What's the best way to create a zip file in Visual Basic?

[Corey]

For my new button I'm creating a final bit to zip up button images. I found a couple ways to do this, the easiest seems to be using a free .dll I found "zip.dll" however I can't figure out how to add that "internally" to my final executable. Any advice? I'm trying to get it so that the final executable is "no install + standalone" so that you can just run it from anywhere and it works...

So basically what I'm trying to achieve (using Visual Basic) is to:

1. Create a zip file from my application.
2. Insert 4 images and an XML file into the zip file.
3. Make sure the zip file has an extension of ".btn" instead of ".zip".
4. Be able to compile my final application to a single file executable in VB6 without any external accompanying files.

If anyone can help that would be greatly appreciated. :yes

[Worm]

When you say no external files... are you excluding the vb-runtimes? Or are you wanting to wrap those too?

[Corey]

What's your opinion of that? I didn't realize you could wrap them into an app... If I can I would prefer to include 100% of the things the app depends on, but if that's not possible I'll just try to get as close as I can to that. :yes

Come to think of it thought the runtimes are as important. I can always have people who wish to use my add-ons install that. I'm going to release an "add-on" manager app to manage the VB add-ons I put out and I could always include a bit in there about installing VB runtimes. So I guess I'm more or less just concerned with wrapping the zip .dll into the app, or finding a different "no .dll" zip solution... :yes

Thanks for the help Worm. :D

[Worm]

I've used a product from Moonlight Software named VB-PowerWrap with very good results.

http://www.moonlight-software.com/vbpower.htm

Its worth a look anyhow...

[Corey]

Wow, that's a sweet tool! Hmmm. I'm going to try and stick with "free" for now in order to justify making the add-ons free. If worst comes to worst I'll make the add-on a SFX file and have it unzip the app and .dll to a temp directory and run from there. Anyhow I'm starting to get the picture, this is something not inherent in VB... Much appreciation for the link-eroo. :yes

For some reason it just skyrocketed to 21 degrees Celsius here (At the end of October here we're usually just getting prepared for snow soon) so I'm going to go hit the skate for a couple hours. All VB and no skate makes Jack a dull boy. :D

Just added Bloc Party "This Modern Love" to the iPOD. What a great skate tune. I can't recall ever hearing a tune with such a late hook, and such judicious use of the hook to boot. It's really something. Also added their tune "So Here We Are", excellent sound. They used a very cool reverse cymbal effect on the vocal. Reminds me of Big Country or U2 in spots... :yes

[Corey]

The skate was a success! I found a piece of recently jackhammered sidewalk which was ideal for jumping. It was the coolest spot ever. :yes