Equivalent of an Activex EXE in VB.Net

[Nikkita]

Software such as Excel or Word exposes a COM object model which allows
them to be automated by any language that can call COM objects.

As I understand it, I can do the same in VB6 by writing an Activex EXE.
Such a program can have a GUI which will be accessed by users in the
normal way as well as exposing a COM object model.

How can I do the .Net equivalent in VB.Net? According to VB.Net help, the
VB.Net equivalent of an Activex EXE is a Class Library. But a Class
Library project doesn't appear to allow me to choose a starting point -
it's only intended to export objects to be called from elsewhere. This is
all very well but how do I write a program in VB.Net with a GUI which can
also export its object model to allow it to be automated/consumed by other
programs?

[Tom Shelton]

Re: Equivalent of an Activex EXE in VB.Net

On 2005-04-26, Nikkita <nikkita@cix.co .uk> wrote:[color=blue]
> Software such as Excel or Word exposes a COM object model which allows
> them to be automated by any language that can call COM objects.
>
> As I understand it, I can do the same in VB6 by writing an Activex EXE.
> Such a program can have a GUI which will be accessed by users in the
> normal way as well as exposing a COM object model.
>
> How can I do the .Net equivalent in VB.Net? According to VB.Net help, the
> VB.Net equivalent of an Activex EXE is a Class Library. But a Class
> Library project doesn't appear to allow me to choose a starting point -
> it's only intended to export objects to be called from elsewhere. This is
> all very well but how do I write a program in VB.Net with a GUI which can
> also export its object model to allow it to be automated/consumed by other
> programs?[/color]

The closest equivalent would be .NET remoting... Your application can
host objects that other processes can get hold of and send commands.

--
Tom Shelton [MVP]

[Oenone]

Re: Equivalent of an Activex EXE in VB.Net

Nikkita wrote:[color=blue]
> How can I do the .Net equivalent in VB.Net?[/color]

If it helps, you can reference .exes in VS2005...

--

(O)enone

[Chris Dunaway]

Re: Equivalent of an Activex EXE in VB.Net

You would have to create a Class Library that exposes your object
model. It can also contain GUI elements like forms and dialog boxes.
You would then have to create a Windows Forms Application to allow the
app to run stand alone.

As was pointed out by Oenone, VS2005 will allow the referencing of
..exe's

[rmacias]

Re: Equivalent of an Activex EXE in VB.Net

Just FYI, the VS.NET 2003 IDE does not allow you to reference *.exe files.
However, if you compile your project through the command line, it will allow
you to reference *.exe files. Try it out, it works :)

"Chris Dunaway" wrote:
[color=blue]
> You would have to create a Class Library that exposes your object
> model. It can also contain GUI elements like forms and dialog boxes.
> You would then have to create a Windows Forms Application to allow the
> app to run stand alone.
>
> As was pointed out by Oenone, VS2005 will allow the referencing of
> ..exe's
>
>[/color]

[Nikkita]

Re: Equivalent of an Activex EXE in VB.Net

In article <#RUfj6hSFHA.31 44@tk2msftngp13 .phx.gbl>,
tshelton@YOUKNO WTHEDRILLcomcas t.net (Tom Shelton) wrote:
[color=blue][color=green]
> > Software such as Excel or Word exposes a COM object model which
> > allows them to be automated by any language that can call COM objects.
> >
> > As I understand it, I can do the same in VB6 by writing an Activex
> > EXE. Such a program can have a GUI which will be accessed by users in
> > the normal way as well as exposing a COM object model.
> >
> > How can I do the .Net equivalent in VB.Net? According to VB.Net help,
> > the VB.Net equivalent of an Activex EXE is a Class Library. But a
> > Class Library project doesn't appear to allow me to choose a starting
> > point - it's only intended to export objects to be called from
> > elsewhere. This is all very well but how do I write a program in
> > VB.Net with a GUI which can also export its object model to allow it
> > to be automated/consumed by other programs?[/color]
>
> The closest equivalent would be .NET remoting... Your application can
> host objects that other processes can get hold of and send commands.[/color]

Thanks, I'll look into that.

[Nikkita]

Re: Equivalent of an Activex EXE in VB.Net

In article <ecPLLelSFHA.13 84@TK2MSFTNGP09 .phx.gbl>, oenone@nowhere. com
(Oenone) wrote:
[color=blue]
> Nikkita wrote:[color=green]
> > How can I do the .Net equivalent in VB.Net?[/color]
>
> If it helps, you can reference .exes in VS2005...[/color]

Thanks, this could be useful.

[Nikkita]

Re: Equivalent of an Activex EXE in VB.Net

In article <1114521988.668 330.239820@o13g 2000cwo.googleg roups.com>,
dunawayc@gmail. com (Chris Dunaway) wrote:
[color=blue]
> You would have to create a Class Library that exposes your object
> model. It can also contain GUI elements like forms and dialog boxes.
> You would then have to create a Windows Forms Application to allow the
> app to run stand alone.
>
> As was pointed out by Oenone, VS2005 will allow the referencing of
> .exe's[/color]

I see, thanks for your help. Things are becoming clearer now.

[Nikkita]

Re: Equivalent of an Activex EXE in VB.Net

In article <578B9681-C7A5-45F3-9799-98891880097D@mi crosoft.com>,
rmacias@newsgro up.nospam (=?Utf-8?B?cm1hY2lhcw= =?=) wrote:
[color=blue]
> Just FYI, the VS.NET 2003 IDE does not allow you to reference *.exe
> files. However, if you compile your project through the command line,
> it will allow you to reference *.exe files. Try it out, it works :)[/color]

That's very interesting, thanks. I'll take a look at that.