Embedding a manifest into a file

I've noticed that Microsoft embeds a manifest into:

Outlook Express

The manifest imbedded there appears as:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1"
manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity type="win32"
name="Microsoft.Windows.InternetExplorer.OutlookExpress"
version="1.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="x86"/>
<description>Outlook Express</description>
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity
type="win32"
name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
version="6.0.0.0"
language="*"
processorArchitecture="x86"
publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
/>
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>

I have two questions:

What exactly is the public key token, how is it obtained and used?
And how would this be implemented inside a VB application?

--
Jim Carlock
http://www.microcosmotalk.com/
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alpine
Thu Apr 29 23:35:08 CDT 2004

On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 23:58:48 -0400, "Jim Carlock"
<anonymous@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>I've noticed that Microsoft embeds a manifest into:
>
>Outlook Express
>
>The manifest imbedded there appears as:
>
><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
><assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1"
> manifestVersion="1.0">
><assemblyIdentity type="win32"
> name="Microsoft.Windows.InternetExplorer.OutlookExpress"
> version="1.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="x86"/>
><description>Outlook Express</description>
><dependency>
> <dependentAssembly>
> <assemblyIdentity
> type="win32"
> name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
> version="6.0.0.0"
> language="*"
> processorArchitecture="x86"
> publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
> />
> </dependentAssembly>
></dependency>
></assembly>
>
>I have two questions:
>
>What exactly is the public key token, how is it obtained and used?
>And how would this be implemented inside a VB application?


Don't know about the publickeytoken, but you can include the manifest
as a resource. See the following for an example....


[http://www.Planet-Source-Code.com/vb/scripts/ShowCode.asp?txtCodeId=42729&lngWId=1]


HTH,
Bryan
____________________________________________________________
New Vision Software "When the going gets weird,"
Bryan Stafford "the weird turn pro."
alpine_don'tsendspam@mvps.org Hunter S. Thompson -
Microsoft MVP-Visual Basic Fear and Loathing in LasVegas

Jim
Thu Apr 29 23:53:18 CDT 2004

Might be another SP6 bug. I compiled the file, and it
compiled fine. When I try to start it though, it just bombs out
without reporting an error, but the vbCritical sound is sounded
as if a critical error dialog box is displayed but nothing is
displayed. Anyone else want to try that program out with SP6?

--
Jim Carlock
http://www.microcosmotalk.com/
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"alpine" <alpine_don'tsendspam@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:1pl39092t07jo2sk248kkbq7b81bou5h90@4ax.com...
On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 23:58:48 -0400, "Jim Carlock"
<anonymous@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>I've noticed that Microsoft embeds a manifest into:
>
>Outlook Express
>
>The manifest imbedded there appears as:
>
><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
><assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1"
> manifestVersion="1.0">
><assemblyIdentity type="win32"
> name="Microsoft.Windows.InternetExplorer.OutlookExpress"
> version="1.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="x86"/>
><description>Outlook Express</description>
><dependency>
> <dependentAssembly>
> <assemblyIdentity
> type="win32"
> name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
> version="6.0.0.0"
> language="*"
> processorArchitecture="x86"
> publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
> />
> </dependentAssembly>
></dependency>
></assembly>
>
>I have two questions:
>
>What exactly is the public key token, how is it obtained and used?
>And how would this be implemented inside a VB application?


Don't know about the publickeytoken, but you can include the manifest
as a resource. See the following for an example....


[http://www.Planet-Source-Code.com/vb/scripts/ShowCode.asp?txtCodeId=42729&l
ngWId=1]


HTH,
Bryan
____________________________________________________________
New Vision Software "When the going gets weird,"
Bryan Stafford "the weird turn pro."
alpine_don'tsendspam@mvps.org Hunter S. Thompson -
Microsoft MVP-Visual Basic Fear and Loathing in LasVegas

Jim
Fri Apr 30 00:56:10 CDT 2004

Had to edit that program.

Created a text file and set it up with the following name:

NoManifest.exe.txt

Put the contents of the original resource file into it, ie the
<xml> tag on down, so that it appears as a Manifest file
for the compiled file.

Removed the original manifest file, put in my new manifest
file, added a custom resource, left the name of the Custom
resource in the Resource Editor as "CUSTOM" and then
saved and recompiled the project. It ran without a hitch.

Thanks Alpine!

