I have an activex exe written in vb6 that I am accessing using vbscript. I have a sub in this activex exe with a parameter that needs to return an array. I tried using a function to return a variant type array, but it would not allow access to the array in vbscript. Basically, I just need to figure out a way to pass an array or a collection from my vb6 exe to my vbscript. I have seen examples, but none of them will work for me probably because most of them are talking about ASP.

After reading this code I know you are going to tell me there is already a way to enumerate registry keys in vbscript. I know that. I don't have WMI enabled on this system and I need another way to enumerate registry in vbscript, so I am writing my own code.


The error occurs on the line that reads "reg.EnumKeys "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services", keys"
Type mismatch EnumKeys

That does not make any sense because EnumKeys is a sub in my vb6 exe.

Here is part of the code in the activex exe:
Code: [Select]Public Sub EnumKeys(strSection As String, keyName As String, retKeyNames() As Variant)
Dim hKey As Long
Dim keyNames() As Variant
Dim section As Long
Dim i As Long

' Convert from string to the section code
section = GetSection(strSection)

' Open the key.
If RegOpenKeyEx(section, keyName, 0, KEY_ALL_ACCESS, hKey) <> ERROR_SUCCESS Then
MsgBox "Error opening key."
Exit Sub
End If

' Enumerate
keyName = Space(KEY_LENGTH)
While RegEnumKey(hKey, i, keyName, KEY_LENGTH) = ERROR_SUCCESS
ReDim Preserve keyNames(i)
keyNames(i) = keyName
keyName = Space(KEY_LENGTH)
i = i + 1
Wend

' Close the key.
If RegCloseKey(hKey) <> ERROR_SUCCESS Then
MsgBox "Error closing key."
End If

retKeyNames = keyNames
End Sub

Here is the vbscript to enumerate registry:
Code: [Select]Option Explicit
Dim reg
Dim keys
Dim i
Dim io
SET io = CreateObject("wshshell.io")
Set reg = CreateObject("wshshell.registry")

reg.EnumKeys "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services", keys

For i = 0 to ubound(keys)
msgbox keys(i)
Next

wscript.stdout.write "Press any key to continue. . ."

While io.GetKeysASCII = vbNull
wscript.sleep 50
Wend

Set io = Nothing
Set reg = Nothing
VB6 ActiveX EXE Project name "TestEXE", Class "TestClass":

Code: [Select]Option Explicit

Public Function ReturnArray(ByVal Argument As String, ByVal totalsize As Integer) As Variant

Dim returnme As Variant, I As Integer
ReDim returnme(0 To totalsize - 1)
For I = 0 To totalsize - 1
returnme(I) = Argument & Str(I)
Next


ReturnArray = returnme


End Function

After compiling I ran this VBScript:

Code: [Select]Dim objaccess,returnedvalue
Dim I
set objaccess = CreateObject("TestEXE.TestClass")
returnvalue = objaccess.ReturnArray("String",15)
for I = 0 to Ubound(returnvalue)
WScript.Echo(I)
Next


And this was the result, as expected:
Code: [Select]D:\>C:\windows\syswow64\cscript.exe testacx.vbs
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

So, the question is, what's different? Well, there are a few differences. For example your code is using a Sub() procedure, and returning the value via a ByRef (implied) Array argument; Mine is returning that value directly as a Variant array, which brings up the other difference- note that the function, as well as the local variable used to hold the array, are declared as Variant Array (Dim X as Variant) rather then an array of Variants (Dim X() as Variant).

Additionally, the Type Mismatch error MAKES perfect sense; in your VB6 Executable, the ByRef argument is of Type Variant() (an array of variants), whereas the variable that VBScript is passing it is Variant . I think it is impossible to even create a Array of variants in VBScript, all arrays in VBScript are Variant arrays. The terminology can get confusing. Here's a quick once-over:

As you know, a Variant Variable can store any number of different types; One of these types is in fact, an array. So, a normal Variant Variable can in fact hold an entire array of values. It's important to note that a Variant Variable HOLDING an Array is quite different from a Array of Variant Variables, I don't remember a lot of the differences ATM but I believe they are marshalled quite differently (being that one is a Variant variable, and the other is a first-class Array).

Anyway, long story short, the best option would probably be to either try declaring "keys" as an array:

Code: [Select]Dim keys() 'instead of Dim keys

Which might work (I'm not sure though, since I think VBScript might internally just create a Variant Array (and not the desired Array of Variants). The other option is to simply use a normal Variant Variable for the ByRef argument, and use Redim() to turn it into an array in the routine. (Wether you use a function instead is entirely optional, of course)

Quote

and use Redim() to turn it into an array in the routine.

There's only one small problem left with the "keyName = Space(KEY_LENGTH)". In the console, it shows all the extra spaces after the key name. I figure that's because there is no null termination character, but it's weird because it displays fine in a msgbox (no extra spaces).

Why won't msgboxes display from the activex exe?

Thanks so much for your help I was at this for three hours.