Using a .NET assembly in a VB6 application

[Henke]

Hi!

Is it possible to use a .NET assembly in a VB6 application? We have an old
VB application to which we'd like to add a new module, no communication is
needed to the old app. Is it possible to develop it using VB.NET and then
use/call it in the VB6 application.

Thnaks in advance!
/Henke

 

[Armin Zingler]

Is it possible to use a .NET assembly in a VB6 application? We have
an old VB application to which we'd like to add a new module, no
communication is needed to the old app. Is it possible to develop it
using VB.NET and then use/call it in the VB6 application.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/cpguide/html/cpconexposingnetframeworkcomponentstocom.asp

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Yes you can create a com+ component and then just call it from vb6

Stu

 

[Henke]

That looks nice, calling methods and returng values from a .NET class looks
like it would work.
I'm not good at COM+ so sorry for asking:
Can my COM+ objects have a user interface?

/Henke

 

[CJ Taylor]

I gotta question about this, and it may sound incredibly dumb but I don't
understand how the interop works. Or at least confused.

Given that its managed code that simply exposes a com interface, would it be
correct in saying that if you built an Active X control it would require the
CLR?

Or can you build an ActiveX Control with .NET?

 

[Ken Tucker [MVP]]

Hi,

Use regasm.exe
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...ml/cpgrfassemblyregistrationtoolregasmexe.asp

Ken

 

[Armin Zingler]

I gotta question about this, and it may sound incredibly dumb but I
don't understand how the interop works. Or at least confused.

Given that its managed code that simply exposes a com interface,
would it be correct in saying that if you built an Active X control
it would require the CLR?

yes, it would, but...

Or can you build an ActiveX Control with .NET?

....no, you can't. At least there is no "built-in" way. I'm not sure but I
think a link has already been posted that could take you to a "work-around".
I didn't follow it, so everybody else can say more about it.

 

[Armin Zingler]

That looks nice, calling methods and returng values from a .NET class
looks like it would work.
I'm not good at COM+ so sorry for asking:
Can my COM+ objects have a user interface?

See my reply to CJ. Or short: I'm almost sure that they can't. You might
pass a window handle to the COMponent and use it to paint on it, but that's
all I can say.

 

[CJ Taylor]

Fair enough, I appreicate the reply. I had somene ask me abuot this and I
didn't know how to give the answer since I have yet to develop and ActiveX
application since leaving VB6.

My question regarding the CLR was not to sound dumb, but I was reading some
articles on MSDN that was talking about bringing the managed classes into a
single type library for the activex control, which made me think that maybe
it creates its own interop between all of them, I don't know, never played
with it.

And regarding the ActiveX control in .NET, I had seen a few posts about it,
read some articles but was unsure on how it worked, which is why I posted.
I greatly appreciate your insight on this though.

Thanks,
CJ

 

[Henke]

How should the component be used in VB.
I add a reference, and then tries to add it through Components->Browse. But
when I add the dll-file it says not an ActiveX component. What am I missing
here?

Thanks!
/Henke

 

[Armin Zingler]

How should the component be used in VB.
I add a reference, and then tries to add it through
Components->Browse. But when I add the dll-file it says not an
ActiveX component. What am I missing here?

After regasm.exe, the component must be available in Project -> References.