Possibly error message when starting program with missing included DLL

[ArneOrtlinghaus]

I had now the case, that an EXE program did not start because of a missing DLL. The program started and stopped without a message. In the event log I found the following entry:
System.IO.FileNotFoundException
bei <Module>.$AppInit()
bei RadixDN.Exe.Functions.Start()

I looked into $AppInit() with ILSpy and I saw an exception handling. Is it probably possible that in case of an EXE file you open a windows message box with the exception? When having Win32-programs with a missing DLL normally the Runtime shows such a message.
Thanks
Arne

[wriedmann]

Hi Arne,
that is a problem I had several times, but I don't thing the devteam can do anything here as it is the .NET Runtime that loads the DLLs.
Wolfgang

[wriedmann]

Hi Arne,
I have looked better - maybe there couid be a solution:
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forum ... ?forum=wpf
Wolfgang

[robert]

Arne,

Adding a message box should be possible, however that will add a dependency to System.Windows.Forms to all apps. Or we need to add a _DLL FUNCTION in the generated code for MessageBox in user32.dll.
And that would make our programs incompatible with non windows platforms...


Robert

[wriedmann]

Hi Robert,
and write an error log?
I suspect this check must be executed before any user code is executed, so there is no possibility to register a handler.... Or would it be possible to call a function with a fixed name in the exe, when it exist?
Wolfgang

[robert]

Wolfgang,

I think that calling a function in the EXE should be possible, as long as that function does not depend on any of the initializers that are called from $AppInit() ( init procedures).
I could pass the exception object to that function.
Do you have a suggestion for a function name ?

Robert

[mainhatten]

I have looked better - maybe there couid be a solution:
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forum ... ?forum=wpf

If Arne has a similar customer-PEBCAC problem as the original poster of the linked thread, another option is to rename the .exe
Whatever_StartOptimized.exe
and to add another program (depending on nothing but itself, perhaps a JSON or dbf data store and perhaps the GAC) first verifying all dll are in expected place and fit expected CRC-value, either showing nice error msg or starting "Whatever_StartOptimized.exe" if all is ok.

Sometimes going the long way is easier than to confront PEBCAC customers head on...

regards
thomas

[wriedmann]

Hi Robert,
that would be great, thank you!
As function name I could suggest "XSharpInitError()", but I'm not really good inventing names <g>.
The important thing is that a sample for such a funtion would be added by XPorter and also in the sample applications in both XIDE and VS, so people sees it and uses it also in own applications.
Wolfgang

[Karl-Heinz]

Guys
,
i think the first question should be how Arne is currently catching exceptions ? Is he really using a WPF app, where it seems there is a catch problem when i follow Wolfgang´s link ?

i´m using a global Exception handler, and til now i see all errors using the X# buildin ErrorDialog. Maybe Arne can give a sample when exactely such a exception handling fails ?

Code: Select all

[STAThread];
FUNCTION Start() AS INT 
LOCAL oDlg AS ErrorDialog 
LOCAL oXApp AS XApp

	TRY
		oXApp := XApp{}
		oXApp:Start() 
				  
	CATCH e AS Exception 
		oDlg := ErrorDialog { e }
		oDlg:showDialog() 
		
	END TRY
	
RETURN 0  


CLASS XApp INHERIT App

METHOD Start() 

.. open the first Window 

RETURN 0

END CLASS 

regards
Karl-Heinz

[Karl-Heinz]

Hi Arne

Would be interesting to know. When you add this init proc to your app do you see the debout() content before your app closes ?

Code: Select all

PROCEDURE AppInit1 _INIT1
	
	DebOut( "AppInit1" )
	
	RETURN NIL

regards
Karl-Heinz