Blue Prism v7.2.1 v7.3 - New 64bit VBOs (OLEDB and File Management)

[flavio.lara]

Hello everyone.

We are assessing Blue Prism v7.2.1 64-bit and v7.3 64-bit (currently we use v6.10.2).

In v7.2.1 two new VBOs were available (OLEDB 64-bit and File Management 64 bit).

In v7.3 VBOs are not part of the installation package anymore. The instruction is to download them from DX. However, we couldn't find these new VBOs in DX - only the traditional ones.

So, my question is: Do we need these new VBOs or not? If yes, is it necessary to migrate Office 365 to 64-bit? I'm confused after BP v7.3.

Our test runtime:

• Windows 11 Pro 64 bits
• Microsoft Office 365 Pro - 32 bits
• Blue Prism v7.3 - 64 bit

Regards,

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Flavio Lara
System Analyst
Vallourec Tubos do Brasil
Belo HorizonteBrazil
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[ewilson · Accepted solution]

Hello @flavio.lara,

The only thing that differentiates the 32-bit version from the 64-bit of these VBOs is the definition of the default connection string in each. The older VBOs used the Microsoft JET provider which is 32-bit only. The newer VBOs (including those that are on the DX) were changed to use the MS ACE (Access Runtime Engine) provider which has 32 and 64-bit implementations.

So, if you grab the VBOs from the DX, you will have the latest. You'll just have to make sure you have the appropriate Microsoft ACE redistributable installed on your systems.

Cheers,  

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Eric Wilson
Director, Integrations and Enablement
Blue Prism Digital Exchange
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[flavio.lara]

Thanks, @ewilson! Now it is clear.

We'll ignore these 64-bit VBOs and focus on the versions from DX.

Do you believe that using VBOs from DX and installing a 64-bit version of MS ACE (2016 for example), can we upgrade our MS Office 365 from 32 to 64-bit without problems with the existing automations?

Regards,

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Flavio Lara
System Analyst
Vallourec Tubos do Brasil
Belo HorizonteBrazil
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[ewilson]

@flavio.lara,

If you're going to run 64-bit Blue Prism, you'll want to run 64-bit Microsoft 365 applications too. One thing to be aware of, Blue Prism v7.3 and onward no longer includes the Microsoft.Interop.Outlook.dll, so the existing Outlook VBO won't work. However, there's a new DLL and VBO for v7.3 onwards for dealing with Outlook. It uses the same VBO name and object ID, so your existing processes won't be impacted. The new VBO is based on NetOffice which is an open-source framework for MS Office automation.

You can find that VBO at the link below:

https://digitalexchange.blueprism.com/dx/entry/3439/solution/ms-outlook-vbo-netoffice

This change only impacts Outlook.

Cheers,

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Eric Wilson
Director, Integrations and Enablement
Blue Prism Digital Exchange
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[flavio.lara]

Hello @ewilson

I'd understood that the new Outlook VBO was an alternative. I'll include that topic in our BP Upgrade to-do list.

Thank you very much!

Regards,

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Flavio Lara
System Analyst
Vallourec Tubos do Brasil
Belo HorizonteBrazil
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