QuakeOn Development

[randall]

A dll is a library of functions that are processor/OS specific. So you can't copy it from your desktop PC and have it run. I'm sure you already knew this.<br><br>A plain VB app only requires two files- the executable and the VB runtime DLL. If you start using OCXs and other DLLs then you need to include those as well.<br><br>What does PVBDEC.DLL do specifically? I can't imagine a frontend like this would require anything more than the executable and VB runtime engine.

[Paul]

no i meant i copied the dll from the 'devctrl' folder (not my actualy win98 folder) in evb so it should be the right one<br><br>it needs to be used when i use the function for starting a program its something like...<br><br>CreateProcess("Filename", "Parameters",0,0,0,0,0)<br>Last modification: Paul - 04/27/01 at 01:29:11

[randall]

Okay, that makes more sense. I figured you already knew that about the DLLs.

[Paul]

the problem is that to run any vb program you need a few files already installed <br><br>these arent present when you reset the device so i had to install pocketshortcut which copied some files over then i could use my program<br><br>there's got to be a better way, surely?

[Moose or Chuck]

if you were to make the thing in evb, there'd have to be an installer to copy the correct files over, dll's and what not. It could be dun, just it may be alittle larger and slower, btw it is a launcher who needs speed.

[randall]

what? I'm not following Paul.<br><br>I don't know why eVB would require a special DLL just to invoke and run another program. VB (win32) can do this natively or through the Win32 API. Of course Paul is entrenched in this so he knows a little more about what is going on.<br><br>Now, I am not sure which files your app needs, other than the executable, VB runtime [and pvbdec.dll?]. Those files will need to be installed like you said. But what does resetting the device have to do with it?<br><br>I'm so confused.<br><br>

[Paul]

well when the device is reset the files needed arent included in the os itself (the eVC mfc30.dll (i think thats the name) is though isnt it?)<br><br>anyways, thats not important, what is important is the problem with running other programs from eVB. first i declared the function (this required the dll i mentioned) then i passed the fucntion some values (path and filename, parameters)<br><br>did you say theres a way to do it without using the dll file? i cant get it to work<br><br>basically this is the situation - i have a fully made version of pocketQuakeOn which is made in eVB - it runs if i remove the ability to run quake (ie - i remove the function and its decalration) and can still make configs okay BUT if i leave it in i cant run the prog at all as it errors and asks for the pvbdec.dll (i'll check the exact name later) <br><br>if you all think a .vb prog is okay then we can find a way to get it working properly and get all the required files in an install package or something, OR we can try and make a C version<br><br>my brain hurts<br>Last modification: Paul - 04/27/01 at 05:18:59

[Paul]

Option Explicit<br>Declare Function CreateProcess Lib "coredll.DLL" _<br>Alias "CreateProcessW" _<br>(ByVal lpApplicationName As String, _<br>ByVal lpCommandLine As String, _<br>ByVal lpProcessAttributes As Long, _<br>ByVal lpThreadAttributes As Long, _<br>ByVal bInheritHandles As Long, _<br>ByVal dwCreationFlags As Long, _<br>ByVal lpEnvironment As Long, _<br>ByVal lpCurrentDirectory As Long, _<br>ByVal lpStartupInfo As Long, _<br>ByVal lpProcessInformation As String) As Long<br><br>Private Sub RunQuake_Click()<br>Dim ret<br>ret = CreateProcess("\quake\pocketquake.exe", "+map dmmuseum", _<br>0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, "")<br>End Sub

[Paul]

http://vbce.com/code/vbce6/api/<br><br>same thing, right?<br><br>- i just read that i need to use Regsvrce to register the controls.<br>Last modification: Paul - 04/27/01 at 06:10:31

[randall]

If you hard reset the device, you lose everything. A soft reset doesn't result in lost files though, so I wouldn't expect the eVB files to get dumped during a soft reset.<br><br>I don't remember exactly how to run a program from VB, but it is something like:<br><br>v_handle = Shell("notepad.exe", 1)<br><br>The "1" at the end tells it to load the app full screen with focus. It loads the file handle into the v_handle variable (it's a LONG I think) which can be used for other API calls.<br><br>CreateProcess is a function within kernel32, I just assumed CE would have something similar within its structure. I guess I'm wrong and you have to include the DLL yourself.<br><br>I don't know anything about CE or eVB, unfortunately. <br><br>I think there are a couple other ways to run an app, but I am tired right now- it's 6:10am and I've been up all night.<br><br><br>

[randall]

oh, I didn't see that you posted again before me. That CreateProcess function is the same as Win32, though shouldn't the lpCurrentDirectory be a string?<br><br>It's not used anyway and would be set to vbnullstring.<br><br>Hell, I don't know. bedtime.

[Paul]

[Paul]

[Paul]

[Paul]

If you're interested, here's the prog on my ppc:<br><br>It runs fine on my ppc but as its still in eVB it needs a few extra files and that bumps up the space required to run it. I won't be realeasing this until its in c.<br>