AVR Classic and your COM dependence

ASNA Visual RPG (AVR) Classic, which targets the Microsoft COM platform, is more than 30 years old and still ticking! We’ve been through three minor versions of the 5x Classic family upgrade (with another one coming soon). The latest build is AVR Classic 5.2.

Each iteration of AVR Visual RPG Classic provides a refreshed build produced by the latest Microsoft C++ compiler. These incremental upgrades are horizontal upgrades in that they add no new features or enhancments, but they help to ensure the 5.x family is compiled with the latest C++ bits to make AVR 5x work as well as possible with the latest versions of Windows 11.

ASNA Visual RPG for COM (AVR Classic) was introduced in 1994. Since then, AVR Classic has been used around the world by thousands of RPG programmers to create graphical Windows-based application with real-time read/write connectivity to the IBM i (and the AS/400-i Series-System i generations that preceded IBM i) and Microsoft SQL Server platforms.

COM platform risks

COM was introduced in 1993. It became the bedrock of Visual Basic and ASNA Visual RPG back then. Microsoft is firmly committed to persisting the COM model as best it can as Windows 11 evolves.

With Microsoft’s commmitment to COM and ASNA’s commitment to AVR 5x, it might seem like using COM in 2026 is still a pretty safe bet. And, in many ways it is, however, beware these potential issues:

• Third party ActiveX/OCX controls. While ASNA keeps AVR 5x updated with the latest Microsoft C++ compiler, that’s not the case for third-party controls. Virtually every vendor that provided ActiveX/OCX custom controls at the height of COM popularity has since gone away (FarPoint, Sheridan, and Mabry to name a few). COM ecosystem erosion is a factor in the long-term considerations for your AVR Classic apps. Test every third-party control you use very carefully on Windows 11. Read more about third-party COM control issues here.

• Programmers with COM experience. Many AVR Classic customers have lost most or even all of their AVR Classsic programmers. AVR Classic was introduced in 1994 and most AVR Classic programmers have long since retired or been shuffled out the door by mergers and acquisitions and have since become pickle ball or cornhole champions. COM programmers, especially those familiar with AVR Classic, are very hard to find. Without them, maintaining or updating an AVR Classic app is quite a challenge. The ASNA Professional Services team has some limited COM expertise available. If you’re interested in getting our help with maintaining, persisting, or replacing your AVR Classic code, send us an email at info@asna.com

• AVR Classic Web applications. AVR Classic Web applications are especially risky. ASNA doesn’t formally support AVR Classic Web development; the expertise required is very challenging to find. Further, these Web apps reequired VB Script which required old Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers and often relied on deprecated or discontinued standards like XSLT and XML. Beware also that AVR Classic Web applications may also have substantial security risks. At the very least, make sure that whatever third-party products you’re using are updated as much as possible (JQuery especially).

A gentle nudge

AVR Classic has been at work around the world for thousands of customers for a long time and just keeps right on ticking. ASNA is very committed to keeping AVR Classic 5x fresh for the forseeable future.

That said, it’s important for AVR Classic customers to acknowledge that AVR 5x is a crutch, not a long-term strategy. How COM’s destiny plays out in the upcoming versions of Windows is unknown. Given this unknown, the demise of the ActiveX/OCX eco system, and COM programming talent being hard to find, we think it’s prudent that you craft a plan to replace/rewrite your AVR Classic apps.

As mentioned above, the ASNA Services Team may be helpful in helping you resolve your COM dependence. Send us an email at info@asna.com for more information.