How to Use Functions in VERSION.DLL -- A 32-bit Sample App

Last reviewed: November 13, 1995
Article ID: Q139491

The information in this article applies to:

Standard, Professional, and Enterprise Editions of Microsoft Visual Basic, 32-bit only, for Windows, version 4.0

SUMMARY

This article contains code and instructions that demonstrate how to create a sample application that uses some of the functions in VERSION.DLL to retrieve file information embedded into a file with the resource compiler (RC.EXE).

NOTE: This code only works in Visual Basic version 4.0, 32-bit for Windows. To obtain a Visual Basic version 4.0 16-bit for Windows, example of this code, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q112731
   TITLE     : How to Use Functions in VER.DLL -- a 16-bit Sample
               Application

This Visual Basic application was modeled after the Verstamp sample program included in the Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK).

Additional information can be found in the following documents:

Microsoft Win32 SDK
Win32 API Declarations for Visual Basic (WIN32API.TXT) located in the WINAPI subdirectory of Visual Basic 4.0

MORE INFORMATION

Instead of offering this article in a number of steps, we have modified our usual format to make it easier for you to create and use this Visual Basic application. Therefore, the three files you need (VERINFO.BAS, VERINFO1.FRM, VERINFO2.FRM) are listed below so you can easily copy them into a text editor and save them as separate files. Instructions on how to use the files are embedded in the files as comments.

VERINFO.BAS

' Place the following code in a single text file called VERINFO.BAS:
'
' The Global constants below are defined in the VER.H header file, also
' included in Microsoft C/C++ 7.0, and the Windows SDK.
'
' **** Global variables used in both forms ****

Public Filename As String Public Directory As String Public FullFileName As String

Public StrucVer As String Public FileVer As String Public ProdVer As String Public FileFlags As String Public FileOS As String Public FileType As String Public FileSubType As String

Type VS_FIXEDFILEINFO

   dwSignature As Long
   dwStrucVersionl As Integer     '  e.g. = &h0000 = 0
   dwStrucVersionh As Integer     '  e.g. = &h0042 = .42
   dwFileVersionMSl As Integer    '  e.g. = &h0003 = 3
   dwFileVersionMSh As Integer    '  e.g. = &h0075 = .75
   dwFileVersionLSl As Integer    '  e.g. = &h0000 = 0
   dwFileVersionLSh As Integer    '  e.g. = &h0031 = .31
   dwProductVersionMSl As Integer '  e.g. = &h0003 = 3
   dwProductVersionMSh As Integer '  e.g. = &h0010 = .1
   dwProductVersionLSl As Integer '  e.g. = &h0000 = 0
   dwProductVersionLSh As Integer '  e.g. = &h0031 = .31
   dwFileFlagsMask As Long        '  = &h3F for version "0.42"
   dwFileFlags As Long            '  e.g. VFF_DEBUG Or VFF_PRERELEASE
   dwFileOS As Long               '  e.g. VOS_DOS_WINDOWS16
   dwFileType As Long             '  e.g. VFT_DRIVER
   dwFileSubtype As Long          '  e.g. VFT2_DRV_KEYBOARD
   dwFileDateMS As Long           '  e.g. 0
   dwFileDateLS As Long           '  e.g. 0

End Type

Declare Function GetFileVersionInfo Lib "Version.dll" Alias _
   "GetFileVersionInfoA" (ByVal lptstrFilename As String, ByVal _
   dwhandle As Long, ByVal dwlen As Long, lpData As Any) As Long
Declare Function GetFileVersionInfoSize Lib "Version.dll" Alias _
   "GetFileVersionInfoSizeA" (ByVal lptstrFilename As String, _
   lpdwHandle As Long) As Long
Declare Function VerQueryValue Lib "Version.dll" Alias _
   "VerQueryValueA" (pBlock As Any, ByVal lpSubBlock As String, _
   lplpBuffer As Any, puLen As Long) As Long
Declare Sub MoveMemory Lib "kernel32" Alias "RtlMoveMemory" _
   (dest As Any, ByVal Source As Long, ByVal length As Long)
Declare Function GetSystemDirectory Lib "kernel32" Alias _
   "GetSystemDirectoryA" (ByVal Path As String, ByVal cbBytes As Long) As

