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Resolved Guidance on Embedding a Custom Manifest in PowerBuilder 2021 for Registration-Free ActiveX Components

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  1. Brian McCarthy
    Brian McCarthy
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. Tuesday, 22 October 2024 13:15 PM UTC

I am developing an application using PowerBuilder 2021 that utilizes third-party ActiveX components. Since I have multiple applications that require different versions of these ActiveX controls, I prefer to avoid registering them globally to prevent version conflicts.

I would like to implement registration-free COM activation by embedding a custom manifest file into my PowerBuilder application. However, after researching this topic, I came across the article titled "Using Manifest Files with Applications and Components" on your documentation site. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to specify how to include a custom manifest file within the application executable for this purpose.

Could you please provide guidance or best practices on how to embed a custom manifest file within the PowerBuilder 2021 environment to achieve registration-free COM activation of ActiveX components that are not globally registered?

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Bruce Armstrong
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Brian McCarthy
Brian McCarthy Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Tuesday, 22 October 2024 22:29 PM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 1

I read that thread and the referenced site: https://www.manifestmaker.com/sxs/help/pbdotnet.htm. 

It sounds like there is no accepted way for PowerBuilder to use an embedded manifest that would allow use of registration free active x components. My understanding is that in order to use registration free active x components, the approach would be:

  1. Set the manifest option for "External Manifest" in PowerBuilder. Do not use "No Manifest" or "Embedded Manifest" as both of these options actually embed a default manifest. "External Manifest" is the only option that does not embed a manifest file.
  2. Ensure the registry key for "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SideBySide\PreferExternalManifest" has a value of 1 to allow windows to use external manifest files.[edit] - I don't think this is necessary if "External Manifest" is selected in PowerBuilder. Windows will use the [program].exe.manifest file I think if one does not exist embedded in the application without having to set a system wide registry setting.
  3. Create a custom [program].exe.manifest file with the desired registration free active x components defined and ensure this is next to the [program].exe file.

It's my understanding that the way PowerBuilder creates the .exe file, we cannot use a tool like "mt.exe" to update the default manifest that that gets embedded into the exe by PowerBuilder .

I'm very new to PowerBuilder and just started maintaining an existing application so it is definitely possible I misunderstood something, so please let me know if anything I've said sounds incorrect.

Thanks,

brian

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Miguel Leeuwe
  1. Miguel Leeuwe
  2. Wednesday, 23 October 2024 14:30 PM UTC
I haven't played a lot with embedded and external manifests, other than they gave me problems.

I hope Appeon steps in here.

regards.
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Bruce Armstrong
  1. Bruce Armstrong
  2. Thursday, 24 October 2024 15:03 PM UTC
You understand it correctly. I referred to it in that other thread. PowerBuilder creates a non-standard EXE in that it included additional information after the typical EXE file. None of the tools that embed a manifest into an EXE know about that, and so when they operate on a PowerBuilder EXE they write out the standard part and then truncate the EXE at that point. And then the EXE never works. You *must* use an external manifest. And you must prevent PowerBuilder from adding one to the EXE, because an internal manifest overrides and external one.
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Miguel Leeuwe
Miguel Leeuwe Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Tuesday, 22 October 2024 14:06 PM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 2

Hi,

maybe this can be of any help.

https://community.appeon.com/index.php/qna/q-a/ide-registrationfree-use-of-activex-controls-use-of-manifest-file

 

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