How to link a VB module in the background to FPW26 application? 1

[phonesex]

Hello.

I read a response recently where "nigelgomm" describes running a VB app in the background to solve a problem identifying the OS and pssing the result to VFP 2.6

My question is: How is this done? I have a major task ahead of me and was about the translate many thousands of lines of Foxpro code to VB, but if I can figure out how to pass integers and strings between Foxpro for windows 2.6 (or could be vfoxpro 5 or 6) and VB 6 modules, I would save weeks worth of work.

Could someone kindly illustrate this for me?

Many thaks in advance.

Guido

 

[phonesex]

continuation:

This is what I already know: VFP2.6 is a 16 bit application, so logically I should use vb4 16 bit version, right? Then there's something called DDE? Is that the mechanism to use? how?

Thanks for any input

Guido

 

[rgbean]

I think you should consider a FPW 2.6a and VB 3.0 (or earlier) with DDE solution ONLY if you are still running Win 3.x. If you are running a current OS (e.g. Win 2000 SP4 or XP SP1), then you should move to VFP 8.0 and VB .NET and use COM or Sockets to communicate among the applications.

Rick

 

[phonesex]

That's a valid point ... but I'm trying NOT to convert . I was planning to run this in a WIN98 environment. However, I found an activex driver that may work in vfp6 (I know, another forum) and eliminate my problem to begin with.

I just don't know

Guido

 

[Nigel Gomm]

Hi,

You can use VB6 but not VB.Net.

In VB open up your form and set linkmode to 'source' and linktopic to the name of your form (e.g. mainform)

when a ddeinitiate is performed by a prog the sub form_linkopen is executed. When a ddeexecute is performed form_linkexecute is executed.

Private Sub Form_LinkExecute(CmdStr As String, Cancel As Integer)
if cmdstr = "Hello"
txtName.text = "message to pass back"
endif
end sub



in fpw26....

=ddesetoption("TIMEOUT",30*1000) // 30 sec timeout
tmpdde = ddeinitiate("myVBProj","Mainform&quot // already running ?
if tmpdde < 0
run /N myvbproj.exe
tmpdde = ddeinitiate(&quot;myVBProj&quot;,&quot;Mainform&quot
endif
if tmpdde < 0
=msg_box(&quot;ERROR: Cannot find myVBProj.exe&quot
return
endif
if ddeexecute(m.tmpdde,&quot;HELLO&quot
m.txt = dderequest(m.tmpdde,&quot;txtName&quot
else
m.txt = &quot;Error&quot;
endif


i have a VB6 server app that i call from a big fpw26 app for reading and setting the registry, running 32-bit OCXs/DLLs, OLE automation of MSWord and Excel - anything i can't do in fpw26. Performance is fine... not scalable for an enterprise component but for desktop it's great.

 

[Nigel Gomm]

p.s.

DDE works fine with win95/98/me and win NT/2000/XP
i have about 500 copies of my fpw26 program out with customers on all sorts of PCs and have had no problems.

set visible and show in taskbar properties to false.

i agree with rgbean if you can convert to VFP8 it's probably worth it but ...

 

[phonesex]

I tried it and it works great. The first time I call the vb module, there seems to be some delay (loading time?). Every other consecutive call responds instantly.

You've been a great help.

Guido

 

[Nigel Gomm]

Guido,

yes, startup time. I tend to fire off the server executable when i start the fpw26 app and keep it running in the background.

glad to be of help

Nigel