View Full Version : Deploying VB6 App and Office Web Components


SJ
05-09-2006, 04:35 AM
Hi, I have a Visual Basic 6 application that is currently deployed throughout
an organisation using Citrix. The organisation uses Microsoft Office,
although the versions in use vary and the application is currently deployed
via Citrix.

We want to use the Office Web Components to do some charting within the
Visual Basic App without interactivity ie. just display some charts, however
have come across the licensing blurb.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/previous/xp/developer/platform/owcfaq.asp
and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555094/en-us

We would like to give the client the OWC11.DLL to install as part of the
Citrix configuration rather than them having to go to the Microsoft website
etc and to download. But the above licensing doesnt appear to let us do this.
Am I correct? Is there an alternative apart from going with a third party
component that we can give to the client to include in their citrix setup.)?
Whats the reasoning behind Microsoft not allowing this component to be
distributed, even without interactivity?

So many questions I know, but thanks in advance for any help provided

Alvin Bruney
05-09-2006, 08:14 PM
>We would like to give the client the OWC11.DLL to install as part of the
>Citrix configuration rather than them having to go to the Microsoft website
>etc and to download.
You can but it's not legal. MS specifically forbids this.

Anyway, it would make more sense to not go this route. Probably an easier
route would be to write some sniffer code to detect the version of Office
being used and provide a link to the download site (sniffer code is
presented in this newsgroup).

This approach is done with flash shockwave for instance. Flash is not
deployed by third party vendors to client machines, instead, a link pops up
informing the client to go to the download site and download the required
component. It works well because it is a one-time setup cost and you do not
have to maintain any assemblies on the client since it is done thru the
download site. You can use the same approach or choose a different chart
component.

In anycase, all industrial grade charting software comes with licensing
restrictions and the OWC is no exception.


--

________________________
Warm regards,
Alvin Bruney [MVP ASP.NET]

[Shameless Author plug]
Professional VSTO.NET - Wrox/Wiley
The O.W.C. Black Book with .NET
www.lulu.com/owc, Amazon
Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/blogs/alvin
-------------------------------------------------------

"SJ" <SJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:61C591BF-B726-4F12-B281-2E98FEF1AFF9@microsoft.com...
> Hi, I have a Visual Basic 6 application that is currently deployed
> throughout
> an organisation using Citrix. The organisation uses Microsoft Office,
> although the versions in use vary and the application is currently
> deployed
> via Citrix.
>
> We want to use the Office Web Components to do some charting within the
> Visual Basic App without interactivity ie. just display some charts,
> however
> have come across the licensing blurb.
> http://www.microsoft.com/office/previous/xp/developer/platform/owcfaq.asp
> and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555094/en-us
>
> We would like to give the client the OWC11.DLL to install as part of the
> Citrix configuration rather than them having to go to the Microsoft
> website
> etc and to download. But the above licensing doesnt appear to let us do
> this.
> Am I correct? Is there an alternative apart from going with a third party
> component that we can give to the client to include in their citrix
> setup.)?
> Whats the reasoning behind Microsoft not allowing this component to be
> distributed, even without interactivity?
>
> So many questions I know, but thanks in advance for any help provided

SJ
05-10-2006, 12:04 AM
thanks for the info Alvin,
I've tried to find references to the 'sniffer code' you mentioned in your
reply but to no avail. Can you (or anyone) point me in the right direction?

Most appreciated
SJ

"Alvin Bruney" wrote:

