How To Register 4.0 Add-ins for Visual Basic 5.0 or 6.0 (161287)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 6.0
This article was previously published under Q161287

SUMMARY

Add-ins created in Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 do not appear in the list of available add-ins when you are using Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 or 6.0. This behavior occurs when the add-in is installed after Microsoft Visual Basic version 5.0 or 6.0 have been installed on the system.

NOTE: Microsoft Visual Basic version 5.0 and 6.0 only support 32-bit add- ins.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Visual Basic version 5.0 and 6.0 have moved the available add-in registration from VB.INI to a new file, VBADDIN.INI. This new file is used exclusively for Visual Basic add-ins.

However, add-ins written with Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 are usually written to register themselves automatically into the VB.INI file. Therefore, the Add-in Manager for Microsoft Visual Basic version 5.0 and 6.0 is unable to determine how to launch Visual Basic 4.0 add-ins.

NOTE: It is recommended that add-ins written for Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 be updated to register automatically into the VBADDIN.INI file instead of the VB.INI file.

Follow these steps to register add-ins written with Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 that you want to use with Microsoft Visual Basic versions 5.0 or 6.0:

  1. If Microsoft Visual Basic version 5.0 or 6.0 is currently running, click Exit from the File menu.
  2. Properly install the add-in as per its installation instructions. If Microsoft Visual Basic version 5.0 or 6.0 is currently running, click Exit from the File menu.
  3. From the Start menu, click Find.
  4. Type "VB.INI" in the Named field. Click Find Now.
  5. The VB.INI file will be found in the \Windows folder. Double-click VB.INI to edit it.
  6. In the VB.INI file, find the section labeled [Add-Ins32]. Locate the entry for the installed Visual Basic 4.0 add-in. It should look like the following: 
       [Add-Ins32]
   MyAddin.AddinClass=0
  7. Copy the line "MyAddin.AddinClass=0" by selecting the entire line and then clicking Copy from the Edit menu.
  8. From the File menu, click Exit. Click No when asked to save the VB.INI file.
  9. In the Find window, type "VBADDIN.INI" and click Find Now.
  10. The VBADDIN.INI file will be found in the \Windows folder. Double-click VBADDIN.INI to edit it.
  11. Insert a new line at the bottom of the VBADDIN.INI file. Move the edit cursor to this new line.
  12. From the Edit menu, click Paste. This will paste the line that you copied from the VB.INI into VBADDIN.INI.
  13. From the File menu, click Save.
  14. From the File menu, click Exit.
RESULT: The next time you run Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 OR 6.0, your add-in will be available in the Add-In Manager.

REFERENCES

Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 Programmer's Guide
"Installing Add-Ins", pages 105-106

Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 online Help

Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 Books Online
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/15/2004
Keywords:kbhowto kbusage KB161287
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.