Invalid class string / Invalid ProgID

This note applies to the instantiation of ActiveX components (not .NET assemblies).

If a call to CreateObject (VBScript) or Server.CreateObject (ASP) or sp_OACreate (SQL) fails with the following errors:

Invalid class string

Invalid ProgID

It indicates that the ActiveX has not been registered via regsvr32 on the computer, or the registry permissions on the ProgID key prevent the object from being created.

To register, open a MS-DOS command prompt and type:

c:\> regsvr32 c:\path\ChilkatSomething.dll

Where “ChilkatSomething.dll” is the filename of a Chilkat ActiveX DLL.

The DLL may be located in any directory.  (It does not need to be placed in Windows\system32.)  The important point is that once registered, the DLL’s physical location should not be changed.

This error might also be the result of insufficient permissions for the ProgID registry key.  If you know the component has been registered via regsvr32, run regedt32 and check the permissions on the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ProgID, where ProgID is a string such as “Chilkat.Ftp2” or “Chilkat.Ssh”.  The full set of ProgID’s may be found here:  Chilkat ProgID’s for CreateObject Open the registry key, select Permissions from the Edit menu and grant the “Everyone” account full control.