Runtime Error 217 when installing GExperts

[Achim Kalwa 61]

I did a clean install of Delphi 10.4.2. One of the first steps is to compile and install GExperts. SVN revision 3449 compiled fine, but when running the "Register-GExperts-XX104.cmd" it fails with "Runtime error 217 at 50CDB390", followed by "Problem beim Starten von .\GExpertsRS104.dll. Eine DLL-Initialisierungsroutine ist fehlgeschlagen."

 

To trace the error I compiled GExperts in Debug mode, using Debug-DCUs. Then I used Run->Parameters to set "C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe" as "Host", and the full path to the compiled GExpertsRS104.dll and ",InstallGExperts" as parameter:

 

Host application:
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe

 

Parameters:
C:\Full\Path\To\GExpertsRS104.dll,InstallGExperts

 

Now I could debug the installation from within the Delphi IDE.

The startup-code InitUnits (in System.pas) initializes all units and calls class constructors; and in Vcl.WinXCtrls.pas it calls a class constructor TSearchBox.Create. This code creates an internal TImageCollection and adds two default images, which finally leads to TWICImage.Create in Vcl.Graphics.pas (Line 10624 ff).

 

The call to CoCreateInstance(CLSID_WICImagingFactory, ...) fails with error code $800401F0 = CO_E_NOTINITIALIZED =  'CoInitialize has not been called' and an exception is raised with message 'Cannot create instance of class CLSID_WICImagingFactory'.

 

To solve this problem, I need to insert CoInitialize(nil) somewhere, and because I won't change VCL and RTL units I had to find another place. Finally I found that the initialization block in GX_GenericUtils.pas is called some steps before the exception is raised, and already uses unit ActiveX, so I placed a CoInitialize(nil) in GX_GenericUtils.pas initialization block.

initialization
  CoInitialize(nil);  // this line added
  Initialize;
...

And the error is gone!

Finally I could install GExperts into Delphi 10.4.2 😉 [Yes, I know how to use RegEdit].

@dummzeuch : Maybe there is a better place to insert that missing CoInitialize(nil). Also I don't know if that call has side effects on older Delphi versions and should be surrounded by some IFDEFs. Since it is only one line inserted, I did not create a patch.

 

I'm going to report this new VCL bug to quality portal.

 

Thanks for reading,

Achim

Edited March 1, 2021 by Achim Kalwa
QC -> Quality Portal

[Achim Kalwa 61]

Reported as https://quality.embarcadero.com/browse/RSP-33120

Feel free to vote 😉

[Achim Kalwa 61]

How nice. The issue RSP-33120 has been closed as "test case error" and the comment says:

Quote

The call to to call CoInitialize(nil) in such a case is up to the developer, as we cannot figure out all possible usage scenario, including COM invocation and threading models.

 

[dummzeuch 1506]

Another option would have been to use the stand alone ExpertManager. That's what I did and it worked.

 

I just used it to uninstall GExperts and tried your way. I got the same error, but only after the command line window seemed to hang and I closed it.

[dummzeuch 1506]

Fixed in revision #3450. Thanks.

[Ian Branch 128]

Hi Thomas,

Errors when building #3451 D2007 & D10.4.1.

 

Regards,

Ian

[Hunni 2]

Hi,

 

you must add to  <DCC_UnitSearchPath>. 

the following pathm  ;..\..\source\Utils;$

 

then you can compile it again

 

Torsten

[Ian Branch 128]

Done.  All good now.  Tks.

[dummzeuch 1506]

9 hours ago, Ian Branch said:

Errors when building #3451 D2007 & D10.4.1.

Ooops, yes, I forgot to add the new unit to the other projects.