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Q229415: INFO: Visual Basic Supports P-Code and Native Code Compilation

Article: Q229415
Product(s): Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbCompiler kbVBp kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbGrpDSVB kbFAQ kbVBp600FAQ
Last Modified: 18-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

Microsoft Visual Basic is a Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool that offers
the flexibility of compiling applications to p-code (pseudo code) or native
code.

Compiling to p-code optimizes for the smallest size, making p-code the choice for
creating Internet applications in low bandwidth situations. Native code
compilation is highly optimized for speed, but the executable files produced are
larger than the p-code versions. Visual Basic is the only RAD tool to support
both rapid application development through p-code as well as native code
compiling for performance.

NOTE: Visual Basic projects compiled as p-code or native code programs still
require the Visual Basic run-time DLL (MSVBVM50.DLL or MSVBVM60.DLL) to be
installed in the target system. This run-time DLL provides a number of services
for your compiled program, such as startup and shutdown code for your
application, functionality for forms and intrinsic controls, and run-time
functions such as Format and CLng.

REFERENCES
==========

For more information about p-code and native code compilation, please see:

Compiling Your Project to Native Code in the Online Help or the MSDN Web site
at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/devprods/vs6/vb/html/vbconcompilingyourprojecttonativecode.htm.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbCompiler kbVBp kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbGrpDSVB kbFAQ kbVBp600FAQ 
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB600Search kbVB500 kbVB600
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

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