Improving Software

Here are a few shortcuts to simplify working with assemblies (either COM or .NET) that I have found especially useful over my years as a developer.

Tip 1: Associate DLL and OCX file extensions with RegSvr32

If you are still working with COM style objects regularly, associating the DLL and/or OCX extensions with RegSvr32.exe (in the Windows\system32 directory) allows you to register or re-register them quickly by double-clicking the file in explorer.

Step 1: Right-Click a DLL file and choose the "Open With..." command.

Step 2: Browse to WindowsWin32Regsvr32.exe

For those of you who work with managed assemblies more often, but still do a lot of interop work, an alternative is to associate DLL files to Regasm.exe or Regsvcs.exe

Tip 2: Use Windows “Send To..” folder for quick access to unregister a DLL

So now you can register components easily, what about un-registering them? That’s a snap too.

Just create a shortcut in the C:\Documents and Settings\{profilename}\SendTo directory with the target attribute set to %windir%\system32\REGSVR32.EXE /u and name the shortcut “Unregister DLL”

Here it is in action

Filed under: Technology Tips | Tagged: programming, technology, tips |