PRB: Out of Memory Error Adding GIF Files to RichTextBox Control (264405)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 6.0
This article was previously published under Q264405

SYMPTOMS

On Microsoft Windows 2000, when you add a Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) file to a RichTextBox control followed by the addition of another GIF, you get the following error message:
Runtime Error 7: Out of Memory
Under Microsoft Windows 9x or Microsoft NT 4.0, the error message appears when you add the first GIF to the RichTextBox.

CAUSE

The addition of the first GIF file spawns the Photo Editor, which causes an error message under Windows 9x or NT 4.0. Under Windows 2000, when the second GIF file is added, the error occurs because Photo Editor is already open. So under Windows 2000, if you close the Photo Editor manually before executing the line of code that adds the second GIF, the error does not occur.

RESOLUTION

The workaround is to convert the GIF files into bitmaps (BMP) by saving them from a PictureBox control. Adding a BMP to a RichTextBox invokes the in-place activated Paint Editor instead of the Photo Editor.

In the following sample, you need to change the GIF file names to match the files that you are using on your system.

Step-by-Step Example

  1. Create a new Standard EXE project in Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default.
  2. Add a PictureBox control to Form1 and set its Visible property to False.
  3. Add the RichTextBox control to the Toolbox.
  4. On the Project menu, click to select Components, select the Microsoft Rich Textbox Control , and then click OK.
  5. Add a RichTextBox control to Form1.
  6. Place two GIF files in the application folder. This is the folder that contains the project file (.vbp) or executable file (.exe). For new (unsaved) projects, this is the ...\vb98 folder by default. Make sure that the actual file names are used in the following code or an else an error occurs.
  7. Add the following code to Form1:
    Private Sub Form_Click()
    RichTextBox1.Text = ""
    Picture1.Picture = LoadPicture(App.Path & "\c663dn5a.gif")
    DoEvents
    SavePicture Picture1.Picture, App.Path & "\c663dn5a.bmp"
    DoEvents
    RichTextBox1.OLEObjects.Add , , App.Path & "\c663dn5a.bmp"
    DoEvents
    
    RichTextBox1.SelStart = 1
    
    Picture1.Picture = LoadPicture(App.Path & "\c663dn5b.gif")
    DoEvents
    SavePicture Picture1.Picture, App.Path & "\c663dn5b.bmp"
    DoEvents
    RichTextBox1.OLEObjects.Add , , App.Path & "\c663dn5b.bmp"
    
    RichTextBox1.SelStart = Len(RichTextBox1.Text)
End Sub

Private Sub Form_QueryUnload(Cancel As Integer, UnloadMode As Integer)
    RichTextBox1.OLEObjects.Clear
End Sub
  8. Run the project, and note that both images are loaded into the RichTextBox.

MORE INFORMATION

The Photo Editor, which ships with Microsoft Office, is not an in-place activated application. Other OLE Servers for GIF files may or may not experience a similar problem. Note that if you do not have Photo Editor (or some other OLE Server for GIF files) on your system, the GIF files are loaded as icons only, so the error does not occur.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

You need to change the following code sample to use GIF files from your system. Otherwise you receive an error message indicating that the file was not found.
  1. On a system where Photo Editor is installed, start a new Standard EXE project in Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default.
  2. Add the RichTextBox control to the Toolbox.
  3. On the Project menu, click to select Components, select Microsoft Rich Textbox Control, and then click OK.
  4. Add a RichTextBox control to Form1.
  5. Add the following code to the code window of Form1:
    Private Sub Form_Load()<BR/>
   ' Use a path and file names for GIF files on your system
   RichTextBox1.OLEObjects.Add , , App.Path & "\c663dn5a.gif"
   RichTextBox1.OLEObjects.Add , , App.Path & "\c663dn5b.gif"
End Sub
  6. Press the F5 key to run the project, and note that you get the out of memory error message referenced in the "Symptoms" section of this article. The Photo Editor is started when you run the project.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/15/2002
Keywords:kbBug kbCodeSnippet kbCtrl kbDSupport kbprb KB264405
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.