PRB: VB5.0 OLE Automation Error --2147418107 (80010005)

   Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
      On Error Resume Next
      RetStr = t.Test(100000)
   End Sub
				

MORE INFORMATION

Timers in Microsoft Windows are fired by Windows placing WM_TIMER messages in a windows message queue. For example, an application receives the first timer's WM_TIMER message in its window proc. This causes Visual Basic to fire the first timer's Timer event, which calls the ActiveX server through the Remote Procedure Call engine (RPC) because ActiveX EXE servers run in a separate process.

While the Visual Basic application is waiting for the RPC call to complete, the RPC engine allows the Visual Basic application to sit and poll its message queue. This is allowed primarily for screen redraw (if WM_PAINT messages come in because the user was switching around windows), so the application can update its windows while it is waiting for the RPC call to complete.

If, while Visual Basic waits for the first RPC call to complete, it processes a second WM_TIMER message coming in through the RPC message filter, this causes Visual Basic to fire the second timer's Timer event, which attempts to call the ActiveX server again through the RPC engine. However, the RPC engine explicitly does not allow an application to make an RPC call when it is in the RPC message filter, so it returns an error that Visual Basic returns to the user.

At the point at which Visual Basic gets the WM_TIMER message, there is no way for Visual Basic to know whether firing the Timer event will cause an RPC call to be made. In fact, because ActiveX servers can be transparently remote, there is no way for Visual Basic to know, when it is calling an object method, whether that method will be routed through the RPC engine. Thus, there is no way for Visual Basic to know ahead of time that the RPC engine is going to throw an error.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

NOTE: The error will not reproduce unless you have compiled the projects.

Server

1. Start a new ActiveX EXE project.
2. Change the following properties:

         Project Name:TestDelayServer
         Class Name: cTestClass
   
   						

3. Place the following code into cTestClass:
   

         Option Explicit
   
         Public Function Test(Optional delay As Long = 1000) as String
            Dim index As Long
            Dim Y As String
            Dim X As String
            Y = "a;lskdjf;laksdjf;lkasjd;flkajsmd;lfkjma;sldkfj;laskdj"
            For index = 1 To delay
                X = Right(Y, CInt(Len(Y) / 2))
                X = ""
            Next
            Test = "I'm here"
         End Function
   
   						

4. Compile the EXE.
5. Run the EXE to register it.

Client

1. Start a new Standard EXE.
2. Select TestDelayServer from the Project - References menu.
3. Insert a Command Button, Timer Control and TextBox Control.
4. Place the following code into Form1's code window:

         Option Explicit
   
         Dim t As New TestDelayServer.cTestClass
         Dim f As Form
         Public RetStr As String
   
         Private Sub Command1_Click()
             Set f = New Form1
             f.Show
         End Sub
   
         Private Sub Form_Load()
             Timer1.Interval = 1000
             Timer1.Enabled = True
         End Sub
   
         Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
            RetStr =  t.Test(100000)
            Text1.Text = RetStr
         End Sub
   						

5. Save the project.
6. Compile the EXE.
7. Run the compiled EXE. Note that the Automation error occurs.