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Multiple VersionsHi,
I have an application that I need to have two versions which loads adds functionality. I was curious what others do to implement this. I do not want to have two version because of the maintanence problems it causes. I was thinking about using a file included with the program would trigger the addition of functionality on the app loading. Or maybe add a reg key or a line in the ini file. Any suggestions? Thanks > I have an application that I need to have two versions which loads adds How about a plugin system? Since VB doesn't natively support standard DLL's you have to use ActiveX DLL's for this> functionality. I was curious what others do to implement this. I do not > want to have two version because of the maintanence problems it causes. I > was thinking about using a file included with the program would trigger the > addition of functionality on the app loading. Or maybe add a reg key or a > line in the ini file. Any suggestions? (assuming you want to develop both the application and plugins in VB) but other than that the principle still works pretty well. I'm sure there's articles around that discuss how to implement a simple plugin system in a VB application, I would also recommend this article which demonstrates one method of creating a plugin architecture: http://www.devx.com/vb2themax/Article/19830/1763/ Hope this helps, Mike - Microsoft Visual Basic MVP - E-Mail: ED***@mvps.org WWW: Http://EDais.mvps.org/ "Tim" <Timo***@sbc.com> wrote in message If I understand correctly, I'd suggest writing the functionality that news:On1Sp4KYFHA.980@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl... > Hi, > > I have an application that I need to have two versions which loads adds > functionality. I was curious what others do to implement this. I do not > want to have two version because of the maintanence problems it causes. I > was thinking about using a file included with the program would trigger > the addition of functionality on the app loading. Or maybe add a reg key > or a line in the ini file. Any suggestions? differs in 2 DLLs. You can then instantiate classes of the appropriate DLL. For example, I once worked on an app where we offered "standard" functionality. Clients could, however, customize that functionality (at additional cost, of course). All we needed to do was write a customized version of a DLL and install that for the client to use. Thanks for the replies. The application I am working on was not designed to
have plugins or other dll's. At the time of the design of this application this option was not in the project scope. Also, the additions I am trying to add are very small (example: add a new menu item for the user to use). So, I am looking for what others are doing to trigger this addition (like a ini file or reg key or even a file being included in the app's directory). Thanks Show quoteHide quote "MikeD" <nob***@nowhere.edu> wrote in message news:O8Fy9RMYFHA.1092@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl... > > "Tim" <Timo***@sbc.com> wrote in message > news:On1Sp4KYFHA.980@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl... >> Hi, >> >> I have an application that I need to have two versions which loads adds >> functionality. I was curious what others do to implement this. I do not >> want to have two version because of the maintanence problems it causes. >> I was thinking about using a file included with the program would trigger >> the addition of functionality on the app loading. Or maybe add a reg key >> or a line in the ini file. Any suggestions? > > > If I understand correctly, I'd suggest writing the functionality that > differs in 2 DLLs. You can then instantiate classes of the appropriate > DLL. For example, I once worked on an app where we offered "standard" > functionality. Clients could, however, customize that functionality (at > additional cost, of course). All we needed to do was write a customized > version of a DLL and install that for the client to use. > > > Thanks for the replies. The application I am working on was not designed One application we have running here uses a command line to specify which > to have plugins or other dll's. At the time of the design of this > application this option was not in the project scope. Also, the additions > I am trying to add are very small (example: add a new menu item for the > user to use). So, I am looking for what others are doing to trigger this > addition (like a ini file or reg key or even a file being included in the > app's directory). 'plugin' modules to display - All plugin modules are compiled into the application but their buttons are only displayed if a certain string is found in the command line. This could easily be added into the application so users could log-in or log-off and the additional buttons/menu would be enabled/disabled as required, it depends on your requirements. Hope this helps, Mike - Microsoft Visual Basic MVP - E-Mail: ED***@mvps.org WWW: Http://EDais.mvps.org/ Tim,
We regularly use the SaveSetting and GetSetting functions to set options, etc. One program has hundreds of options for different customers, options, and preferences. They can be as simple as what to show on a menu, to whether the customer has paid for some functionality. We set each setting on load, and allow changes either from a setup area, or even by secret key combinations and passwords. Example: If GetSetting(App.EXE, "Settings", "EnableFeatureA", False) = True Then ShowFeatureA End If Hope this helps, DrBarkley Show quoteHide quote "Tim" <Timo***@sbc.com> wrote in message news:uHf46HUYFHA.4036@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl... > Thanks for the replies. The application I am working on was not designed to > have plugins or other dll's. At the time of the design of this application > this option was not in the project scope. Also, the additions I am trying > to add are very small (example: add a new menu item for the user to use). > So, I am looking for what others are doing to trigger this addition (like a > ini file or reg key or even a file being included in the app's directory). > > Thanks > > "MikeD" <nob***@nowhere.edu> wrote in message > news:O8Fy9RMYFHA.1092@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl... > > > > "Tim" <Timo***@sbc.com> wrote in message > > news:On1Sp4KYFHA.980@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl... > >> Hi, > >> > >> I have an application that I need to have two versions which loads adds > >> functionality. I was curious what others do to implement this. I do not > >> want to have two version because of the maintanence problems it causes. > >> I was thinking about using a file included with the program would trigger > >> the addition of functionality on the app loading. Or maybe add a reg key > >> or a line in the ini file. Any suggestions? > > > > > > If I understand correctly, I'd suggest writing the functionality that > > differs in 2 DLLs. You can then instantiate classes of the appropriate > > DLL. For example, I once worked on an app where we offered "standard" > > functionality. Clients could, however, customize that functionality (at > > additional cost, of course). All we needed to do was write a customized > > version of a DLL and install that for the client to use. > > > > > > > We regularly use the SaveSetting and GetSetting functions to set options, etc. I hope none of the additional functionality is confidential, it's so easy for 'curious' users to play around in the> One program has hundreds of options for different customers, options, and preferences. > They can be as simple as what to show on a menu, to whether the customer has > paid for some functionality. registry especially with such a limited part of the tree to hunt within.. Mike - Microsoft Visual Basic MVP - E-Mail: ED***@mvps.org WWW: Http://EDais.mvps.org/ Mike,
I almost got into that, then decided against it. But, you are right, and we don't make it quite so simple for "important" issues. One possible way to "hide" boolean items, is to use a bitmask--at least it makes them work for it. DrBarkley "Mike D Sutton" <ED***@mvps.org> wrote in message for 'curious' users to play around in thenews:Os4buLVYFHA.2756@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl... > > We regularly use the SaveSetting and GetSetting functions to set options, etc. > > One program has hundreds of options for different customers, options, and preferences. > > They can be as simple as what to show on a menu, to whether the customer has > > paid for some functionality. > > I hope none of the additional functionality is confidential, it's so easy Show quoteHide quote > registry especially with such a limited part of the tree to hunt within.. > > Mike > > > - Microsoft Visual Basic MVP - > E-Mail: ED***@mvps.org > WWW: Http://EDais.mvps.org/ > > |
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