DOCUMENT:Q166470  11-JAN-2001  [vbwin]
TITLE   :PRB: LINK Fatal Error LNK1104 Cannot Open File
PRODUCT :Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
PROD/VER:WINDOWS:5.0;
OPER/SYS:
KEYWORDS:kbVBp500 kbGrpDSVB

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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 5.0 
 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, version 5.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When compiling an ActiveX component with binary compatibility set to the same
file the compile is attempting to overwrite, the following error occurs:

   LINK fatal error LNK1104 cannot open file.

RESOLUTION
==========

To work around this problem, copy the ActiveX executable or DLL to a separate
directory. Set binary compatibility to the copied file, and compile to the
original directory. This procedure is described in Microsoft Visual Basic Books
Online.

STATUS
======

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION
================

While this behavior is not always encountered when compiling, you should follow
the procedures in the RESOLUTION section above in all projects where you set
binary compatibility.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior
---------------------------

1. Start Visual Basic 5.0 and open the
   \samples\CompTool\ActvComp\coffee\xtimers.vbp sample.

2. Select "Make XTimer.dll" from the File menu to compile the project.

3. Select "Open Project" from the File menu.

4. Save the changes to the XTimer project if prompted.

5. Open the \samples\CompTool\ActvComp\coffee\coffee2.vbp sample.

6. Bring up the Project\References dialog box and make sure that the XTimer
   server compiled previously is referenced.

7. Select "Make Coffe2.exe" from the file menu to compile the project.

8. Bring up the "Coffee2 Properties" dialog box from the Project menu.

9. On the Compile tab, make sure "Native Code" is selected.

10. On the Component tab, make sure "Binary Compatibility" is set and the
   compatible server is pointing at the previously compiled version of
   Coffe2.EXE.

11. Save the changes to the project.

12. Select "Make Coffe2.exe" from the file menu to compile the project.

You receive a dialog box with the following message:

   Microsoft Visual Basic: Unexpected error occurred in code generator or
   linker. -View error messages?

If you click "Yes," the following error message appears:

   LINK fatal error LNK1104 cannot open file.

To fix this problem:

1. Copy the executable to another directory. If you make ActiveX components
   frequently, you may want to create a directory just for compatible files.

2. Re-set binary compatibility to the file you just pasted into the
   "Compatibility" directory.

3. Recompile the executable into the project directory.


REFERENCES
==========

Microsoft Visual Basic Books Online, Component Tools Guide, Using Binary Version
Compatibility.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbVBp500 kbGrpDSVB 
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVBA500 kbVB500
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0;
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.