Member Avatar for DonCarmelo

Hi
I wrote a visual basic program years ago for a friend. I retained the source, but I get a load error on some of the files. Apparently they are saved in binary (or tokenized?) format. I would like to read them so I can update the program and even reconnect with the logic. I am unsure of the version, but my guess is visual basic 5.0. The unreadable files are attached.

I would apreciate any help I could get on this. Thanks in advance

DonCarmelo

Colonial.zip (5.95 KB)
  • 6 Contributors
  • 13 Replies
  • 192 Views
  • 1 Month Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by lissauer

Dani AI

Generated

The symptoms described by (load errors in VB5/6, “wingdings” when opened in Notepad) strongly match tokenized (binary) Visual Basic source from the VB3 era. Visual Basic 3 explicitly supported saving forms/modules either in binary (tokenized) or ASCII text; the IDE has a “Save File As” / “Save as Text” option that is the cleanest way to recover readable source. (scribd.com)

Practical recovery workflow (safe, repeatable):

  1. Make full backups of the whole project folder — include every .frm/.bas/.cls and any .frx files (resources).
  2. Prefer the original IDE: run Visual Basic 3 (IDE) and open the project, then use File → Save File As → check “Save as Text” to export forms/modules. That preserves the project structure in a readable format. If a modern host is required, run VB3 inside a VM (Windows 3.x/95/98 or a 32‑bit Windows VM) or try OTVDM/winevdm to run 16‑bit apps on newer Windows builds. (scribd.com)

If the original IDE is not available:

  • DoDi’s VBDIS (VB3 decompiler family) is the historically recommended tool to extract text from VB3 tokenized files; it often produces intermediate files (MAK) and then asks that the forms be saved as text from VB3, so expect a two‑step process and compatibility fiddling. These tools are old and may need an older OS or VM to run. (gbppr.net)

A few quick cautions and tips: keep .frx files together with their .frm partners (they store images/binary properties). Back up everything before trying conversions. Decompilers and automated conversions may emit errors for projects that relied on third‑party controls (VBX/OCX); manual cleanup of the recovered text is usually necessary. Verify legal ownership of any IDE copies and scan any downloaded tools before running them. ()

Notes tied to the thread: and were correct to suspect an older VB format; ’s tip to look for older VB disks is reasonable (legality permitting), and ’s offer of a conversion service is an option when setting up a VM or running legacy tools isn’t feasible.

Recommended Answers

All 13 Replies

Member Avatar for DenisOxon

Hi,

Welcome to DaniWeb.

How have you tried to read them ? What have you done so far ?

Denis

Member Avatar for Duoas

I think you are out of luck.

Member Avatar for DonCarmelo

Hi Denis
I tried to read them in visual basic 6.0, quickbasic and visualbasic 2005. The indication is that they are binary files. Also tried to read as text in wordpad and notepad. Result was wingdings,iow text representatives of token, I guess.

DonCarmelo

Member Avatar for DonCarmelo

Hi Duoas

I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. Altho the error message said binary files, they were not compiled files. I believe the source was tokenized

Regards
Doncarmelo

Member Avatar for SCBWV

If I remember correctly, an earlier version of Visual Basic used to save files in binary format as the default (which loaded faster), with the option of saving them in text format. You'll have to load them in an older version and resave them in text format

Member Avatar for DenisOxon

I have just tried opening them in VB5 but it says they are binary, so I guess it will need to be an earlier version.

Denis

Member Avatar for DonCarmelo

Hi

I guess I had written that program much earlier than I thought if vers. 5 failed (as I have determined that 6 failed). Unfortunately I don't still have earlier version. Can anyone help?

Don [TEX][/TEX]Carmelo

Member Avatar for DonCarmelo

Yes!

http://www.thescripts.com/forum/thread14708.html

This is a good lead. I was able to download the first 3 disks, but then got a message that downloads exceeded, try later.

Ok, suppose I try later and then succeed in downloading all disks. Am I allowed to install and use the software?

Carmelo

Member Avatar for tom curren

The site says:

"This is ONLY for LEGAL users of VB Pro 3 ... everyone else stay out!!!"

Since you have BINARY saved code, I'm guessing that is proof of your rights.

Of, Course, I'd have a good AV program running at all times because this is, after all, the internet.

ATB,
tom

Member Avatar for DonCarmelo

I understand. True, I must have had VB3 at some point.

Thx again

Carmelo

Member Avatar for lissauer

Hi
I wrote a visual basic program years ago for a friend. I retained the source, but I get a load error on some of the files. Apparently they are saved in binary (or tokenized?) format. I would like to read them so I can update the program and even reconnect with the logic. I am unsure of the version, but my guess is visual basic 5.0. The unreadable files are attached.

I would apreciate any help I could get on this. Thanks in advance

DonCarmelo

The files are in VB 3 Binary format. I provide a service to convert VB 3 binary to VB 3 text format. See or contact me directly at

...

George

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.