DPFspy

This is your /Downloaded Program Files/ folder. It's a strange place that accumulates detritus and Conflict.s from ActiveX installations. Windows does not keep it clean.

If you use Windows Explorer, you won't actually see any files in the DPF - just the Cabinets they came in. You'll see one called DPF.spy. Note that you can't Delete, Cut, Copy, Paste, or Drag-and-Drop any files in to or out of this folder. And FileFinders won't find them.
If DPF.spy has an icon like this , you'll be able to open it with MS cabview.dll (which may be in ..\(Windows)\System(32)\Shellext\..). This interface will show you the files inside (at the "Dependencies" Tab), but you still won't be able to do anything with them.
If DPF.spy was installed on this download, it'll be in your Cache, with an icon like this
It will be called DPFspy.CAB (in this cache), and you can Move it, Copy it, Cut it, etc. And if you open it with Cabview.dll, you can copy the contents (not like in the DPF cache). There are many other CAB viewers out there that allow manipulations of the DPF, but none that I've seen show all that's in there - and they can't delete the accumulated Conflict.s and trash.

With DPFspy you can use Explorer, CommDlg32.ocx, DOS, or DPFspy itself to view and manipulate files in the DPF. And you may find some interesting things. When I first ran this program, I had 21 conflict.s - mostly full of my own trash - but many mysteries too - some ongoing. And they can cause subtle and hard-to-trace problems with OCX controls. Mucho.

So if you're gonna play with ActiveX, you may want to keep this page handy. Bookmark it or "Save as.." to a local folder. It'll work either way. And I've included an executable version (DPFspy.exe (11K)) - as you can see. Copy it somewhere (along with DPFspy.ocx).

DOS Tips:

Click "View with DOS"
Go dir /p and check files against ListBox
Look for folders named conflict.1, conflict.2, etc
Go cd conflict.1, etc to see what's in them.
Go del Filename or del *.* to delete files
Go cd.. (that's cd Dot Dot) to return
Go rmdir DirectoryName to remove Conflict.1, etc
(That's Conflict Dot 1, etc)

I think the DPF is immoveable, but on some systems the Control may not find it. In that cache, use the Drive Box and DirectoryList Box to navigate to it. (It may be called ..\occache\ (Win95) or it may be in a ..\User\.. folder (NT).)

Most of the files in the DPF seem to contain download instructions for ActiveX controls (.inf files). Few actually contain OCX files, but the .infs have pointers to their Sources and Destinations (such as: http://activex.microsoft.com/controls/vb6/ComDlg32.cab and: DestDir=10 for the ..\Windows\System(32)\ folder - (from DPFspy.inf)).

In the Cabview.dll listing, if the filename is followed by an asterisk*, it means the the most recent version of the control already existed in the system and was not downloaded.

I don't recommend this - but - I've mistakenly deleted everything in the DPF (more than once) - but with no noticeable consequences. ActiveX Controls are pretty smart, and will re-install themselves silently. And I think most of the stuff they leave behind is inconsequential. But I'm not entirely sure....so be careful.

Known Bugs

A non-fatal, meaningless error if you cancel a "Copy To..."
"Path not found" if you "Run" anything other than an exe
Sometimes won't remove empty folder (use DOS)
Delete nag annoying already.
Install unclear. Added Install to Local Path..." button
??? Bug reports to: Bryan_MacNeill

Unknown Bugs

I wrote this control over a year ago and have used it a lot. Pretty much every time I compile and test controls. But this is a re-write - just for you - and I haven't had a chance to test it (thoroughly) yet. You will be Beta-testing. I will list bugs on this page as they occur and exterminate them and re-compile if there's too many and/or they're too annoying.