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Q168431: FIX: Launching VB 5.0 ActiveX Documents from Internet Explorer

Article: Q168431
Product(s): Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
Version(s): 3.x,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbcode kbtool kbActiveX kbDownload kbVBp500 kbCodeDownload kbGrpDSVB kbFAQ kbDSupport k
Last Modified: 24-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 5.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, version 5.0 
- Microsoft Internet Explorer (Programming) version 3.x 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When browsing to an ActiveX Document using Microsoft Internet Explorer, the
document will fail to load the associated VBD file correctly. Instead, Microsoft
Internet Explorer will display the following message:

  "Opening:
  <filename> from <URL>

  Some files can contain viruses or otherwise be harmful to your
  computer. It is important to be certain that this file is from a
  trustworthy source.

  What would you like to do with this file?"

The user is presented with a choice of Opening or Saving the VBD file. If the
user selects Open, the Open With window is displayed asking which application
should launch the file. None of the applications listed, including Microsoft
Internet Explorer, will successfully launch the VBD file.

CAUSE
=====

The Setup Wizard for Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 creates a set of files to be
used for Internet download of ActiveX Documents. These files include a cabinet
(CAB), VBD, and a hypertext-markup HTM file.

Unfortunately, without changes to the HTM file, an ActiveX Document will not
launch correctly when a user browses to the HTM file using Microsoft Internet
Explorer 3.x.

RESOLUTION
==========

Below is a sample of an original HTM file created using the Microsoft Visual
Basic 5.0 Setup Wizard. Following the example, is another sample that shows a
working HTM file.

Example 1 - Original HTM File
-----------------------------

     <HTML>
     <OBJECT ID="SampleDoc1"
     CLASSID="CLSID:11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111"
     CODEBASE="Project1.CAB#version=1,0,0,0">
     </OBJECT>

     <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="VBScript">
     Sub Window_OnLoad
         Document.Open
         Document.Write "<FRAMESET>"
         Document.Write "<FRAME SRC=""SampleDoc1.VBD"">"
         Document.Write "</FRAMESET>"
         Document.Close
     End Sub
     </SCRIPT>
     </HTML>

Example 2 - Changed HTM File
----------------------------

     <HTML>
     <OBJECT ID="SampleDoc1"
     CLASSID="CLSID:11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111"
     CODEBASE="Project1.CAB#version=1,0,0,0">
     </OBJECT>
     <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="VBScript">
     Sub Window_OnLoad
         Location.Replace("SampleDoc1.vbd")
     End Sub
     </SCRIPT>
     </HTML>

The changes to the Window_OnLoad procedure allow the VBD file to be launched
successfully, thus the ActiveX Document will initialize and display within
Microsoft Internet Explorer.

To convert an HTM file created with Setup Wizard, do the following:

1. Make a copy of your original HTM file.

2. Open the Original HTM file into Notepad.

3. Remove the lines in the Window_OnLoad procedure. Make note of the VBD
  filename on the third line of the procedure.

4. Place the following code within the Window_OnLoad procedure:

        Sub Window_OnLoad
            Location.Replace("FILENAME.vbd")
        End Sub

where "FILENAME.VBD" must be replaced with the name of your VBD (including
quotation marks).

5. Save the HTM file.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are
listed at the beginning of this article.

This bug was corrected in Internet Explorer 4.0.


Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbcode kbtool kbActiveX kbDownload kbVBp500 kbCodeDownload kbGrpDSVB kbFAQ kbDSupport kbieFAQ 
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbIEsearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbSDKIESearch kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB500
Version           : :3.x,5.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

=============================================================================

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