Long

' ===== From Win32 Ver.h =================
' ----- VS_VERSION.dwFileFlags -----

Public Const VS_FFI_SIGNATURE = &HFEEF04BD Public Const VS_FFI_STRUCVERSION = &H10000 Public Const VS_FFI_FILEFLAGSMASK = &H3F&

' ----- VS_VERSION.dwFileFlags -----

Public Const VS_FF_DEBUG = &H1 Public Const VS_FF_PRERELEASE = &H2 Public Const VS_FF_PATCHED = &H4 Public Const VS_FF_PRIVATEBUILD = &H8 Public Const VS_FF_INFOINFERRED = &H10 Public Const VS_FF_SPECIALBUILD = &H20

' ----- VS_VERSION.dwFileOS -----

Public Const VOS_UNKNOWN = &H0 Public Const VOS_DOS = &H10000 Public Const VOS_OS216 = &H20000 Public Const VOS_OS232 = &H30000 Public Const VOS_NT = &H40000

Public Const VOS__BASE = &H0 Public Const VOS__WINDOWS16 = &H1 Public Const VOS__PM16 = &H2 Public Const VOS__PM32 = &H3 Public Const VOS__WINDOWS32 = &H4

Public Const VOS_DOS_WINDOWS16 = &H10001 Public Const VOS_DOS_WINDOWS32 = &H10004 Public Const VOS_OS216_PM16 = &H20002 Public Const VOS_OS232_PM32 = &H30003 Public Const VOS_NT_WINDOWS32 = &H40004

' ----- VS_VERSION.dwFileType -----

Public Const VFT_UNKNOWN = &H0 Public Const VFT_APP = &H1 Public Const VFT_DLL = &H2 Public Const VFT_DRV = &H3 Public Const VFT_FONT = &H4 Public Const VFT_VXD = &H5 Public Const VFT_STATIC_LIB = &H7

' ----- VS_VERSION.dwFileSubtype for VFT_WINDOWS_DRV -----

Public Const VFT2_UNKNOWN = &H0 Public Const VFT2_DRV_PRINTER = &H1 Public Const VFT2_DRV_KEYBOARD = &H2 Public Const VFT2_DRV_LANGUAGE = &H3 Public Const VFT2_DRV_DISPLAY = &H4 Public Const VFT2_DRV_MOUSE = &H5 Public Const VFT2_DRV_NETWORK = &H6 Public Const VFT2_DRV_SYSTEM = &H7 Public Const VFT2_DRV_INSTALLABLE = &H8 Public Const VFT2_DRV_SOUND = &H9 Public Const VFT2_DRV_COMM = &HA

VERINFO1.FRM

' The following is a text dump of the form VERINFO1. It includes the form
' and control description as well as necessary Function and Sub procedures.
' Save the code in a single TEXT file called VERINFO1.FRM and you can then
' load it as a form in Visual Basic.
'

