Can't find mscomctllib in add reference

Question

I believe this could be fairly simple to figure out, but I have been trying to for the past few hours in vain and everywhere in the net seems to point me back to here

I get exactly the same error: c:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Microsoft.Common.targets(1558,9): warning MSB3283: Cannot find wrapper assembly for type library "MSComctlLib". ========== Build: 7 succeeded or up-to-date, 1 failed, 0 skipped ==========

I try to remove and re-add the dependency to fix,but the problem is that I don't find mscomctllib when I go to add reference (com tab). Am I missing something here? Or am I looking for the wrong thing? Am running VS 2010 and converting the app from .net 2.0 to 4.0.

Taking a dependency on this VB6 component is very unwise. Security updates have been [quite unkind](http://stackoverflow.com/a/13017139/17034) to it. — Hans Passant, Mar 17 '14 at 23:50

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 17 '14 at 23:36

2

When you're in the COM tab under References, look for "Microsoft Windows Common Controls" or similar. Here it is on my system (Windows 7 / VS2012):

enter image description here

answered Mar 17 '14 at 23:36

Grant Winney

65,241
13
115
165

Thanks a bunch. This worked like charm. I had intepreted MSComCtlLib as Microsoft Component Control and was looking for that instead. Thanks, saved my day. – user1580431 Mar 18 '14 at 00:20
what about for windows 10 VS2012 old projects? thanks – Alejandro L. Aug 28 '19 at 10:13
@Grant Hello, I installed VS2005 for some old dependencies too lol. I got the file from a work mate computer, then I did a regsvr32.exe to the mscomctl.ocx and installed the lib (so now was visible for VS2012). I hate legacy projects... Thanks for the reply anyway!!!! I really appreciate. – Alejandro L. Aug 29 '19 at 14:13

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 17 '14 at 23:33

0

In windows 7 it's in C:\Windows\SysWOW64 and it's an OCX not a DLL so in VS, when you go to add references, click on the browse button and look around there.

answered Mar 17 '14 at 23:33

safetyOtter

1,430
14
26

Thanks for the response and for pointing out its an ocx.But i added reference like below and it worked. However, I found MSComctl.ocx at that location. Is that supposed to be the same thing as MSComctllib? – user1580431 Mar 18 '14 at 00:24

Can't find mscomctllib in add reference

2 Answers2