Knowledge Base

BUG: EXE File Not Created After Compiling

Article ID: 184733

Article Last Modified on 11/18/2003

Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 Control Creation Edition
Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 Professional Edition
Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 Enterprise Edition

This article was previously published under Q184733

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to compile a Visual Basic 5.0 application into an EXE, no errors are produced and no EXE file is created.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you are using a resource (.res) file that includes a "Version" resource.

RESOLUTION

Remove the "Version" resource from the resource (.res) file contained in the Visual Basic project.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Create a Resource file that includes a "Version" resource.

Creating the Resource File

Create a resource file using a text editor and resource compiler, such as those provided with Microsoft Visual C++. The compiled resource file has a .res file name extension. Use Visual C++ 5.0 to generate a .res file to reproduce this bug, as follows:

Create a new "MFC AppWizard (EXE) Project" named App1.
Click OK, click Finish, and click OK again.
On the Build menu, click Build App1.exe.

An App1.res file should be generated in the Debug directory under the App1 Project Directory. By default, this directory is:

C:\program files\devstudio\my projects\App1\debug

Create the Visual Basic Application

Start Visual Basic 5.0 and create a New Standard EXE project.
Add the App1.res file that was created above.
On the File menu, click Make Project1.exe.

At this point, Visual Basic will compile and appear to write an EXE file. However, no EXE file is generated because the resource file contains a "Version" resource. To alleviate this problem, remove the "Version" resource from the .res file by using Visual C++, or by using the Visual Basic Resource Editor.

NOTE: You can download the Visual Basic Resource Editor from the Visual Basic Owner's Area located at:

http://www.microsoft.com/vstudio/owner/default.asp

If you are using Visual C++, rebuild the "App1" project, remove the old resource file and add the new resource file to the Visual Basic project. If you are using the Visual Basic Resource Editor, save the .res file after removing the "Version" resource by clicking Save on the Resource Editor toolbar.

Additional query words: Resource compile

Keywords: kbbug kbpending KB184733