Problems using VB with Win98 ...
WinXp/VB6. I'm writing my app in WinXp, and went to work on another computer that has Win98 and ran into a few unxpected problems.
-My main form and all its controls are default tan colored on the WinXP machine, but come out medium gray on the Win98 machine. Is this something I need to code for if the app is to be used by others (specifically coloring controls?), or will the .exe. compensate for this (I am currently in design mode on both machines).
-I have .gif images stored in Imagelist controls. The XP machine displays them without fault, but the Win98 machine doesn't recognize some of them (and some it does). ?
-A jet database is accessed directly by VB. On the XP machine, this works great, but the Win98 machine says it doesn't recognize this type of DB format. Additional info: I'm using DAO 3.6 on XP, and for some reason can't seem to get it to work on Win98 machine, even though I put the .dll file in the proper directory. It WILL let me reference DAO 3.51, and this allows the app to function. Should I stick with DAO 3.51 so it will work on all platforms (my DB needs are minimal), or will the .exe also take care of this? (I realize this is a DB question-sorry)
Hmmm ... sorry for long-windedness ... confused.
Any help appreciated.
Shannon
[1344 byte] By [
Shannon] at [2007-11-11 8:46:12]
# 1 Re: Problems using VB with Win98 ...
Shannon -
- Sorry to say, the nicely colored (and shaped) controls generated by WinXP are a function of the operating system itself (specifically, its version of the common controls library). This version is licensed ONLY for WinXP and cannot be distributed with your app. Probably wouldn't work under W98 anyway.
- There is really no way to make the screen shown in XP look the same under W98 (unless you make them all look like W98, which you can do!).
- As far as data access is concerned, I am not familiar enough with the versional differences of DAO to give you any kind of answer. Simplistically, if you find a version that works under both Windows, use it (although in theory later version of software are supposed to be backwards compatible enough to meet any minimal need...you may actually have a different issue altogether than simply the version of DAO).
Sigid at 2007-11-11 17:25:04 >
# 2 Re: Problems using VB with Win98 ...
When you put this app on a machine, do you have a setup to install it? It sounds like your just dropping a dll and a EXE on the machine, and then running it.
Installing a current version of MDAC will put the proper database files on the target machine.
And Sigid is right about the colors and look for Win98. Gray is the default. If you want anything else, you need to code for it. XP can be themed pretty easy with a .manifest file (to get the XP theme look). No luck with Win9x. (or any nonXP OS).
# 3 Re: Problems using VB with Win98 ...
Thanks guys, to both of you for your responses. And yes, Eric, even less than 'just dropping' the .exe on the machine, I was just using VB in design mode (I was just intending to do some work on basement computer when I noticed the probs). I figured correctly installing the app might make a difference, which was my next move, but I don't yet have any experience there, so was putting it off for now. :)
Thanks to both of you again. Some things to think about.