VERSION 4.00 Begin VB.Form Form1

   Appearance      =   0  'Flat
   BackColor       =   &H80000005&
   BorderStyle     =   1  'Fixed Single
   Caption         =   "VerInfo Demo"
   ClientHeight    =   4290
   ClientLeft      =   2340
   ClientTop       =   2160
   ClientWidth     =   3855
   BeginProperty Font
      name            =   "MS Sans Serif"
      charset         =   0
      weight          =   700
      size            =   8.25
      underline       =   0   'False
      italic          =   0   'False
      strikethrough   =   0   'False
   EndProperty
   ForeColor       =   &H80000008&
   Height          =   4755
   Left            =   2250
   LinkMode        =   1  'Source
   LinkTopic       =   "Form1"
   ScaleHeight     =   17.875
   ScaleMode       =   4  'Character
   ScaleWidth      =   32.125
   Top             =   1785
   Width           =   4035
   Begin VB.DriveListBox Drive1
      Appearance      =   0  'Flat
      Height          =   315
      Left            =   1830
      TabIndex        =   7
      Top             =   3795
      Width           =   1905
   End
   Begin VB.DirListBox Dir1
      Appearance      =   0  'Flat
      Height          =   2055
      Left            =   1830
      TabIndex        =   5
      Top             =   1305
      Width           =   1890
   End
   Begin VB.FileListBox File1
      Appearance      =   0  'Flat
      Height          =   3150
      Left            =   120
      TabIndex        =   3
      Top             =   984
      Width           =   1575
   End
   Begin VB.TextBox Text1
      Appearance      =   0  'Flat
      Height          =   288
      Left            =   1092
      TabIndex        =   1
      Text            =   "*.*"
      Top             =   204
      Width           =   2544
   End
   Begin VB.Label Label1
      Appearance      =   0  'Flat
      BackColor       =   &H80000005&
      Caption         =   "Dri&ves:"
      ForeColor       =   &H80000008&
      Height          =   210
      Index           =   4
      Left            =   1830
      TabIndex        =   6
      Top             =   3480
      Width           =   660
   End
   Begin VB.Label Label1
      Appearance      =   0  'Flat
      BackColor       =   &H80000005&
      Caption         =   "&Directories:"
      ForeColor       =   &H80000008&
      Height          =   195
      Index           =   3
      Left            =   1830
      TabIndex        =   4
      Top             =   990
      Width           =   1230
   End
   Begin VB.Label Label1
      Appearance      =   0  'Flat
      BackColor       =   &H80000005&
      Caption         =   "c:\"
      ForeColor       =   &H80000008&
      Height          =   204
      Index           =   2
      Left            =   1830
      TabIndex        =   8
      Top             =   648
      Width           =   1884
   End
   Begin VB.Label Label1
      Appearance      =   0  'Flat
      BackColor       =   &H80000005&
      Caption         =   "&Files:"
      ForeColor       =   &H80000008&
      Height          =   204
      Index           =   0
      Left            =   120
      TabIndex        =   2
      Top             =   648
      Width           =   612
   End
   Begin VB.Label Label1
      Appearance      =   0  'Flat
      BackColor       =   &H80000005&
      Caption         =   "File&Name:"
      ForeColor       =   &H80000008&
      Height          =   204
      Index           =   1
      Left            =   120
      TabIndex        =   0
      Top             =   252
      Width           =   936
   End

End Attribute VB_Name = "Form1" Attribute VB_Creatable = False Attribute VB_Exposed = False

Private Sub Dir1_Change()
   File1.Path = Dir1.Path
   Label1(2).Caption = File1.Path
End Sub

Private Sub DisplayVerInfo()
   '*** Get Version Info ****

   Filename = File1.List(File1.ListIndex)
   Directory = Label1(2).Caption
   FullFileName = Label1(2).Caption + "\" + Filename$

   Dim rc                As Long
   Dim lDummy            As Long
   Dim sBuffer()         As Byte
   Dim lBufferLen        As Long
   Dim lVerPointer       As Long
   Dim udtVerBuffer      As VS_FIXEDFILEINFO
   Dim lVerbufferLen     As Long


   '*** Get size ****
   lBufferLen = GetFileVersionInfoSize(FullFileName, lDummy)
   If lBufferLen < 1 Then
      MsgBox "No Version Info available!"
      Exit Sub
   End If

   '**** Store info to udtVerBuffer struct ****
   ReDim sBuffer(lBufferLen)
   rc = GetFileVersionInfo(FullFileName, 0&, lBufferLen, sBuffer(0))
   rc = VerQueryValue(sBuffer(0), "\", lVerPointer, lVerbufferLen)
   MoveMemory udtVerBuffer, lVerPointer, Len(udtVerBuffer)

   '**** Determine Structure Version number - NOT USED ****
   StrucVer = Format$(udtVerBuffer.dwStrucVersionh) & "." & _
      Format$(udtVerBuffer.dwStrucVersionl)

   '**** Determine File Version number ****
   FileVer = Format$(udtVerBuffer.dwFileVersionMSh) & "." & _
      Format$(udtVerBuffer.dwFileVersionMSl) & "." & _
      Format$(udtVerBuffer.dwFileVersionLSh) & "." & _
      Format$(udtVerBuffer.dwFileVersionLSl)

   '**** Determine Product Version number ****
   ProdVer = Format$(udtVerBuffer.dwProductVersionMSh) & "." & _
      Format$(udtVerBuffer.dwProductVersionMSl) & "." & _
      Format$(udtVerBuffer.dwProductVersionLSh) & "." & _
      Format$(udtVerBuffer.dwProductVersionLSl)

