references

[lekmall]

I have created a .dll to disable the mousewheel in 2000. I have to set a reference to that .dll, which is fine. Now - when I distribute the .mde file along with the .dll, that reference is no longer valid because I don't know where the user will store his database and .dll.

I have tried running code to find the .dll and move it to the directory that the user stored the files, but I have to delete the old reference and can't do that while still in the current db directory.

Does anyone know of an easy way to 'install' the files, which will be downloaded from a website, so that the reference won't be broken? I want to avoid instructing the user to move the files to a certain folder. I would like to find where the .mde and .dll is after the download and move these files to the directory that is referenced for the .dll. (references.addfromfile does not work)

Thank you!

 

[Travis]

The best method would be to use an Installer. Such as the Package and Deployment wizard that comes in the Developers TookKit or InstallShield. By using this you will be able to "Install" the needed references to the directory you choose (Such as App Path). This will also register the needed files for you eliminating this step.

I did notice that you created the DLL. This means that you may have a version of VB or C++, these developement environments also come with Package and Deploy wizards. You could use this to create an Installer.

 

[lekmall]

Thanks, Travis.
I wish that I could use an install package because it would make things so much easier, but I can't due to military restrictions in downloading this app with a setup program. The .mde file and any other associated files (my mousewheel.dll) must be downloaded and extracted from a zip file only - no setups.
So I have to set a reference to the .dll before I make the .mde file, but then the user has to place the database and .dll in that specified directory. It's just too complicated to make the user create a directory and put the files there.

If only the references.removefromfile and .addfromfile worked, but they don't in 2000, only 2002 and this code was written in 2000 so that it would be compatible upward. I just can't think of a way to have the user click on .mde file for the first time and somehow perform an initialization - some code that would create a new directory, move or copy the files to the right directory and then delete the old ones. But I can't do that because the files are in the directory that I'm trying to work with!

I also tried an autoexec.bat which I think would be acceptable with the military, but don't have the knowledge on how to do this.

Thanks,
Linda