How do I convert a 32-bit Visio VSL file to 64-bit for use with the new 64-bit version of Visio?

Question

On my old computer I had Visual Studio 2013. I used this and the VisioSDK example CppVsl to create a 32-bit VSL file that I used for years with Microsoft Office Visio 2013 for many years. I now now own a new computer with Windows 10, Visual Studio Pro 2022 and Visio Pro 2016 365, all of which I believe are 64-bit. I need to port all of my old source code to make a 64-bit version of my VSL. Can someone give me instruction on how to do this?

Answer 1

Hi @Carl Olen (Nokia)

To convert your 32-bit Visio VSL file to a 64-bit version for use with the 64-bit version of Visio, follow these steps:

1. Upgrade Your Visual Studio Project

• Open your existing CppVsl project in Visual Studio 2022.
• If prompted, allow Visual Studio to update the project files to the new format.

2. Change Target Platform to x64

• In Solution Explorer, right-click the project and select Properties.
• Under Configuration Properties → General, change Target Platform to x64.
• Under Configuration Properties → Linker → Advanced, set Target Machine to MachineX64.

3. Update Dependencies and SDK References

• Ensure you are using the latest Visio SDK that supports 64-bit.
• Update any third-party libraries to 64-bit versions if applicable.

4. Recompile the VSL

• Clean the project and rebuild it in Release (x64) mode.
• Ensure no hardcoded 32-bit dependencies exist in your code.

5. Update Windows Registry for VSL Deployment

• If your VSL interacts with Visio via registry settings, update any references in:

CopyEdit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Visio\Addons

to point to the new 64-bit DLL paths.

6. Test the New 64-bit VSL in Visio

• Place the newly compiled VSL file in the correct Visio Add-ons directory.
• Open Visio 64-bit, go to Developer → Add-ons, and verify that the VSL loads correctly.

If you encounter errors related to 32-bit dependencies, check for:

• Any third-party DLLs that may still be compiled for x86.
• The use of legacy APIs that require 32-bit compatibility.

If your VSL relies on COM components, you may need to re-register them using the 64-bit version of regsvr32.

For additional guidance, refer to the latest Microsoft Visio SDK documentation.To convert your 32-bit Visio VSL file to a 64-bit version for use with the 64-bit version of Visio, follow these steps:

1. Upgrade Your Visual Studio Project

• Open your existing CppVsl project in Visual Studio 2022.
• If prompted, allow Visual Studio to update the project files to the new format.

2. Change Target Platform to x64

• In Solution Explorer, right-click the project and select Properties.
• Under Configuration Properties → General, change Target Platform to x64.
• Under Configuration Properties → Linker → Advanced, set Target Machine to MachineX64.

3. Update Dependencies and SDK References

• Ensure you are using the latest Visio SDK that supports 64-bit.
• Update any third-party libraries to 64-bit versions if applicable.

4. Recompile the VSL

• Clean the project and rebuild it in Release (x64) mode.
• Ensure no hardcoded 32-bit dependencies exist in your code.

5. Update Windows Registry for VSL Deployment

• If your VSL interacts with Visio via registry settings, update any references in:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Visio\Addons
  

• to point to the new 64-bit DLL paths.

6. Test the New 64-bit VSL in Visio

• Place the newly compiled VSL file in the correct Visio Add-ons directory.
• Open Visio 64-bit, go to Developer → Add-ons, and verify that the VSL loads correctly.

If you encounter errors related to 32-bit dependencies, check for:

• Any third-party DLLs that may still be compiled for x86.
• The use of legacy APIs that require 32-bit compatibility.

If your VSL relies on COM components, you may need to re-register them using the 64-bit version of regsvr32.

For additional guidance, refer to the latest Microsoft Visio SDK documentation.