Anyone any good at Visual Basic 6?

[McGherkin]

I've got an app here which runs on VB6, but windows 8 seems to break it as every time I move it, the window shrinks but the display inside it doesn't. Would anyone be willing to have a root around and get it to work for me?

Cheers!

 

[obcuz]

Hi
Have you the source code?

 

[McGherkin]

Yes, but I think it's from an older version of the software.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/67327727/VLFSDash/VLFSDash_Source.rar

The final .exe version I'm trying to use is here

 

[obcuz]

I,ll have a look over the week-end if I get a minute, can you just indicate what this soft is/does and where it's from?, I am always a little apprehensive letting stuff loose on my machines.

 

[McGherkin]

It's a telemetry app for Live For Speed, takes Outgauge data from the sim and displays it all real time.

You can see an older version of it in the top right corner of the screen in this video:


Many thanks

 

[obcuz]

OK, thanks
Have taken a quick look at the files and looks like they are dated 2009, v0.2.2 - is that the version you have? The executable in the other link has a similar time-stamp so could be.
There are several different sets of code, each for a different display resolution it would appear.

One question, have you or anyone else approached the original author of the software, I wouldn't like to tread on anybody's toes or infringe copywrite, etc., or is it open source?
I have no idea if I can do anything with it at this stage, although I do have experience with VB6, it's not familiar territory but if it's only a display problem.....
I see no installation package in the zips, how would you normally go about installing it, and will it install as a stand-alone program as I really need to test it to see the problem for myself first before playing with the code?

Cheers -Col

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Have you tried compatability mode?

 

[McGherkin]

The version number should be 0.2.3 AFAIK, which is what the second link should be. It should have an extra needle on the speed dial which records maximum speed attained, and there should be indicator sounds, shift up voice e.t.c. tickboxes in the menu.

The author's happy for it to be tinkered with, see Here

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/67327727/VLFSDash/VLFSD_changed layout.rar is the link to the one which doesn't work correctly, and is the right version number. Should just fire up straight away after you extract the zip and run the .exe. If it asks for access to the local network, then allow it - it's part of the program and necessary for it to work for LFS. (By the way, if you need to test it, you can get a demo version of LFS at www.lfs.net).

If you have any more questions, just let me know

 

[The Fatty]

Have you tried compatability mode?

this.

 

[McGherkin]

Yes, I have. No luck.

Every option available, XP SP2 onwards.

 

[obcuz]

As I am not familiar with this program, did earlier versions of it have the same display compatibility problems in W8?

I did experience many issues loading this project into VB6 albeit on a W8 machine, so have not got very far yet, and it looks like it would take quite a bit of sorting before I could even look at it.

I have another couple of machines with VB6, even an old XP system, this may be less problematic.

If the display problem has always been there in W8, I wonder if it is worth trying 'Virtual Machine' with XP installed?

 

[McGherkin]

There's a version of it which works fine, which is This One (Which has an installer), but it's an older version which doesn't have the later features. Same version as in the video.

Not sure on the VM idea, as it still has to communicate with the LFS executable, which could be tricky.

 

[The Fatty]

have you tried installing different versions of the .ocx files?

 

[McGherkin]

.ocx files?

 

[obcuz]

The set-up file in the last link still installs 0.2.3 - is this regarded as the working version or is that 0.2.2?

Am I to understand that the problem is specific to your system or is this a problem for everyone running this latest version, as some of the other guys have indicated - the problem may not be in the executable?

Anyway, sorry but I have no more time to play, so maybe back after the week-end, if no one else has got any further or solved it.

Regarding VM, both programs would probably have to be installed in VM (XP) but looks if the serving program does not run in XP then back to square one.

Cheers for now.

 

[McGherkin]

It's a weird one. The window title shows 0.2.3, but it's definitely still installed a previous version.

Not too many people use it with Windows 8, so can't say. Have you managed to replicate the problem?

 

[obcuz]

Maybe so, I running both of the 0.2.3 versions together and the one (from install package=earlier version?) I can expand the window - but the various controls stay fixed position, but the other (later?) version, the window appears to be a fixed size i.e. not expandable/size the window.
I am only running these as stand alone ATM on Window 8 64bit but with a W7 overlay ("Startisback"), the program runs in 32 bit mode of course..
If you can illustrate the display problem I can compare.


Earlier (left) and later(right) both 0.2.3 - note I can enlarge/expand the window on the earlier version in both width and height.

Watching Glastonbury but had enough so going to bed now.
Cheers.

