Visual Basic Imaging Routines
Microsoft Windows Image Acquisition Library v2.0
Imaging control to replace the Wang/Kodak Image Edit controls
     
Posted:   Monday February 03, 2003
Updated:   Monday December 26, 2011
     
Applies to:   VB4-32, VB5, VB6
Developed with:   VB6, VBScript (for included demos)
OS restrictions:   Windows XP; for Windows 2000 see Prerequisites and Comments below
Author:   Microsoft
     
 Prerequisites
Developed as a XP alternative to the Wang/Kodak controls for Windows XP. 

The Microsoft download page for this dll states the "Supported Operating Systems" is Windows XP, and that "Windows Image Acquisition Automation Library v2.0 is only supported on Windows XP with Service Pack 1 installed." The dll relies on GDI+ available under Windows XP. I have also received reports the dll can also be used on Windows 2000 systems, though possibly only those with the latest service packs. Please see the Comments below.


Download Microsoft Windows Image Acquisition Library v2.0 (520k)

Developers wanting to add image and image device control functionality to their applications will and to check out this new, redistributable dll provided by Microsoft intended to replace functionality introduced with the Wang and Kodak image controls provided in older versions of Windows. Prior to the introduction of Windows XP, the Wang/Kodak control and libraries formed part of the operating system installation (were not redistributable) and provided the only inherent means to offer imaging display and manipulation without relying on third-party controls. However, Kodak Imaging for Windows program and the related controls (ImgScan.ocx, ImgAdmin.ocx, ImgEdit.ocx, and ImgThumb.ocx) are not included with Windows XP.

The readme file indicates the Windows Image Acquisition Library v2.0 is only designed to support the PNG, BMP, JPG, GIF and TIFF image formats. It should not be relied upon to support other formats, though they may appear to be supported depending on system configuration.  

The download contains the dll, help files, installation instructions and a rash of assorted VB-based demos (and no, it does not contain the image shown ... that's my desktop background):

VB6 Samples  

 
ImageFile Demonstrates all manner of image manipulation using the ImageFile object (shown in illustration)
Minimal Smallest amount of code necessary (1 line) to select a device, select an image, and transfer it from the device
Widget An interesting gizmo for exploring item properties and such
       
Scripting Samples    

 
VideoPreview.htm Demonstrates using the Video Preview control in a webpage
DeviceList.htm Enumerates all the cameras connected to your computer and lists their static properties
DeviceList2.htm Enumerates all the cameras connected to your computer and opens a connection to each and then lists the root item properties
browse.asp Quick and dirty ASP page that browses the directory tree of images and does interesting things using the ImageFile object's BinaryData property
webcam.asp Quick and dirty ASP page that displays the current image from a connected webcam
imageinfo.vbs Demonstrates using an ImageFile object from script
persist.wsf Demonstrates calling RegisterPersistentEvent and UnregisterPersistentEvent

Instructions for proper installation of the dll and the help files are included in the readme.txt located in the main installation directory. The readme.txt in the samples folder contains the information above. Developers using wiaaut.dll are granted license to freely redistribute the library with their application as detailed in the redist.txt file inside the zip. (Only this dll is listed in this file, so  don't overwrite your VB directory's redist.txt with this file!)

This file is provided by VBnet as a service to developers. Any support issues for this product should not be sent to VBnet.

Download Microsoft Windows Image Acquisition Library v2.0 (520k)


 Comments
If the file 'gdiplus.dll' is installed on a Windows 2000 machine but not properly registered, calls to wiaaut.dll (the imaging dll) will not work. After registering gdiplus.dll calls to wiaaut should succeed.

 
 

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