VB 6 Project won't compile.

[Ruairi]

I have a project written in VB6 (Active-x dll, contains crystal report designers as well as a few forms, standard modules, and a class module) that refuses to compile. Clicking on make .dll brings up the 'Compiling...' progress bar but it quickly disappears and the VB IDE stops responding. I have compiled this project into a dll many times before without problems. I tried deleting all the files assosiated with the project (.dll, .vbx, .lib, .dep, etc..) and setting the compatibility option to No Compatibility with the same results. The dll works perfectly when run inside the IDE. Has anyone seen this behavior before?
TIA Ruairi

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[koala15]

This is the standard "boring" question - what did you change between the time it compiled OK and now.

I would go back to a backup version that worked and start to add modules untill it breaks.

Please let us know.

BTW: you havn't changed PC's or OS's?????

 

[Ruairi]

Thanks for the quick response. I haven't changed pc's or os's. I think i may have made my copy of VB angry somehow. First the 'Definition' option on the VB context menus (the one that lets you place your cusror over a function, sub, or variable name and jump to it's definition) disappeared, now this. I wouldn't be surprised if MS designed VB to self-destruct over time so we have to keep buying more. I'm going to start it compiling right now and let it cook overnight, maybe an error will have showed up tomorrow. i'll keep you posted. Ruairi

Could your manufacturing facility benefit from real time process monitoring? Would you like your employees to be able to see up to the minute goal and actual production?
For innovative, low cost solutions check out my website.

http://www.plccontroltechnologies.com

 

[jmarler]

If it starts compiling, but can not finish, it may be encountering an error either in the compile process or the linking process. You may want to create dummy apps dor C2.exe(used to create the obj files from the source code) and Link.Exe (used to link the *.obj files) to log the progress. Both of these apps are called by the IDE and use parameters passed in the command line. if you write you own app that just accepts these command lines, writes them to a log file and then passes the call onto the real app, you will be able to see the exact module/class/form that it is failing on. This may sound like a lot of work, but it is really very easy and it will show you exactly where the compile/link process is failing.
Another, perhaps simpler option, would be to check and see the last obj file that was created during the build. there should be 1 obj file for each file in the project. This method is not as accurate, but it will work.
- Jeff Marler B-)

 

[Ruairi]

Thanks for the responses. As i said i started it compiling at 6 yesterday before i left. When i came in this morning the dll was created. the modified time was 7:45 pm. it took an hour and 45 minutes to compile. Wierd. Ruairi

Could your manufacturing facility benefit from real time process monitoring? Would you like your employees to be able to see up to the minute goal and actual production?
For innovative, low cost solutions check out my website.

http://www.plccontroltechnologies.com

 

[jmarler]

How big was your DLL? - Jeff Marler B-)

 

[jmarler]

And how fast was the PC that it was being compiled on? - Jeff Marler B-)

 

[chiph]

That's a looonnnng time to compile.

I was going to suggest that you check to see if any of the support files were marked read-only (.lib, .exp, etc)

Another thing you might try, is the .vbp and .vbw files sometimes get corrupt. Rename them, then create a new project file (with the same name as the original), then add in your references, classes, modules, forms, etc. to rebuild the project.

Chip H.

 

[Ruairi]

jeff, the compiled dll is only 612K. It is being compiled on a Pentium II 333Mhz machine with 64MB of RAM. Chip, that seems to make sense. I will give it a try when i get the time. Thanks again guys. Ruairi

Could your manufacturing facility benefit from real time process monitoring? Would you like your employees to be able to see up to the minute goal and actual production?
For innovative, low cost solutions check out my website.

http://www.plccontroltechnologies.com

 

[jduckwo]

You might also want to check your project references/components. If you see anything that says "Missing" next to it, you will need to uncheck that item, close the references/components window, reopen the window, then find the object and reselect it. Most likely a component got compiled with a different guid and your project doesn't recognize it anymore. We run into this problem all the tim