Unlike the standard VB6 ComboBox, the Forms 2.0 version natively supports multiple columns of data.
End Sub
Given that VB6 already has its own comprehensive set of intrinsic controls, you might wonder why any developer would use the Microsoft Forms 2.0 library. The decision often boils down to one or more of the following reasons:
: The FM20.DLL is not a "redistributable" file. It is typically installed by Microsoft Office. If the end-user doesn't have Office installed, your application may fail to load the controls. microsoft forms 20 object library vb6
💡 : Adding a UserForm to your project in the VB Editor will often add this reference automatically. 📦 Key Controls Included Why do I not see the Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library?
Leveraging the Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library in VB6: A Comprehensive Guide
If it is not listed, click and navigate to your System32 (32-bit Windows) or SysWOW64 (64-bit Windows) folder to find FM20.DLL . Unlike the standard VB6 ComboBox, the Forms 2
Private Sub CopyToClipboard() ' Declare the DataObject Dim objData As MSForms.DataObject
Click on in the top menu and select Components... (or press Ctrl + T ).
| Error Message | Possible Cause(s) | Solution(s) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | "Error 7 - Out of Memory" | The application is being run on a machine without Office installed. Microsoft has flagged the use of FM20.DLL as problematic. | This is the classic distribution problem. The best solution is to ensure Microsoft Office is installed on the target machine or to remove the library from the project. | | "Component 'FM20.dll' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered" | The file is missing, unregistered, or the registry entry is corrupted. | Re-register the DLL. Open a command prompt as an administrator and navigate to the folder containing FM20.dll (usually C:\Windows\SysWOW64 for 64-bit systems). Type regsvr32 FM20.dll and press Enter. | | The controls appear on the form but do not function (click events fire, but no visible change). | The MSForms controls are windowless, meaning they do not have a standard window handle (hwnd). This can cause rendering issues in some scenarios. | This is a known limitation of the library. Consider if a different control or a more robust method is needed. | It is typically installed by Microsoft Office
However, for internal enterprise applications where Microsoft Office is already deployed, the Microsoft Forms 2.0 library remains an excellent, zero-cost solution.
Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library provides controls (TextBox, Label, CommandButton, ListBox, ComboBox, Frame, OptionButton, CheckBox, Image, RefEdit, etc.) used in classic VB6 forms and in userforms for Office VBA. It ships as FM20.DLL and exposes the runtime and design-time objects for creating and manipulating form controls.