Microsoft Forms 20 Object Library Vb6 ((top)) Jun 2026

The Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library is a COM (Component Object Model) library that provides a set of objects, properties, and methods for creating and manipulating forms in VB6. This library was first introduced as part of Microsoft Office 97, and it's been a part of subsequent Office releases, including Office 2000, XP, 2003, and 2007.

At the heart of the Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library is . This dynamic-link library is a system component typically installed with Microsoft Office or, in some legacy cases, with specific Windows operating system versions (like Windows 95 OSR2). It is the engine that provides the actual code for the Forms 2.0 controls, enabling them to render and interact with the user. microsoft forms 20 object library vb6

Container controls for tabbed interfaces. SpinButton / ScrollBar: Specialized scrolling tools. The Microsoft Forms 2

The Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library represents a fascinating chapter in the history of software development. It was more than just a collection of buttons and scrollbars; it was a strategic attempt by Microsoft to unify the development experience across its flagship products. For the VB6 developer, it was a powerful tool that offered advanced features and Office integration at the cost of increased deployment complexity. While the era of VB6 has passed, the library stands as a monument to the era of ActiveX and COM—a time when the line between an application and its components was both a source of great power and great frustration. This dynamic-link library is a system component typically

The native VB6 controls use the ANSI character set for text properties. A well-known limitation of VB6 is its poor support for Unicode. However, the Microsoft Forms 2.0 controls provide better Unicode compatibility. They can handle characters beyond the ASCII range, such as international symbols, with greater reliability than the standard VB6 text boxes and labels.

Using the Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library in VB6 Visual Basic 6.0 remains a staple for legacy enterprise applications. One of its most powerful features is the ability to integrate the Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library (FM20.DLL). This library allows developers to use modern-looking, versatile controls originally designed for Microsoft Office VBA. Why Use the FM20 Library?

Before you begin, it's crucial to understand Microsoft’s official stance on this topic. The FM20.DLL file and its corresponding object library are considered to be a redistributable component of VB6. According to Microsoft Knowledge Base article 241245, FM20.DLL is "intended for VBA use only." The company explicitly states that "its use is neither recommended nor supported in any Visual Studio product," which includes Visual Basic 6.0.