Redistributing some Windows DLLs

[OReubens]

Since XP, we have Common Controls V6. If your app is manifested for V6, then distributing the dll isn't even possible anymore since ComCtl V6 is no longer redistributable.

If you run with ComCtl V5, then depending on what feature set you want to support and what OS versions you want to support those features on, an updated version may be needed.
You're saying XP is your lowest target. Since XP has the latest version of the V5 common controls, you don't need to install this anymore.


COMCAT (whew, this is an oldie ) is the Component Category Manager Library, it's part of the early ActiveX support dll's. You needed this if you also wanted to install/use ActiveX components.
IIRC, you'll need this on 95/98/ME and 2K assuming you have merge modules (activeX) that are dependant on this. Off the top of my head:
- old versions of opengl (and the opengl utility lib)
- Older versions of VB and FoxPro required this (because of heavy reliance on activeXfor forms etc).

I would say it's rare though not impossible that you need this in a C++ project. If you do need it, it's more likely because of non C++ code in the project (VB/FoxPro... parts) or third party libs/components depending on it.

If XP if your lowest target, then you shouldn't need this anymore, unless you have really old components that hard-link into ComCat rather than doing it the "proper" way.