Access functions in a VB6 DLL from Python

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

Hi all,

I have a 32bit VB6 DLL which has two functions. I want to access those functions from my 32bit version of python. First issue is that I can't seem to see the functions when I load the dll:

Python

from ctypes import *
dll = WinDLL("ARB_Library.dll")
dll.ARB_Value

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "C:\Python_32bit\lib\ctypes\__init__.py", line 387, in __getattr__
    func = self.__getitem__(name)
  File "C:\Python_32bit\lib\ctypes\__init__.py", line 392, in __getitem__
    func = self._FuncPtr((name_or_ordinal, self))
AttributeError: function 'ARB_Value' not found

I know that the function is in the DLL by inspecting OLE/COM Object Viewer:

Python

// Generated .IDL file (by the OLE/COM Object Viewer)
// typelib filename: ARB_Library.dll

[
  uuid(D1DA3979-1AFE-493E-A6FD-AB5466C226A6),
  version(1.0),
  custom(50867B00-BB69-11D0-A8FF-00A0C9110059, 8964)
]
library ARB_Library
{
    // TLib : OLE Automation : {00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
    importlib("stdole2.tlb");
    // Forward declare all types defined in this typelib
    interface _clsARB_Library;
    [
      odl,
      uuid(98414811-7EE4-44A3-8AFF-7B9B6789D7A4),
      version(1.0),
      hidden,
      dual,
      nonextensible,
      oleautomation
    ]
    interface _clsARB_Library : IDispatch {
        [id(0x68030001), propget]
        HRESULT ARB_Value(
                        [in, out] double* PdblListedP, 
                        [in, out] double* PdblNewP, 
                        [in, out] DATE* PdateValDate, 
                        [in, out] DATE* PdatePastDate, 
                        [in, out] short* PintTripNumber, 
                        [in, out] VARIANT_BOOL* PbolPayment, 
                        [out, retval] double* );

I understand that you can access the function by using the ordinal and so I tried the following:

Python

func = dll[0x68030001]
func
<_FuncPtr object at 0x035129C8>

This gives a pointer to *a* function (the function?) ... so I am hoping that I am on the right path. But I am unable to see anything in this function to confirm whether it is the ARB_Value function that I am after.

The next step is to then try to call the function, but despite using various combinations of inputs including pointers (only one example given below), I cannot get anything back other than "nan". So I suspect that the function is not the one that I am after.

Python

prototype = WINFUNCTYPE(
    c_double,  # return type; rest are parameters 1 to ...
    POINTER(c_double), POINTER(c_double), POINTER(c_double), POINTER(c_double), POINTER(c_short), POINTER(VARIANT_BOOL))

paramflags = (1, "PdblListedP", 0), (1, "PdblNewP", 0), (1, "PdateValDate", 0), (1, "PdatePastDate", 0), (1, "PintTripNumber", 0), (1, "PbolPayment", 0))

# map the call to the function in the dll to a python name

dll_api = prototype((1745027073, dll), paramflags)

PdblListedP       = c_double(28)
PdblNewP          = c_double(27.02)
PdateValDate      = c_double(41052)
PdatePastDate     = c_double(42147)
PintTripNumber    = c_short(1)
PbolPayment       = VARIANT_BOOL(0)

answer = dll_api(byref(PdblListedP), byref(PdblNewP), byref(PdateValDate), byref(PdatePastDate), byref(PintTripNumber), byref(PbolPayment))

Any suggestions as to how I can access the ARB_value function in this DLL, and then how to pass the correct variables to it so that it returns a value?

Thanks!

What I have tried:

Using comtypes to generate the code for me, but this did not help in accessing the function.

Posted 6-Jun-21 7:11am

MrG_

Updated 26-Sep-22 5:04am

Add a Solution

Comments

Maciej Los 8-Jun-21 3:28am

Does "ARB_Library.dll" is registered on system?
I'd suggest to read this: ctypes — A foreign function library for Python — Python 3.9.5 documentation[^]

MrG_ 8-Jun-21 3:38am

Yep, registered as a 32bit DLL via SysWOW64\regsvr32.exe.

I've spent a few days reading about ctypes including that link but just cannot get it right. The function just returns nan and so it is not clear where I am going wrong. Or that I even have the right function to start with.

Maciej Los 8-Jun-21 3:52am

Try to use Dispatch. See: How can I use a DLL file from Python? - Stack Overflow[^]

MrG_ 8-Jun-21 10:33am

Have tried that too. Worked through all of the examples on that page but couldn't come right.

And using the comtypes approach I tried
CreateObject(clsARB_Library._reg_clsid_, interface=_clsARB_Library)
which gives me a pointer to the two functions, but still cannot see to get the arguments right.

1 solution

Add a Solution

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

MrG_ · Accepted Answer · 2022-09-26T05:04:00

For what it is worth, I managed to resolve this. Extracts of the relevant code:

from comtypes import c_double, c_short, client
from ctypes.wintypes import VARIANT_BOOL
from comtypes.automation import _midlSAFEARRAY

my_dll = client.GetModule('C:/foldername/ARB_Library.dll')
dll_object = client.CreateObject(my_dll.clsARB_Library)   # the functions are in this class

PdblPrice      = c_double(28)
PdateDate      = c_double(41052)
PintFlag       = c_short(1)
PbolSomething  = VARIANT_BOOL(0)
t              = _midlSAFEARRAY(c_double)
PdblScale      = t.from_param([0, 0.5, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 0, 0, 0.5,1, 1])
return_value   = c_double(0)

# call this method with the return_value as an argument

dll_object.__clsARB_Library__com__get_ARB_Value(PdblPrice, PdateDate, PintFlag, 
                  PbolSomething, PdblScale, return_value) # this method is what I was missing

print("The value is: ", return_value.value)

Access functions in a VB6 DLL from Python

1 solution

Solution 1

Add your solution here

Preview 0

Access functions in a VB6 DLL from Python

1 solution

Solution 1

Add your solution here

Preview 0

Existing Members

...or Join us