   '**** Determine Boolean attributes of File ****
   FileFlags = ""
   If udtVerBuffer.dwFileFlags And VS_FF_DEBUG _
      Then FileFlags = "Debug "
   If udtVerBuffer.dwFileFlags And VS_FF_PRERELEASE _
      Then FileFlags = FileFlags & "PreRel "
   If udtVerBuffer.dwFileFlags And VS_FF_PATCHED _
      Then FileFlags = FileFlags & "Patched "
   If udtVerBuffer.dwFileFlags And VS_FF_PRIVATEBUILD _
      Then FileFlags = FileFlags & "Private "
   If udtVerBuffer.dwFileFlags And VS_FF_INFOINFERRED _
      Then FileFlags = FileFlags & "Info "
   If udtVerBuffer.dwFileFlags And VS_FF_SPECIALBUILD _
      Then FileFlags = FileFlags & "Special "
   If udtVerBuffer.dwFileFlags And VFT2_UNKNOWN _
      Then FileFlags = FileFlags + "Unknown "

   '**** Determine OS for which file was designed ****
   Select Case udtVerBuffer.dwFileOS
      Case VOS_DOS_WINDOWS16
        FileOS = "DOS-Win16"
      Case VOS_DOS_WINDOWS32
        FileOS = "DOS-Win32"
      Case VOS_OS216_PM16
        FileOS = "OS/2-16 PM-16"
      Case VOS_OS232_PM32
        FileOS = "OS/2-16 PM-32"
      Case VOS_NT_WINDOWS32
        FileOS = "NT-Win32"
      Case other
        FileOS = "Unknown"
   End Select
   Select Case udtVerBuffer.dwFileType
      Case VFT_APP
         FileType = "App"
      Case VFT_DLL
         FileType = "DLL"
      Case VFT_DRV
         FileType = "Driver"
         Select Case udtVerBuffer.dwFileSubtype
            Case VFT2_DRV_PRINTER
               FileSubType = "Printer drv"
            Case VFT2_DRV_KEYBOARD
               FileSubType = "Keyboard drv"
            Case VFT2_DRV_LANGUAGE
               FileSubType = "Language drv"
            Case VFT2_DRV_DISPLAY
               FileSubType = "Display drv"
            Case VFT2_DRV_MOUSE
               FileSubType = "Mouse drv"
            Case VFT2_DRV_NETWORK
               FileSubType = "Network drv"
            Case VFT2_DRV_SYSTEM
               FileSubType = "System drv"
            Case VFT2_DRV_INSTALLABLE
               FileSubType = "Installable"
            Case VFT2_DRV_SOUND
               FileSubType = "Sound drv"
            Case VFT2_DRV_COMM
               FileSubType = "Comm drv"
            Case VFT2_UNKNOWN
               FileSubType = "Unknown"
         End Select
      Case VFT_FONT
         FileType = "Font"
         Select Case udtVerBuffer.dwFileSubtype
            Case VFT_FONT_RASTER
               FileSubType = "Raster Font"
            Case VFT_FONT_VECTOR
               FileSubType = "Vector Font"
            Case VFT_FONT_TRUETYPE
               FileSubType = "TrueType Font"
         End Select
      Case VFT_VXD
         FileType = "VxD"
      Case VFT_STATIC_LIB
         FileType = "Lib"
      Case Else
         FileType = "Unknown"
   End Select
   Form2.Show 1
End Sub

Private Sub Drive1_Change()
   Dir1.Path = Drive1.Drive
   File1.Path = Dir1.Path
   Label1(2).Caption = File1.Path
End Sub

Private Sub File1_Click()
   Text1.Text = File1.List(File1.ListIndex)
End Sub

Private Sub File1_DblClick()
   DisplayVerInfo
End Sub

Private Sub File1_PathChange()
   Text1.Text = "*.*"
   File1.Pattern = "*.*"
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
   Dim Buffer As String
   Dim rc As Long