--
Jim Carlock
http://www.microcosmotalk.com/
Post replies to the newsgroup.


"alpine" <alpine_don'tsendspam@mvps.org> wrote:
On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 23:58:48 -0400,
"Jim Carlock" wrote:

>I've noticed that Microsoft embeds a manifest into:
>
>Outlook Express
>
>The manifest imbedded there appears as:
>
><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
><assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1"
> manifestVersion="1.0">
><assemblyIdentity type="win32"
> name="Microsoft.Windows.InternetExplorer.OutlookExpress"
> version="1.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="x86"/>
><description>Outlook Express</description>
><dependency>
> <dependentAssembly>
> <assemblyIdentity
> type="win32"
> name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
> version="6.0.0.0"
> language="*"
> processorArchitecture="x86"
> publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
> />
> </dependentAssembly>
></dependency>
></assembly>
>
>I have two questions:
>
>What exactly is the public key token, how is it obtained and used?
>And how would this be implemented inside a VB application?


Don't know about the publickeytoken, but you can include the manifest
as a resource. See the following for an example....


[http://www.Planet-Source-Code.com/vb/scripts/ShowCode.asp?txtCodeId=42729&l
ngWId=1]


HTH,
Bryan
____________________________________________________________
New Vision Software "When the going gets weird,"
Bryan Stafford "the weird turn pro."
alpine_don'tsendspam@mvps.org Hunter S. Thompson -
Microsoft MVP-Visual Basic Fear and Loathing in LasVegas

Peter
Fri Apr 30 10:14:20 CDT 2004

"Jim Carlock" <anonymous@127.0.0.1> wrote in message news:unwuVfnLEHA.3892@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Had to edit that program.
>
> Created a text file and set it up with the following name:
>
> NoManifest.exe.txt
>
> Put the contents of the original resource file into it, ie the
> <xml> tag on down, so that it appears as a Manifest file
> for the compiled file.
>
> Removed the original manifest file, put in my new manifest
> file, added a custom resource, left the name of the Custom
> resource in the Resource Editor as "CUSTOM" and then
> saved and recompiled the project. It ran without a hitch.

But does it provide XP theme support? I'm guessing not.

The manifest resource must have an ID of 24, which the resource editor add-in doesn't allow you to set.

The PSC sample also doesn't let you specify the name of your app in the manifest resource. Not sure if that matters,
just something to be aware of. You could always edit it with a resource editor after building it.

You also can use the vbAdvance add-in to automatically compile in a manifest resource when you build your app:
http://www.vbadvance.com

Look here for some good info on XP themes in VB:
http://www.vbaccelerator.com/home/VB/Code/Libraries/XP_Visual_Styles/index.asp

Best,
Pete

Jim
Tue May 04 16:25:24 CDT 2004

"Peter Young" explained:
After "Jim Carlock" mentioned:
> Had to edit that program.
>
> Created a text file and set it up with the following name:
>
> NoManifest.exe.txt
>
> Put the contents of the original resource file into it, ie the
> <xml> tag on down, so that it appears as a Manifest file
> for the compiled file.
>
> Removed the original manifest file, put in my new manifest
> file, added a custom resource, left the name of the Custom
> resource in the Resource Editor as "CUSTOM" and then
> saved and recompiled the project. It ran without a hitch.

:: But does it provide XP theme support? I'm guessing not.

Nope. It sure doesn't.

:: The manifest resource must have an ID of 24, which the
:: resource editor add-in doesn't allow you to set.
::
:: The PSC sample also doesn't let you specify the name of
:: your app in the manifest resource. Not sure if that matters,
:: just something to be aware of. You could always edit it
:: with a resource editor after building it.
::
:: You also can use the vbAdvance add-in to automatically
:: compile in a manifest resource when you build your app:
:: http://www.vbadvance.com
::
:: Look here for some good info on XP themes in VB:
::
http://www.vbaccelerator.com/home/VB/Code/Libraries/XP_Visual_Styles/index.asp
::

I think I have a corrupt gdi32.dll. This application crashes
when I compile it on XP with VS SP6.

Can anyone else compile this for me and run it and let me
know if they get it to run outside of the IDE?

http://www.planet-source-code.com/vb/scripts/ShowCode.asp?txtCodeId=42729&lngWId=1

Thanks.

--
Jim Carlock
http://www.microcosmotalk.com/
Post replies to the newsgroup.