How to use API using erwin DM 64-bit and Excel 32-bit? Is it possible to have both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of erwin DM on the same PC?

Description:

I have erwin DM 64-bit, but my Excel is 32-bit.  When running the API code, I get the following error " Can't find Project or Library" or  run time error " ActiveX components can't create objects" 

We know it may be because, erwin and Excel need to be either 32-bit or 64-bit, so how to use API using erwin DM 64-bit and Excel 32-bit?  Is it possible to have both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of erwin DM on the same PC? 

Solution:

The answer is Yes. erwin DM and Excel need to be either 32-bit or 64-bit to work together.  If they are not, there is an incompatibility between erwin 64-bit and MS Excel 32-bit and it will not work.  To overcome this, there are three options as follows:

1. Check with your group if your Office (including Excel) can be upgraded to 64-bit?
2. Uninstall erwin 64-bit and install 32-bit version.
3. Use a 32-bit version of erwin without installing it. 

This document is about the third option – how to have both, 32-bit and 64-bit of same versions of erwin DM on the same PC, to use with the 32-bit version of Excel.

Here is how to do it:

1. Install 32-bit of the same version of erwin DM on a different PC. (You do not need a license as you will not be launching it.)
2. Once installed, copy all files under erwin folder to a network drive to paste them in the other PC.
3. On your PC, create a new folder right next to where your current erwin 64-bit is installed at. Name it something like 970_32_bit_bin (just a suggestion).
4. In this new folder, copy and paste ALL folder and files into the newly created folder (as saved in step # 2). (The first folder may be BackupFiles.)

This will give you two folders - one where the 64-bit files are and the second where the newly pasted 32-bit erwin files reside.  Both will have erwin.exe - so if you launch erwin from the folder with 64-bit, erwin will be launched as 64-bit, but if you use the other one, it will be launched as 32-bit.  The models saved using either 32-bit or 64-bit can be opened from either erwin 32-bit or 64-bit.  However, to use API, the needed files from the 32-bit folder need to be registered.  The two needed DLLs are:

• EAL.DLL
• ERXML.DLL

Here is how to register them:

• In Windows Explorer, navigate to the newly created folder where erwin 32-bit resides - copy its path
• In Windows, right mouse and click on 'Search' and type in CMD.
• In the result set, right mouse click on the Command Prompt and 'Run As Administrator' it is important that CMD prompt is launched using 'Run As Administrator'
• In the DOS prompt type in REGSVR32 " and add the full path as copied in step a followed by \EAL.DLL". It should look as follows:

Please make sure that the path is correct.  If you have the privileges to register the DLLs, you will see a notification that the command succeeded. In the Window above erwin 32-bit is at C:\Program Files\erwin\970_32_bit_bin folder.  Change it to the correct path in your environment.

• Repeat the same step except replace the file name EAL.DLL with ERXML.DLL
• For both these you should see the message that the registration succeeded.

Once this is set you should be able to use erwin API using 32-bit folder and files. 

Other articles on this:

https://support.erwin.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000223792-How-to-upgrade-your-erwin-7-x-8-x-API-utility-to-work-with-erwin-9-x-

https://support.erwin.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005640448-API-macros-working-until-I-upgraded-to-9-7-Not-working-now-