BUG: Circular Dependency Error After Breaking Compatibility (190790)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 6.0
This article was previously published under Q190790

SYMPTOMS

After breaking and restoring binary compatibility of an ActiveX control that is hosted by another ActiveX control in the same Visual Basic project, the following error occurs:
Circular dependencies between modules
This error occurs whenever you open the hosting control. In addition, the hosted control is replaced by a picture box. Any attempt to add the hosted control back to the hosting control generates the above error again.

RESOLUTION

Take the following steps to resolve this issue:

  1. Remove the hosted control (.ctl) from the project.
  2. Save and close the project.
  3. Reopen the project and add the hosted control (.ctl) back to the project by selecting Add Control from the Project menu.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this bug and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Create a new ActiveX Control project in Visual Basic. UserControl1 is created by default.
  2. From the Project menu, click Add User Control.
  3. In the Add User Control dialog box, double-click User Control. This will create UserControl2.
  4. In the Project Explorer window, right-click on UserControl2 and click View Code.
  5. Enter the following code in UserControl2: 
          Event Test()
  6. Close both the designer and code windows for UserControl2.
  7. From the Toolbox window, place Usercontrol2 on UserControl1.
  8. On the File menu, click Make Project1.ocx to compile the project.
  9. On the Project menu, click Project1 Properties, and then click the Components tab.
  10. Under Version Compatibility, select Binary Compatibility and click OK.
  11. Close both UserControl designer windows, if open.
  12. In the Project Explorer, right-click on UserControl2 and click View Code.
  13. Comment out the following line of code, entered in step 5: 
          Event Test()
  14. Open UserControl1's designer. The following incompatibility error occurs:
    The "Test" event exists in the version-compatible component, but not in the current project.
    Click Cancel to continue past this error.
  15. A second error will occur:
    Error loading "c:\windows\temp\vbc2e4.tmp", a control could not be loaded due to load error. Continue?
    Click No to continue past this error.

    NOTE: The path shown in the above error may vary due to varying temporary file names.
  16. Remove the comment on the Event Test line in UserControl2; this should restore compatibility.
  17. Open UserControl1's designer.
RESULT: The error "Circular dependencies between modules" is received followed by the same message in step 15. If you select Yes to continue loading, then Usercontrol1 opens with a picture box instead of Usercontrol2. If you delete the Picture Box and attempt to add back UserControl2 to UserControl1, the above error will be shown again.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/13/2003
Keywords:kbbug KB190790
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