> >We would like to give the client the OWC11.DLL to install as part of the
> >Citrix configuration rather than them having to go to the Microsoft website
> >etc and to download.
> You can but it's not legal. MS specifically forbids this.
>
> Anyway, it would make more sense to not go this route. Probably an easier
> route would be to write some sniffer code to detect the version of Office
> being used and provide a link to the download site (sniffer code is
> presented in this newsgroup).
>
> This approach is done with flash shockwave for instance. Flash is not
> deployed by third party vendors to client machines, instead, a link pops up
> informing the client to go to the download site and download the required
> component. It works well because it is a one-time setup cost and you do not
> have to maintain any assemblies on the client since it is done thru the
> download site. You can use the same approach or choose a different chart
> component.
>
> In anycase, all industrial grade charting software comes with licensing
> restrictions and the OWC is no exception.
>
>
> --
>
> ________________________
> Warm regards,
> Alvin Bruney [MVP ASP.NET]
>
> [Shameless Author plug]
> Professional VSTO.NET - Wrox/Wiley
> The O.W.C. Black Book with .NET
> www.lulu.com/owc, Amazon
> Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/blogs/alvin
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
> "SJ" <SJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:61C591BF-B726-4F12-B281-2E98FEF1AFF9@microsoft.com...
> > Hi, I have a Visual Basic 6 application that is currently deployed
> > throughout
> > an organisation using Citrix. The organisation uses Microsoft Office,
> > although the versions in use vary and the application is currently
> > deployed
> > via Citrix.
> >
> > We want to use the Office Web Components to do some charting within the
> > Visual Basic App without interactivity ie. just display some charts,
> > however
> > have come across the licensing blurb.
> > http://www.microsoft.com/office/previous/xp/developer/platform/owcfaq.asp
> > and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555094/en-us
> >
> > We would like to give the client the OWC11.DLL to install as part of the
> > Citrix configuration rather than them having to go to the Microsoft
> > website
> > etc and to download. But the above licensing doesnt appear to let us do
> > this.
> > Am I correct? Is there an alternative apart from going with a third party
> > component that we can give to the client to include in their citrix
> > setup.)?
> > Whats the reasoning behind Microsoft not allowing this component to be
> > distributed, even without interactivity?
> >
> > So many questions I know, but thanks in advance for any help provided
>
>
>

Alvin Bruney
05-10-2006, 01:29 AM
search for owc sniffer code, second link
http://www.ureader.com/message/1186171.aspx

--

________________________
Warm regards,
Alvin Bruney [MVP ASP.NET]

[Shameless Author plug]
Professional VSTO.NET - Wrox/Wiley
The O.W.C. Black Book with .NET
www.lulu.com/owc, Amazon
Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/blogs/alvin
-------------------------------------------------------

"SJ" <SJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:CF183BC6-A1F7-438F-A414-4DE633086AF8@microsoft.com...
> thanks for the info Alvin,
> I've tried to find references to the 'sniffer code' you mentioned in your
> reply but to no avail. Can you (or anyone) point me in the right
> direction?
>
> Most appreciated
> SJ
>
> "Alvin Bruney" wrote:
>
>> >We would like to give the client the OWC11.DLL to install as part of the
>> >Citrix configuration rather than them having to go to the Microsoft
>> >website
>> >etc and to download.
>> You can but it's not legal. MS specifically forbids this.
>>
>> Anyway, it would make more sense to not go this route. Probably an easier
>> route would be to write some sniffer code to detect the version of Office
>> being used and provide a link to the download site (sniffer code is
>> presented in this newsgroup).
>>
>> This approach is done with flash shockwave for instance. Flash is not
>> deployed by third party vendors to client machines, instead, a link pops
>> up
>> informing the client to go to the download site and download the required
>> component. It works well because it is a one-time setup cost and you do
>> not
>> have to maintain any assemblies on the client since it is done thru the
>> download site. You can use the same approach or choose a different chart
>> component.
>>
>> In anycase, all industrial grade charting software comes with licensing
>> restrictions and the OWC is no exception.
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> ________________________
>> Warm regards,
>> Alvin Bruney [MVP ASP.NET]
>>
>> [Shameless Author plug]
>> Professional VSTO.NET - Wrox/Wiley
>> The O.W.C. Black Book with .NET
>> www.lulu.com/owc, Amazon
>> Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/blogs/alvin
>> -------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> "SJ" <SJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:61C591BF-B726-4F12-B281-2E98FEF1AFF9@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi, I have a Visual Basic 6 application that is currently deployed
>> > throughout
>> > an organisation using Citrix. The organisation uses Microsoft Office,
>> > although the versions in use vary and the application is currently
>> > deployed
>> > via Citrix.
>> >
>> > We want to use the Office Web Components to do some charting within the
>> > Visual Basic App without interactivity ie. just display some charts,
>> > however
>> > have come across the licensing blurb.
>> > http://www.microsoft.com/office/previous/xp/developer/platform/owcfaq.asp
>> > and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555094/en-us
>> >
>> > We would like to give the client the OWC11.DLL to install as part of
>> > the
>> > Citrix configuration rather than them having to go to the Microsoft
>> > website
>> > etc and to download. But the above licensing doesnt appear to let us do
>> > this.
>> > Am I correct? Is there an alternative apart from going with a third
>> > party
>> > component that we can give to the client to include in their citrix
>> > setup.)?
>> > Whats the reasoning behind Microsoft not allowing this component to be
>> > distributed, even without interactivity?
>> >
>> > So many questions I know, but thanks in advance for any help provided
>>
>>
>>

