Visual Basic

The DLL on the server... what's that written in and how is it setup? If it's a COM DLL (not .NET) you probably need to set it up through Component Services as a COM+ application. It's easy to add these "hooks" into a DLL if they aren't already there (depending on what language was used for it's development). In COM+ your DLL can be managed by Windows in a way where it can be properly instanced for use in a Web environment.

Thanks! I actually worked it out yesterday on my own but you gave some good points. Thanks for the help!

ray's ini file reader is the preferred method for working with application config stuff, but if you want to work with text files, use the FileSystemObject where: scrrun.dll, register dialog: Microsoft Scripting Runtime progid: scripting.filesystemobject i'm typing this code in manually, so it might not be syntactful dim fso as scripting.filesystemobject set fso = new scripting.filesystemobject dim txt as scripting.textstream set txt = fso.opentextfile("c:\mytextfile.txt") do while not txt.atendofstream msgbox txt.readline loop txt.close set txt = nothing set fso = nothing -John

I have only used COM Interop to get access to pre .NET COM servers in C#. What is nice is that you can do this in VB.NET too, I am just not sure of the exact syntax about it. In C# it might look something like this. [DllImport("myPrinter.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Ansi)] private extern static long MyPrinterFunction(long hndlToPrinter); I believe I have seen this done in VB.NET with the < AND > signs to replace the square brackets around DllImport. In VB.NET then maybe... <DllImport("myPrinter.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Ansi)> private extern static Long MyPrinterFunction(hndlToPrinter As Long) Hope this helps. :) Nick Parker If the automobile had followed the same development as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year killing everyone inside. -Robert Cringely

you can use the package and deployment wizard, if required you can modify setup1.exe for customised setup file creation. The source code for this setup1.exe is available in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\VB98\Wizards\PDWizard\Setup1\Setup1.vbp

Your question is a little decieving because you mention two different technologies used to access a database. I will assume you are using ADO. Here is an example to "search" a database. You will need to add a reference to the ADO object library in your program before running this code. Dim conn As New ADODB.Connection Dim adors As New ADODB.Recordset Dim sql As String sql = "SELECT User_ID Where username = '" & replace(txtUserName.Text, "'", "''") & "'" Set conn = New ADODB.Connection Set adors = New ADODB.Recordset conn.ConnectionString = "[YourConnectionStringGoesHere]" conn.Open adors.ActiveConnection = conn adors.Open (sql) If Not adors.EOF Then Do Until adors.EOF MsgBox txtUserName.Text & "'s user id is " & adors("User_ID") adors.MoveNext Loop Else MsgBox "There are no records that match that name" End If adors.Close Set adors = Nothing conn.Close Set conn = Nothing HTH Nick Parker If the automobile had followed the same development as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year killing everyone inside. -Robert Cringely

What are you automating exactly? Nick Parker If the automobile had followed the same development as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year killing everyone inside. -Robert Cringely

If you want to see if there is already a copy of the same application running then you use: App.PrevInstance Looking for an instance of ANOTHER application is a bit trickier but you can do it looking for window titles.

you could try and add an Edit() command. I know in VB 6.0, you can only put an update() command if you had an edit or add command before it. I'm not usre if it is the same in vb.net, I am still in the trial period of experimenting with it. Have fun!

I have not played around with .ShowDialog much, but from the looks of it, what you see is what you get. Is there a reason you are using ShowDialog vs. show? Are you really trying to use this form as a modal dialog box?

I would search the registry for the filename that you need the path to. If it is an exe file that is registered to a file ext then it will probably show up in there. Once you know it you can open the key in your script and check to see if it exists.