Tips and Tricks for:  COM, ActiveX, VB, IE

Problem:   When IE loads an ActiveX control a small square or square with red dot shows instead.

When downloading an ActiveX OCX with Internet Explorer all that shows up is a small square or maybe a small square with a red dot.

Solution: CDLLogViewr: A diagnostic tool that usually shows the way.

I don't really have the exact solution to all of these problems but there is a diagnostic method that really helps.  When the problem occurs, Internet Explorer puts an error log file into the Temporary Internet Files folder.  There are two ways to see the log file:

• The hard way: Right after the problem occurs, you can use Tools -> Internet Options.  Then on the General tab, press the Settings button.  On the Settings dialog, press the View Files button, which brings up a browser on the Temporary Internet Files directory.  Scroll to the right until you see the "Last Accessed" column.  Click on the column header to sort by last accessed and then scroll back to the left to see the name of the file.  The file at the top will include something like "?CodeLogErr...? in the name.  That's the error log file.  It seems that you have to copy the file to another location to view it.  Use IE to take a look. 
• The easy way: Download the Microsoft Code Download Error Log Viewer.  It's an application that Microsoft provides just for the purpose of viewing these files.  You'll find it on the MSDN Download site under the name CDLLogViewer.  Try this link.

Once you've installed it, run it and it will show you the logs that it finds.  A typical log is below.  The problem in that case is that the myDependency.dll wasn't include in the cab and was marked as a separate download, which didn't exist.  This was caused by a mistake when using the Package and Deployment Wizard.  Here's the log with a few of the longer lines broken for readability.

*** Code Download Log entry (30 May 2003 @ 15:35:16) ***
Code Download Error: (hr = 800c0007) No data is available for the requested resource.

Operation failed. Detailed Information:
     CodeBase: http://www.abcdinc.com/myAppwebabcd/myAppWebabcd.CAB
     CLSID: {A062795E-D098-4E4A-8072-C47DBB17DF67}
     Extension: 
     Type: 

LOG: Item myAppWebabcd.ocx being processed.
--- Detailed Error Log Follows ---
LOG: Download OnStopBinding called (hrStatus = 0 / hrResponseHdr = 0).
LOG: Item myAppWebabcd.ocx being processed.
LOG: Item msado26.tlb being processed.
LOG: Item myDependency.dll being processed.
LOG: Download OnStopBinding called (hrStatus = 800c0007 / hrResponseHdr = 8007007e).
LOG: Redundant download attempted, but no more codebases available.
LOG: URL Download Complete: hrStatus:800c0007, hrOSB:0, hrResponseHdr:8007007e, 
            URL:(http://www.abcdinc.com/myAppwebabcd/myDependency.CAB)
ERR: INF Processing:  Failed (80004004) processing: MSFLXGRD.OCX
. Cannot get primary/default language!LOG: URL Download Complete: hrStatus:0, 
          hrOSB:80004004, hrResponseHdr:0, URL:(http://www.abcdinc.com/myAppwebabcd/myAppWebabcd.CAB)
LOG: Reporting Code Download Completion: (hr:800c0007 (FAILED), CLASSID: a062795e..., 
         szCODE:(http://www.abcdinc.com/myAppwebabcd/myAppWebabcd.CAB), MainType:(null), MainExt:(null))