 

[The Fatty]

.ocx files?

this program appears to use .ocx support files, one of them being isAnalogLibrary.ocx - if you installed the older version via an install shell, it may have registered these for you already, but an older version than what may be required for the new version. It might be nothing to do with this, but worth a shot

 

[McGherkin]

Ok, here's the problem.
Start it up, loads fine, like so:

As soon as you try to move the window, it resizes the window, but the content does not resize, so part of it is lost.

This doesn't happen with the older version of the software.

 

[McGherkin]

this program appears to use .ocx support files, one of them being isAnalogLibrary.ocx - if you installed the older version via an install shell, it may have registered these for you already, but an older version than what may be required for the new version. It might be nothing to do with this, but worth a shot

What does this mean and how do I fix it lol. I can't look through the source myself.

 

[The Fatty]

Ok, here's the problem.
Start it up, loads fine, like so:

As soon as you try to move the window, it resizes the window, but the content does not resize, so part of it is lost.

This doesn't happen with the older version of the software.

this wont be .ocx related. its like windows 8 is applying the 'run in 640 x 480' compatibility option when you move it.

 

[McGherkin]

It's unticked in the compatability settings. It must be something in the coding because the older version doesn't have the same problem.

 

[The Fatty]

OK just tried it myself, and I don't have the problem (as shown in these 2 screenshots that might take a while to load)

 

[McGherkin]

Hmm. I'm stuck then.

 

[The Fatty]

remove borders button works to...

what happens on yours if you click this button?

 

[McGherkin]

This:

 

[The Fatty]

I suppose it could be graphics card related. Have you tried it at different resolutions?

 

[McGherkin]

Yeah, on different screens etc. too. No luck so far.

 

[The Fatty]

hmmm. Im all out of ideas then im afraid I code in c# practically everyday, but haven't touched vb6 in almost 10 years, its a very old language to be writing a program in!

 

[McGherkin]

Tell me about it!

 

[obcuz]

Hey Mc.
~
Was thinking about this this evening, it may be worth a try.

Right-click desktop

Screen Resolution

Option "Make Text and other items larger or smaller"

Make sure this is set to 100% (or try other).

These DPI settings can cause unusual display problems with older programs with high res. screen resolutions.

Just a thought.

 

[McGherkin]

Spot on! Was set by default to 125%, changed it to 100% and hey presto.

Many thanks!

 

[The Fatty]

well don obcuz!

McGherkin, I tried playing lfs earlier - it was impossible using the keyboard! Will have to get the wheel out of the attic asap! Unfortunately (as always) I think its right at the back behind a mountain of other stuff!! lol.

 

[McGherkin]

Lol, through trial and a lot of error I can passably handle the cars in LFS with keyboard, but it's so much better with a wheel. Here's that video I was trying to show you last night lol:

 

[sbridgey]

Do you play iRacing at all?

 

[The Fatty]

Lol, through trial and a lot of error I can passably handle the cars in LFS with keyboard, but it's so much better with a wheel. Here's that video I was trying to show you last night lol:

looks a lot better than over the 3G! Still like something out of decade old game though! lol. I'm genuinely excited to see how it works with a wheel...

 

[McGherkin]

Do you play iRacing at all?

As much as I'd like to, the subscription fees put me right off. From what I've heard it's not that much different to LFS in terms of physics but LFS has a slightly better 'feel' - which is what I rate as it both contributes to the realism of the sim and also means it's a 2-way communication. Also LFS has Insim, Outsim and Outgauge and is far better and easier to program/script for.

looks a lot better than over the 3G! Still like something out of decade old game though! lol. I'm genuinely excited to see how it works with a wheel...

Yeah, it is a bit aged but still handles really well!

Also while I remember:

 

[sbridgey]

As much as I'd like to, the subscription fees put me right off. From what I've heard it's not that much different to LFS in terms of physics but LFS has a slightly better 'feel' - which is what I rate as it both contributes to the realism of the sim and also means it's a 2-way communication. Also LFS has Insim, Outsim and Outgauge and is far better and easier to program/script for.

Its not that expensive really and the whole experience is very very good, the tracks are near identical to real life and most of the cars handle really nicely. I have tried LFS but i didn't like it, the naff graphics put me off and i didnt like the handling, saying that I havent tried it since I got my G27 so i may try it again next week.

 

[McGherkin]

Fair enough, I may try it out at some point but I'm still not keen on the potentially infinite pricetag lol. I'm not particularly fussed about graphics tbh, otherwise I'd be playing on a console!

Still trying to get Ed.200 to sell me his G25 lol. Sequential FTW.

 

[sbridgey]

Rubber band mod FTW