLL and then click OK

Regards
Owain Williams

Great. Thanks, Owain.

Do you know is there is a utility that would automate that process for them?

If so, where do I get it? Or, do I need to write it? If so, how? (!)

Thanks.

James

Use the Application Setup Wizard bundled with VB6 and just add the DLL to the install set. Note that you may need to include the Visual Basic run-time DLL's for it to run correctly on their system. The VB run-time components they need are:

MSVBVM50.DLL
StdOle2.TLB
OleAut32.DLL
OlePro32.DLL
AsycFilt.DLL
Ctl3D32.DLL
ComCat.DLL

And any other dependencies you may need (e.g ADO, DAO, other components etc.)

Regards
Owain Williams

You may also be able to download a free copy of Install Shield (from Download.com perhaps?) The VB Setup Wizard is a bit crap if you ask me. I use Wise Installer, but you have to pay for that.

Regards
Owain Williams

hi there.. you can try making a bat for him.. and telling him to run it..

or writte a program that only register it (but it would be more complicated...)

HTH...


Gonzalo Bianchi

you can download a trial version of InstallShield from their web site: http://www.installshield.com/downloads/

Regards
Owain Williams