   ' **** Set Default Dir to Windows System Subdirectory ****
   Buffer = Space$(256)
   rc = GetSystemDirectory(Buffer, Len(Buffer))
   Buffer = LCase$(Mid$(Buffer, 1, InStr(Buffer, Chr(0)) - 1))
   Dir1.Path = Buffer
   File1.Path = Buffer
   Drive1.Drive = Left$(Buffer, 1)
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)
   End
End Sub

Private Sub Text1_KeyPress(KeyAscii As Integer)
   If KeyAscii = 13 Then
      File1.Pattern = Text1.Text
      KeyAscii = 0
      If File1.ListCount = 1 Then DisplayVerInfo
      If File1.ListCount = 0 Then
         MsgBox "Invalid Filename"
         File1.Pattern = "*.*"
         Text1.Text = "*.*"
      End If
      File1.SetFocus
   End If
End Sub

VERINFO2.FRM

' The following is a text dump of the form VERINFO2. It includes the form
' and control description as well as necessary Function and Sub procedures.
' Save the code in a single text file called VERINFO2.FRM and you can then
' load it as a form in Visual Basic.
'

VERSION 4.00 Begin VB.Form Form2

   Appearance      =   0  'Flat
   BackColor       =   &H80000005&
   BorderStyle     =   1  'Fixed Single
   Caption         =   "File Version Info"
   ClientHeight    =   3345
   ClientLeft      =   6630
   ClientTop       =   2175
   ClientWidth     =   4500
   ForeColor       =   &H80000008&
   Height          =   3810
   Left            =   6540
   LinkMode        =   1  'Source
   LinkTopic       =   "Form3"
   MaxButton       =   0   'False
   MinButton       =   0   'False
   ScaleHeight     =   13.937
   ScaleMode       =   4  'Character
   ScaleWidth      =   37.5
   Top             =   1800
   Width           =   4680
   Begin VB.CommandButton Command1
      Appearance      =   0  'Flat
      BackColor       =   &H80000005&
      Caption         =   "OK"
      BeginProperty Font
         name            =   "MS Sans Serif"
         charset         =   0
         weight          =   700
         size            =   8.25
         underline       =   0   'False
         italic          =   0   'False
         strikethrough   =   0   'False
      EndProperty
      Height          =   372
      Left            =   1680
      TabIndex        =   0
      Top             =   2880
      Width           =   1452
   End

End Attribute VB_Name = "Form2" Attribute VB_Creatable = False Attribute VB_Exposed = False

Private Sub Command1_Click()
   Form2.Hide
End Sub

Private Sub Command1_GotFocus()
  Form_Paint
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Paint()
   Form2.CurrentX = 2
   Form2.CurrentY = 1
   Form2.Print "FileName:"
   Form2.CurrentX = 2
   Form2.Print "Directory:"
   Form2.CurrentX = 2
   Form2.Print "File Version:"
   Form2.CurrentX = 2
   Form2.Print "Product Version:"
   Form2.CurrentX = 2
   Form2.Print "File Flags:"
   Form2.CurrentX = 2
   Form2.Print "File OS:"
   Form2.CurrentX = 2
   Form2.Print "File Type:"
   Form2.CurrentX = 2
   Form2.Print "File Sub-type:"

   Form2.CurrentX = 18
   Form2.CurrentY = 1
   Form2.Print Filename
   Form2.CurrentX = 18
   Form2.Print Directory
   Form2.CurrentX = 18
   Form2.Print FileVer
   Form2.CurrentX = 18
   Form2.Print ProdVer
   Form2.CurrentX = 18
   Form2.Print FileFlags
   Form2.CurrentX = 18
   Form2.Print FileOS
   Form2.CurrentX = 18
   Form2.Print FileType
   Form2.CurrentX = 18
   Form2.Print FileSubType
End Sub

How to Create and Run the Program

Start Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default.
From the File menu, choose Remove File to remove Form1.
From the File menu, choose Add File to add VERINFO.BAS.
Repeat step 3 to add VERINFO1.FRM and VERINFO2.FRM to the project.
From the Options menu, choose Project and set Start Up Form to Form1.
Run the application.

Additional reference words: 4.00 codesmpl vb4win vb432
KBCategory: kbprg kbcode kbhowto
KBSubcategory: APrgWindow

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Last reviewed: November 13, 1995
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.