Q186842: BUG: OpenURL Method Bug in Internet Transfer Control

Article: Q186842
Product(s): Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
Version(s): 4.01,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbVBp500
Last Modified: 11-JAN-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, version 5.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 5.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, version 5.0 
- Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0 
- Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.01 for Windows 95 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you use the OpenURL method on the Internet Transfer Control for FTP URLs,
it causes the application to hang. Upon exiting the application, the application
hangs and causes 100% CPU utilization. When you use code similar to the
following:

     Private Sub butGet_Click()

        Dim sData as String

        Inet.AccessType = icDirect
        sData = Inet.OpenURL ("ftp://ftp.somedomain.com/SomeFile.txt")
     End Sub

And, you use the Internet Transfer Control, the application hangs and further ITC
requests fail. Upon exiting the application, the GUI portion of the application
closes, however the Task Manager (under Windows NT) displays the application as
running and utilizing 100% of the CPU. You can terminate the application only
through the Task Manager.

RESOLUTION
==========

The workaround to this bug is to either use the Execute method or use the
WinInet APIs directly. For example, the Execute method could be:

     Private Sub butGet_Click()

        Inet.AccessType = icDirect
        Inet.URL = "ftp://ftp.somedomain.com/SomeFile.txt"
        Inet.Execute "", "GET"

     End Sub

     Private Sub Inet_StateChanged(ByVal State As Integer)
        Dim sData As String

        If State = 12 Then
           sData = Inet.GetChunk(4096) 'SomeFile.txt < 4KB in size.
        End If

     End Sub

For an example of the WinInet API, please see the VBFTP sample referred to in the
following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q175179 : FILE: VBFTP.EXE: Implementing FTP Using WinInet API from VB

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the
beginning of this article. We are researching this bug and will post new
information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Steps to Reproduce Behavior
---------------------------

Use the following code in any Visual Basic 5.0 project that uses the Internet
Transfer Control:

     Private Sub butGet_Click()

        Dim sData as String

        Inet.AccessType = icDirect
        sData = Inet.OpenURL ("ftp://ftp.somedomain.com/SomeFile.txt")

     End Sub

Additional query words: kbVBp600bug kbVBp500bug kbDSupport kbdsi kbInternet kbFTP kbhttp

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Keywords          : kbVBp500 
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbIEsearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVBA500 kbVB500 kbIENT400Search kbIE95Search kbZNotKeyword3 kbIE401Win95 kbIE401WinNT400
Version           : :4.01,5.0
Issue type        : kbbug

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