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Visual Basic Imaging Routines Microsoft Windows Image Acquisition Library v2.0 Imaging control to replace the Wang/Kodak Image Edit controls |
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| Posted:Â Â | Monday February 03, 2003 | |
| Updated:Â Â | Monday December 26, 2011 | |
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| Applies to:Â Â | VB4-32, VB5, VB6 | |
| Developed with:Â Â | VB6, VBScript (for included demos) | |
| OS restrictions:Â Â | Windows XP; for Windows 2000 see Prerequisites and Comments below | |
| Author:Â Â | Microsoft | |
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| Â Prerequisites |
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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. |
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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): Pokemon Solar Light And Lunar Dark Pokedex 90%Beyond horror, the Pokédex excels at deep ecological integration. The Tohoak region is defined by its temporal gimmick—a day/night cycle so pronounced that certain areas and evolutions are locked to specific, narrow windows of time. The Pokédex reflects this by detailing the circadian rhythms of each species. A creature like (a fan-made Water/Psychic-type dolphin) will have an entry describing how it glows with stored sunlight, hunting aggressively during the "Solar Light" hours, while its counterpart, Lunark (a Dark/Water-type orca), has entries written from the perspective of nighttime divers who witness its silent, coordinated packs hunting beneath a new moon. This use of perspective—shifting from an omniscient narrator to the voice of a frightened researcher or an awestruck child—adds a layer of immersion that official Pokédexes rarely achieve. Finally, the Pokédex functions as a repository for the game’s central thematic conflict: the tension between light and dark, not as good versus evil, but as natural, balanced forces. The entries for version-exclusive legendaries, (repurposed as a pure Light/Steel type) and Lunala (Dark/Ghost), are written as two halves of a single philosophical text. The Solar Light entry praises creation and energy, while the Lunar Dark entry praises reflection and entropy. Neither is portrayed as villainous. By reading the complete Pokédex (requiring trades or two playthroughs), the player pieces together the tragic history of Tohoak—a history where an ancient king tried to destroy the moon, only to shatter the land into the archipelago seen in the game. The Pokédex, therefore, is the key to the game's lore, rewarding the completionist with not just a certificate, but a coherent, melancholy mythos. pokemon solar light and lunar dark pokedex In the vast world of Pokémon fan games, few have achieved the cult status of Pokémon Solar Light & Lunar Dark . Created using RPG Maker XP and the Pokémon Essentials kit, this game is renowned not just for its challenging difficulty or its original region of Tohoak, but for its meticulously crafted Pokédex. Unlike the official games, where the Pokédex often serves as a simple biological checklist, the Solar Light & Lunar Dark Pokédex functions as a secondary narrative device, a world-building engine, and a tone-setter that elevates the game from a mere ROM hack to a complete, atmospheric experience. Beyond horror, the Pokédex excels at deep ecological Furthermore, the Solar Light & Lunar Dark Pokédex serves as a crucial gameplay mechanic due to the game’s infamous difficulty curve. Many fan games introduce "Fakemon" (original creatures) alongside official Pokémon. In lesser games, these entries feel tacked on. Here, the Pokédex is essential for survival. For instance, the entry for (a Ghost/Poison type) doesn't just list its height and weight; it explicitly warns that "its gaseous body hardens into a blade at midnight, doubling its Attack stat but halving its Special Defense." This is not flavor text—it is a direct hint to the player about a hidden ability or a form change. The Pokédex thus becomes a tactical manual, rewarding players who read carefully with the knowledge needed to overcome the game’s notoriously brutal Gym Leaders and rival battles. A creature like (a fan-made Water/Psychic-type dolphin) will The most striking feature of the Solar Light & Lunar Dark Pokédex is its unflinching embrace of darker, more mature biological and ecological concepts. While official Pokédex entries have occasionally hinted at morbid realities (e.g., Drifloon carrying away children, Yamask staring at its own former human face), the fan game leans into these ideas with a consistent, Gothic-horror sensibility. For example, the entry for the regional variant of does not merely state that the mushroom has taken over its host; it describes the vacant, intelligent stare of the parasitic fungus as it lures other Bug-types to their doom. Similarly, Mimikyu’s entry expands on its loneliness, noting that trainers who have gazed under its disguise without proper protection have been found catatonic, smiling at nothing. This tonal shift transforms the Pokédex from a child-friendly encyclopedia into a survival guide for a world where Pokémon are truly mysterious, sometimes dangerous, forces of nature. 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) |
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| Â 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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