Can't isolate msstdfmt.dll

Question

It's probably very simple, but I don't seem to be able to isolate this dll. I'm using ClickOnce to deploy a VB 6.0 project (about 20K LOC). It deploys fine to Windows 7. It deploys fine to windows XP if I manually register msstdfmt.dll. If i don't it errors.

If I unregister this .dll on my development system, I get the same error as when I try to deploy it to XP, "Class not registered...."

The references list in my .net (VS 2010) solution contains the reference. I can set it's isolated property to true, but my application deploys correctly but doesn't run on the destination machine (or my dev machine for that matter) if I unregister the dll. This means to me that Reg-free COM is not working.

It doesn't seem to matter if interop is true or false or if copy local is true or false.

I've tried copying the .dll into my list of files but that doesn't seem to work either.

My VB Project also has a valid reference to this dll. Any suggestions are appreciated.

-terry

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-terry

Answer 1

Hi tharmer,
Do you mean if you not register sstdfmt.dll on your development machine, the application installed on the target machine will not works?
According to MSDN, the Isolated property requires that the COM component be registered on the developer's machine in order to auto-generate the manifest during the build. For more details, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms165432(v=vs.100).aspx
If I misunderstood you, please kindly elaborate your question.
Best Regards,

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Bob Wu [MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 2

Thanks for the reply, Bob. No, it's just the standard test to confirm that ClickOnce is successfully isolating msstdfmt.dll.

Register msstdfmt.dll on dev machine.

Deploy ClickOnce app to dev machine

App runs fine.

Unregister msstdfmt.dll on dev machine

Deploy ClickOnce app to dev machine

App no longer runs, complaining about missing msstdfmt.dll

Therefore trying to isolate msstdfmt.dll in ClickOnce deployment hasn't worked.

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-terry

Answer 3

Hi terry,
I have a silly question. Did you change the value of the Isolated property from False to True in the Properties window?
I add this com component in a C# project and it works when I unregister the com component. The following is the details.
First, I create a c# project in the Visual Studio and add msstdfmt.dll as a reference (by default, it is registered).
Second, I add the following code to create a StdDataFormat object.

public Form1()
{
    InitializeComponent();
    StdDataFormat f = new StdDataFormat();
    string s = f.ToString();
    this.richTextBox1.Text += s;
}

Third, I open the dll’s properties windows and change the value of the Isolated property from False to True
Fourth, I build and publish the project.
Fifth, I install the clickonce application and run it as expected.
Sixth, I Unregister msstdfmt.dll by calling regsvr32 /u msstdfmt.dll and run the application again. It works.
If I pass the third step, I found I’m not able to run the application after Unregister the dll.
Finally, both the manifest and msstdfmt.dll are created in output folder and the msstdfmt.dll is included in the Application Files. Everything works as expected.

Would you mind following these steps and check it again?
In addition, there are two ways that ClickOnce deploys COM components:
Use the bootstrapper to deploy your COM components; this works on all supported platforms.
Use native component isolation (also known as registration-free COM) deployment. However, this will only work on a Windows XP or higher operating system.
If registration-free doesn’t works in your case, you can still build and publish applications that depend on them through the standard registration scheme using the Bootstrapper. For more information, see Creating Bootstrapper Packages.(From http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms165432(v=vs.100).aspx)
Anyway, please let me know the result.
Best Regards,

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Bob Wu [MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 4

Thank you very much for your reply. I understand what you're doing. Clever. I'll try it this pm and let ou know the results.

-t

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-terry

Answer 5

After several days of compiler issues, I'm back. I am writing this is vb.net and can't seem to get your C# code ported. This is what I have:

Imports System.IO
Imports System
Imports StdDataFormat

Public Class Form1    
	Public Sub New()       
		InitializeComponent()        
		Dim f As New StdDataFormat()        
		f = New StdDataFormat()        
		Dim s As String = "A"       
 		s = s + f.ToString    
	End Sub
End Class

Some errors:

StdDataFormat is not defined

Namespace....StdFormat...doesn't contain and public membor or cannot be found

Etc.

Sorry for the inexperience.

-terry

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-terry

Answer 6

Hi tharmer,
You should add the reference, please follow the steps below.
Click add reference, click COM tab, select Microsoft Data Formatting Object Library 6.0 and then click ok.

Bes tRegarsd,

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Bob Wu [MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 7

Well, I got that far, but when I "Isolate" the reference, ClickOnce refuses to deploy, claiming that "the program is improperly formatted."

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-terry

PS if I remove the attempt to isolate, then ClickOnce deploys correctly, but this message reappears:

Class not registered. You need the following file to be installed on your machine.

MSSTDFMT.DLL

Answer 8

Hi tharmer,
Is it written by C#,VB.net or Vb6?
Could you please post the details of the error message?
Best Regards,

---

Bob Wu [MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us