Installing the A-Shell ActiveX SDK
The full A-Shell ActiveX SDK distribution contains the following:
• This documentation.
• Sample automation and XCALL Visual Basic source code.
• Sample compiled automation and Visual Basic XCALL run-time.
• A COM XCALL-enabling A-Shell License Key.
The A-Shell ActiveX SDK is installed by running the setup program, SETUP.EXE, from the distribution. This installation program SETUP.EXE will install and register the compiled samples, and will install the Visual Basic runtime necessary to run the samples if Visual Basic is not already installed on the machine. Links to the Visual Basic projects containing the sample source code, and to the documentation will then be available from the Windows Start menu.
If you have Visual Basic .NET installed, then you are still able to run SETUP.EXE in order to be able to use the compiled samples. You are also able to install the ActiveX A-Shell SDK in order to enable COM development in Visual Basic .NET, but there is no guarantee that the sample source code will compile without prior modification.
If you have neither Visual Basic 6.0 nor Visual Basic .NET installed, then you are still able to run SETUP.EXE in order to be able to use the pre-compiled samples – all prerequisite Visual Basic run-time files will be installed as part of this process. However, you will not be able to compile and modify the samples yourself, although you are still able to use the ActiveX A-Shell SDK in order to enable COM development in another language such as Visual C++. No specific cross-language documentation is presented here, and this should be undertaken by experienced COM developers only.
The steps needed to fully install the A-Shell ActiveX SDK are as follows:
• First, A-Shell version 4.7 or later must be registered on the local machine. You will need to obtain an upgrade if an earlier version is being used. A-Shell may be registered with the following line entered at the Windows command prompt:
ASHW32 -regserver
• Second, the new COM XCALL-enabled A-Shell License key must be entered. You can do this by launching A-Shell with the ‘-k’ switch. (When prompted, enter the new A-Shell License Key, and exit A-Shell when this is done).
ASHW32 -k
