Error 80040154 Class not registered - how to fix for ARX SAPILib.dll - cosign-api

Question

I've been using CoSign within Microsoft Word successfully, but now I'm trying to automate the report generation using Microsoft Visual Basic Studio 10 Express. Trying to download the developer's software bundle fails due to the previous client installation, but I do already see the Arx Signature API 6.20 installed on my desktop, and I can add a reference to the Interop.SAPILib.dll without a problem, through the COM tab; Intellisense recognizes all the appropriate functions, so everything seemed to be installed. However, when I build and debug the program, I am given the error 80040154 Class not registered, specifically on the first "Dim myFileHandle as New SAPILibrary.FileHandle" call. Previous calls work without error; they include creating MySAPI as a New SAPICrypt, MyHandle as a new SESHandle object, MyFieldHandle as new SAPILib.SigFieldSettings, and calls to MySAPI.init, MySAPI.HandleAquire, MySAPI.Logon. My code is below.
Other forum posts for this error cite the need for assuring x86 builds if using a 32-bit dll. I have confirmed that it is my solution's compile platform; I am using a 64-bit Toshiba running Windows 7.
Can it be a dll issue, since the other SAPILibrary class reference worked well?
Does the Arx Cosign installation not automatically register the dll, despite my being able to reference it in Visual Stuio Express? I tried to manually register the dll file, but I'm then given the error that the module was loaded but that the entry point DllRegisterServer was not found, and to check to see if this is a valid dll.
Obviously I'm new to COM dlls. Am I on the right track, or is this an unhandled error of another kind?
Private Sub SignWithSAPI()
Dim username As String = "XXX#yahoo.com"
Dim password As String = "passwordhere"
'add a signature field locator string - NEED TO HIDE THIS AS IT DOESN'T GET ERASED BY SAPI
Dim MyFieldLocatorString As String = "<<<W=200;H=120;N=Physician signature;A=&HC;>>>"
oWord.Selection.TypeText(MyFieldLocatorString)
'SIGN PDF HERE USING COSIGN Signature API
Dim mySAPI As New SAPICrypt
Dim myHandle As New SESHandle
Dim rc As Int32
rc = mySAPI.Init()
If rc <> 0 Then
MessageBox.Show("Init failed")
Exit Sub
End If
rc = mySAPI.HandleAcquire(myHandle)
If rc <> 0 Then
MessageBox.Show("failed at handleAcquire")
mySAPI.Finalize()
Exit Sub
End If
rc = mySAPI.Logon(myHandle, userName, "", password)
If rc <> 0 Then
MessageBox.Show("Login failed")
mySAPI.HandleRelease(myHandle)
mySAPI.Finalize()
Exit Sub
End If
Dim MyFieldSettings As New SAPILib.SigFieldSettings
With MyFieldSettings
.Invisible = 0
.Height = 200
.Width = 100
.AppearanceMask = myChosenAppearancesMask 'shows graphical image, name of signer and time
.SignatureType = SAPI_ENUM_SIGNATURE_TYPE.SAPI_ENUM_SIGNATURE_DIGITAL
End With
Dim myPDFfileName As String = "C:\\Users\Scott\Desktop\TestAutomation.pdf"
Dim myFileHandle As New SAPILib.FileHandle
rc = mySAPI.CreateFileHandleByName(myFileHandle, _
SAPI_ENUM_FILE_TYPE.SAPI_ENUM_FILE_ADOBE, 0, myPDFfileName)
If rc <> 0 Then
MessageBox.Show("Error in creating FileHandlebyName")
mySAPI.HandleRelease(myHandle)
mySAPI.Finalize()
Exit Sub
End If
'Assigns the SigFieldContext
Dim mySigFieldContext As New SAPIContext
Dim myNumberOfSigFields As Integer
rc = mySAPI.SignatureFieldEnumInitEx(myHandle, mySigFieldContext, _
SAPI_ENUM_FILE_TYPE.SAPI_ENUM_FILE_ADOBE, "", myFileHandle, 0, myNumberOfSigFields)
If rc <> 0 Then
MessageBox.Show("Error in SigFieldEnumInitEx")
mySAPI.HandleRelease(myFileHandle)
mySAPI.HandleRelease(myHandle)
mySAPI.Finalize()
Exit Sub
End If
Dim mySigFieldLocatorContext As New SAPIContext 'next line assigns its value in the function
rc = mySAPI.SignatureFieldLocatorEnumInit(myHandle, mySigFieldLocatorContext, _
myFileHandle, "<<<", ">>>", 0, myNumberOfSigFields)
If rc <> 0 Then
mySAPI.ContextRelease(mySigFieldContext)
MessageBox.Show("Error in SigFieldLocatorContext")
mySAPI.HandleRelease(myFileHandle)
mySAPI.HandleRelease(myHandle)
mySAPI.Finalize()
Exit Sub
End If
Dim mySigFieldHandle As New SigFieldHandle
rc = mySAPI.SignatureFieldEnumCont(myHandle, mySigFieldContext, mySigFieldHandle)
'assigns the first(only) value to mySigFieldHandle
If rc <> 0 Then
mySAPI.ContextRelease(mySigFieldLocatorContext)
mySAPI.ContextRelease(mySigFieldContext)
MessageBox.Show("Error in SigFieldLocatorContext")
mySAPI.HandleRelease(myFileHandle)
mySAPI.HandleRelease(myHandle)
mySAPI.Finalize()
Exit Sub
End If
'//Create the Field
rc = mySAPI.SignatureFieldSignEx(myHandle, mySigFieldHandle, myChosenAppearancesMask, _
Nothing)
If rc <> 0 Then
MessageBox.Show("Error in sigfieldSignEx")
End If
'release resources
mySAPI.HandleRelease(mySigFieldHandle)
mySAPI.HandleRelease(myFileHandle)
mySAPI.ContextRelease(mySigFieldContext)
mySAPI.ContextRelease(mySigFieldLocatorContext)
mySAPI.Logoff(myHandle)
mySAPI.HandleRelease(myHandle)
End Sub
Thanks!

Answer 1

The FileHandle object can be created using either CreateFileHandleByName or CreateFileHandleByMem functions and this is the proper way to instantiate the object in our COM. Replacing the line Dim myFileHandle As New SAPILib.FileHandle with Dim myFileHandle As SAPILib.FileHandle = Nothing will solve your issue.