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I have inherited some old code and I am trying to compile it in VS 2019. I am getting a compiler error that complains about this line:
#import "C:\usr\tyx\com\PublishersIO.exe" no_namespace
The error is:
2>c:\users\jew\onedrive - teradyne\desktop\arinc 818\hssub arinc 818 nam and subtps\source\nam\terfcnm\terfcnm\comnammessage.h(13): fatal error C1084: Cannot read type library file: 'C:\usr\tyx\com\PublishersIO.exe': Error loading type library/DLL.
How can I debug what is the specific issue that is causing the compiler error?
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The obvious question; does C:\usr\tyx\com\PublishersIO.exe exist on the machine where you're trying to compile this code?
@David Lowndes, If the #import directive was unable to find the file it would issue a different error. For example "error C1083: Cannot open type library file: '..\x64\Debug\ATLFilter.dll': No such file or directory"
RLWA32 is correct. The file exits at that path.
I'm wondering if the part of the error message "Error loading type library/DLL" is a clue. Does the compiler think it's a DLL?
The #import directive is used by the compiler to read a COM type library and generate header files that can be used to reference the classes and interfaces described by the type library. Type libraries can be embedded as resources into both dll and exe files. I suggest you refer to my posted answer and use the visual studio IDE to load your exe file and determine if it does or does not contain an embedded type library as a resource.
How can I debug what is the specific issue that is causing the compiler error?
You should verify that there is actually a type library embedded as a resource in the "C:\usr\tyx\com\PublishersIO.exe" file. You can see the .exe file's resources by opening it in the Visual Studio IDE.
If you do see a type library resource expand the node and post a screenshot of what you see.
Here's a screenshot of the of the PublishersIO.exe:
OK, it appears that your exe does contain a type library resource with the default resource identifier.
Perhaps the #import directive is failing because the resource contains invalid data. You could try writing a small C++ console application that calls the LoadTypeLibEx function to try to load the type library from your exe. If the function fails at least you will be able to see the error code that is returned. If you do this you'll want to pass the REGKIND_NONE flag so that if it does succeed the type library is not registered. It might be easier to use the oleview.exe utility from the SDK to try to open the exe and view the type library.
This suggestion might be fruitful. The LoadTypeLibEx function call does return an error: 0x80029c4a: Error loading type library/DLL. The description of this error suggests that there is a problem with the registry. I'll need to find the original installer and reinstall the exe file. I believe that the file was just copied from an archive area and not installed.
The description of this error suggests that there is a problem with the registry.
The function to load the type library from the exe file containing it failed. I suspect a corrupted file is the likely cause.
If the type library had previously been loaded and registered you would be able to find its GUID in the registry under HKCR\TypeLib. However, its not difficult to write a type library's registration entries directly into the registry without actually loading the type library.
I don't have any information about the type library that you want to use. However, I have read that a possible cause of the problems and errors you have experienced is if the type library is dependent on another application type library that has not been registered.