asked on

Compatibility of Visual Basic programs with OpenOffice.

Im running OpenOffice on a couple of XP pcs with a program that our company had written in Visual Basic. On some of the pcs the two programs work together without any problems, they even work simultaneously. On other pcs the program written in Visual Basic does not function as intended (In general the program works well though). I just don't understand why it would work on some pcs but not others when they all have the exact same software installed.

The developer of the VB program is blaming OpenOffice which I think is nonsense, but I don't have the knowledge to prove otherwise... can you help?

lludden

The presence of Openoffice shouldn't be an issue. The lack of some other software (MS Office?) could very well be the issue.

We'd need a lot more detail on what exactly is not working to go any further.

Hamed Nasr

< I just don't understand why it would work on some pcs but not others when they all have the exact same software installed.>
Including OpenOffice?

GrantAB

ASKER

<The presence of Openoffice shouldn't be an issue. The lack of some other software (MS Office?) could very well be the issue.

We'd need a lot more detail on what exactly is not working to go any further.>

Most of these PCs don't have MS Office installed.

The VB program stores all its info in a MS Access Database, in the program itself you can view each client's info (this all works fine) and then print reports derived from the database (reports designed with Crystal Reports), It is the reports section of the program that does not work. The programmer claims that installing OpenOffice overwrites vital dll's used by other programs.

GrantAB

ASKER

< I just don't understand why it would work on some pcs but not others when they all have the exact same software installed.>
<<<Including OpenOffice?>>>

No they don't all have OpenOffice installed.

Hamed Nasr

Troubleshoooting!
We assume all pc's work without OO

Categorize PC's to:
Working: w
Not Working: nw

Take only 1 working pc (w) and only 1 not working pc (nw)
Assign a status value as follows:

1: w + OO
2: w + NOO
4: nw + OO
------------ Add status values

SELECT CASE stausValue
Case 1 To 3
No OO issue, Problem resolved
Case 4, 5, 7
Suspect MSO
Case 6
Suspect OO
END SELECT

IF problem not resolved, we continue!
Good luck!

GrantAB

ASKER

Did you omit 3 and 5 thru 7? I'm slightly confused as to how to apply your method.

Obviously 1 is working + openoffice
2 is working + no openoffice?????
4 is not working + openoffice

Thanks

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Hamed Nasr

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GrantAB

ASKER

It seems to be 7. Thank you for your help!

Hamed Nasr

Welcome!