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Microsoft has released the Coolbar ActiveX Control and Sample Project on their web site for registered VB users.
The Visual Basic Owner's site contains two self-extracting files to help you create a toolbar similar to the toolbar used in Internet Explorer 3.0. COMCT331.EXE is a self-extracting compressed file that installs the Microsoft Windows Common Control 3 5.0 containing the Coolbar ActiveX control. The Coolbar ActiveX control allows you to create a toolbar similar to the Internet Explorer toolbar. COOLBSMP.EXE is a self-extracting file installs a Visual Basic project that uses the Coolbar ActiveX control. The sample project contains a user interface similar to Internet Explorer.
The ActiveX control and sample project can be downloaded from the Visual Basic Owner's site at http://www.microsoft.com/vstudio/owner/default.asp
If you are already registered at Microsoft, jump to http://Premium.Microsoft.com/download/vbasic/Comct33I.EXE and http://premium.microsoft.com/download/vbasic/CoolBSmp.EXE
NOTE: Only registered users of Visual Basic can access this site. Select Visual Basic from the Owners Area product listing and then click the Browse option in the center of the page. You will be presented with a grid which you can scroll through until you find the download files. You must install Visual Studio Service Pack 3 to use this control, as stated on the Web page.
The source code in this issue is designed for Visual Basic 5.0 and above. It is for any level programmer. It can be used in VB 4.0 with some small modifications to the EXE name and parameter on the String function.
If you have any questions about this issue, please email us at questions@codeoftheweek.com
This issue introduces a routine to determine if you are currently running in the IDE or a compiled EXE. This can be useful for development where you want to have different startups based on the how you are running the program (in the IDE or compiled). It can also be used when you develop a custom control and want to release it on trial basis to be used only in the IDE. You could use this routine to have prompt in the EXE that says this control is not licensed to be used in a compiled EXE until you register (or something similiar).
Public Function RunningInIDE() As Boolean
True if the application is running in the VB Development Environment (IDE) or False if running as a compiled EXE.
This example shows how to use the subroutine.
If RunningInIDE Then
MsgBox "IDE - Design Time"
Else
MsgBox "Compiled EXE"
End If
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