An OCX-less Progress Bar

If you need a progress bar in your VB6 application, but don't want to add the reference to Microsoft Windows Common Controls, here's a simple way to create a progress bar that doesn't require any extra components.

The trick is to use a VB6 line control, and then vary the length of the line to simulate a progress bar. You can get fancy with the bar's color or width. With some minor code changes, you can easily create a vertical rather than horizontal progress bar.

To set up the demo, go into VB and create a new project. For demonstration purposes only, add a reference to the Microsoft Windows Common Controls, and add a slider bar to the bottom of the form. Resize the slider bar so it fits across the form.

Paste the following code into the default form:

Option Explicit

Dim RightMost As Long
Dim Line1 As Control

Private Sub Form_Load()
    'This section adds a line control to the form.
    Set Line1 = Form1.Controls.Add("VB.Line", "Line1", Form1)
    Line1.X1 = 240
    Line1.X2 = 4080
    Line1.Y1 = 1080
    Line1.Y2 = 1080
    Line1.Visible = True

    'Save the rightmost point.
    RightMost = Line1.X2
    Line1.BorderWidth = 4
    
    'The fun part is here.
    Slider1.Max = 100
    Slider1.Min = 1
End Sub

Private Sub Slider1_Change()
    Call NewBar(Slider1.Value)
End Sub

Private Sub NewBar(XPercent)
    Line1.X2 = (RightMost - Line1.X1) * (XPercent / 100)
    If Line1.X2 < Line1.X1 Then Line1.X2 = Line1.X1
End Sub

Now run the program. As you slide the indicator across the screen, you'll see the line change to match the indicator.