SJ
05-10-2006, 02:11 AM
thanks Alvin...just had to use google and the right search parameters!
(I was using the forum search on support.microsoft.com and 'office web
component sniffer' under google...)

"Alvin Bruney" wrote:

> search for owc sniffer code, second link
> http://www.ureader.com/message/1186171.aspx
>
> --
>
> ________________________
> Warm regards,
> Alvin Bruney [MVP ASP.NET]
>
> [Shameless Author plug]
> Professional VSTO.NET - Wrox/Wiley
> The O.W.C. Black Book with .NET
> www.lulu.com/owc, Amazon
> Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/blogs/alvin
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
> "SJ" <SJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:CF183BC6-A1F7-438F-A414-4DE633086AF8@microsoft.com...
> > thanks for the info Alvin,
> > I've tried to find references to the 'sniffer code' you mentioned in your
> > reply but to no avail. Can you (or anyone) point me in the right
> > direction?
> >
> > Most appreciated
> > SJ
> >
> > "Alvin Bruney" wrote:
> >
> >> >We would like to give the client the OWC11.DLL to install as part of the
> >> >Citrix configuration rather than them having to go to the Microsoft
> >> >website
> >> >etc and to download.
> >> You can but it's not legal. MS specifically forbids this.
> >>
> >> Anyway, it would make more sense to not go this route. Probably an easier
> >> route would be to write some sniffer code to detect the version of Office
> >> being used and provide a link to the download site (sniffer code is
> >> presented in this newsgroup).
> >>
> >> This approach is done with flash shockwave for instance. Flash is not
> >> deployed by third party vendors to client machines, instead, a link pops
> >> up
> >> informing the client to go to the download site and download the required
> >> component. It works well because it is a one-time setup cost and you do
> >> not
> >> have to maintain any assemblies on the client since it is done thru the
> >> download site. You can use the same approach or choose a different chart
> >> component.
> >>
> >> In anycase, all industrial grade charting software comes with licensing
> >> restrictions and the OWC is no exception.
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >> ________________________
> >> Warm regards,
> >> Alvin Bruney [MVP ASP.NET]
> >>
> >> [Shameless Author plug]
> >> Professional VSTO.NET - Wrox/Wiley
> >> The O.W.C. Black Book with .NET
> >> www.lulu.com/owc, Amazon
> >> Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/blogs/alvin
> >> -------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> "SJ" <SJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:61C591BF-B726-4F12-B281-2E98FEF1AFF9@microsoft.com...
> >> > Hi, I have a Visual Basic 6 application that is currently deployed
> >> > throughout
> >> > an organisation using Citrix. The organisation uses Microsoft Office,
> >> > although the versions in use vary and the application is currently
> >> > deployed
> >> > via Citrix.
> >> >
> >> > We want to use the Office Web Components to do some charting within the
> >> > Visual Basic App without interactivity ie. just display some charts,
> >> > however
> >> > have come across the licensing blurb.
> >> > http://www.microsoft.com/office/previous/xp/developer/platform/owcfaq.asp
> >> > and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555094/en-us
> >> >
> >> > We would like to give the client the OWC11.DLL to install as part of
> >> > the
> >> > Citrix configuration rather than them having to go to the Microsoft
> >> > website
> >> > etc and to download. But the above licensing doesnt appear to let us do
> >> > this.
> >> > Am I correct? Is there an alternative apart from going with a third
> >> > party
> >> > component that we can give to the client to include in their citrix
> >> > setup.)?
> >> > Whats the reasoning behind Microsoft not allowing this component to be
> >> > distributed, even without interactivity?
> >> >
> >> > So many questions I know, but thanks in advance for any help provided
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>