INFO: How Visual Basic 4.0 Handles Files Marked Read-Only (143044)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0

This article was previously published under Q143044

SUMMARY

Visual Basic 4.0 may handle files with the read-only attribute set differently than Visual Basic 3.0. This may result in a "Can't Edit Module" error when trying to change a code module. The Visual Basic 4.0 development environment will handle read-only files in one of two ways. The way Visual Basic 4.0 behaves is dependent on the current setting of the ReadOnlyMode property of the development environment. If the ReadOnlyMode is set to 0 (lenient) you will be able to edit files marked read-only just like Visual Basic 3.0. Of course you will still not be able to save your changes. If the ReadOnlyMode is set to 1 (strict) Visual Basic will not allow you to edit files marked read-only.

MORE INFORMATION

The default ReadOnlyMode for Visual Basic 4.0 is lenient. However, the default can be changed to strict by adding ReadOnlyMode=1 to the Visual Basic section of the VB.INI.

ReadOnlyMode can also be changed dynamically by Visual Basic 4.0 add-ins through the ReadOnlyMode property of the Application object of Visual Basic 4.0 add-in object model. The Microsoft SourceSafe add-in for Visual Basic 4.0 sets Visual Basic 4.0 to the strict mode. The following example shows you how to create a add-in that will allow you to toggle the ReadOnlyMode from a menu item.

Example

  1. Start a new project.
  2. Remove the default Form1.
  3. Add a reference to "Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 Development Environment" using the Tools/References dialog.
  4. Add a new standard module (Module1.BAS by default).
  5. Put the following code in the standard module:
          ''' MODULE1.BAS
          '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
          #If Win16 Then
             Declare Function WritePrivateProfileString Lib "KERNEL" ( _
                ByVal AppName As String, ByVal KeyName As String, _
                ByVal keydefault As String, ByVal FileName As String) As _
                Integer
             Declare Function GetPrivateProfileString Lib "KERNEL" ( _
                ByVal AppName As String, ByVal KeyName As String, _
                ByVal keydefault As String, ByVal ReturnString As String, _
                ByVal NumBytes As Integer, ByVal FileName As String) As Integer
          #ElseIf Win32 Then
             Declare Function WritePrivateProfileString Lib "KERNEL32" _
                Alias "WritePrivateProfileStringA" (ByVal AppName As String, _
                ByVal KeyName As String, ByVal keydefault As String, _
                ByVal FileName As String) As Long
             Declare Function GetPrivateProfileString Lib "KERNEL32" _
                Alias "GetPrivateProfileStringA" (ByVal AppName As String, _
                ByVal KeyName As String, ByVal keydefault As String, _
                ByVal ReturnString As String, ByVal NumBytes As Long, _
                ByVal FileName As String) As Long
          #End If
    
          Sub Main()
             #If Win16 Then
                Const Section = "Add-Ins16"
             #ElseIf Win32 Then
                Const Section = "Add-Ins32"
             #End If
             Const BufSize = 255
    
             Dim Ret As Variant
             Dim RetStr As String
    
             ' Check to see if the entry is already in the VB.INI file.
             ' Add if not.
    
             RetStr = Space(BufSize)
             Ret = GetPrivateProfileString(Section, "ReadOnlyMode.Switch", _
                "NotFound", RetStr, BufSize, "VB.INI")
             RetStr = Left(RetStr, Ret)
             If RetStr = "NotFound" Then
                WritePrivateProfileString Section, "ReadOnlyMode.Switch", _
                   "0", "VB.INI"
             End If
          End Sub
    
          ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
    						
  6. Add a new class module to the project (Class1.CLS by default.)
  7. Set the following properties of the class module to the specified values:
          Property        Value
          ---------------------------------------
    
          Instancing      1 - Creatable MultiUse
          Name            Switch
          Public          True
    						
  8. Put the following code in the class module:
          ''' CLASS1.CLS
          ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
          Option Explicit
    
          Private ThisInstance As VBIDE.Application
          Private AddInMenuLine As VBIDE.MenuLine
          Private AddInID As Long
    
          Public Sub ConnectAddIn(VBInstance As Object)
             Set ThisInstance = VBInstance
             Set AddInMenuLine = ThisInstance.AddInMenu.MenuItems.Add( _
                "Strict &ReadOnlyMode")
             AddInMenuLine.Checked = ThisInstance.ReadOnlyMode
             AddInID = AddInMenuLine.ConnectEvents(Me)
          End Sub
    
          Public Sub DisconnectAddIn(Mode As Integer)
             AddInMenuLine.DisconnectEvents AddInID
             ThisInstance.AddInMenu.MenuItems.Remove AddInMenuLine
          End Sub
    
          Public Sub AfterClick()
             ThisInstance.ReadOnlyMode = ThisInstance.ReadOnlyMode Xor 1
             AddInMenuLine.Checked = ThisInstance.ReadOnlyMode
          End Sub
    
          ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
    						
  9. Set the following Project Options:
          Option            Value
          ----------------------------------------
    
          Startup Form      Sub Main
          Project Name      ReadOnlyMode
          StartMode         OLE Server
          Error Trapping    Break in Class Module
    						
  10. Save the project.
  11. Run the project.
  12. Start up a second instance of Visual Basic (Form1 is created by default.)
  13. Use the Add-In Manager to add the ReadOnlyMode.Switch add-in.
  14. Open a code module with that has the read-only attribute set. You can tell if a file is marked read-only by the small red lock that appears in the project window next to the file.
  15. From the Add-In menu you can switch the ReadOnlyMode. When checked the environment will be in strict mode and when unchecked it will be in lenient mode.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/9/2003
Keywords:kbenv kbinfo KB143044