KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q152023: Locating Resources to Study Automation

Article: Q152023
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): 3.5,3.51,4.0,4.0 SP4
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbole kbProgramming kbAutomation kbOSWinNT kbOSWinNT350 kbOSWinNT351 kbOSWinNT400 kbOSW
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows 98 
- Microsoft Windows 95 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0, 4.0 SP4 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0, 4.0 SP4 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Automation allows a client application to call methods or properties of a server
application. This article provides pointers to resources for studying Automation
using the Windows Software Developer Kit (SDK).

MORE INFORMATION
================

Books
-----

The following books provide a good introduction to implementing OLE automation
using the Windows SDK:

1. Inside COM by Dale Rogerson. A good, practical guide for all COM users.
  Microsoft Press. ISBN# 1-57231-349-8.

  Give particular attention to Chapter 11: "Dispatch Interfaces and Automation."

2. Inside Visual C++ by David J. Kruglinski. This fourth edition is a good
  overall explanation of the capabilities of Visual C++. Microsoft Press. ISBN#
  1-57231-565-2.

  Read Chapter 24: "Automation."

3. OLE Automation Programmer's Reference - Creating Programmable 32-bit
  applications. Microsoft Press. ISBN 1-55615-851-3.

  Read the following chapters for an introduction of automation servers and
  clients:

  Chapter 1: "Overview of OLE Automation."
  Chapter 2: "Exposing OLE Automation Objects."
  Chapter 3: "Accessing OLE Automation Objects."

  This book references the HELLO, LINES, BROWSE, and BROWSEH samples that ship
  with the Win32 SDK and the 32-bit Visual C++ compiler.

4. Inside OLE - second edition by Kraig Brockschmidt. Microsoft Press. ISBN
  1-55615-843-2.

  The following chapters provide information about OLE automation:

  Chapter 14: "OLE Automation and Automation Objects."
  Chapter 15: "OLE Automation Controllers and Tools."
  Chapter 3 : "Type Information."
  Chapter 4 : "Connectable Objects."

Samples
-------

Samples available from the Microsoft Download Center are indicated by the Q
number and the Title of the article pointing to the sample. All other samples
can be obtained from the Win32 SDK and the 32-bit Visual C++ compiler. All
samples are 32-bit unless otherwise indicated.

Servers
-------

- HELLO - Simple EXE-based automation server. This is a good sample to use to
  learn how to create your first automation server.

- LINES - A more complex EXE-based automation server that also implements
  collections.

- BROWSEH - An inproc (DLL-based) automation server.

- SIMPAUTO - A simple EXE-based, 16-bit automation server. (See the Microsoft
  Knowledge Base article:

  Q107981 SAMPLE: Simple OLE Automation Object Sample)

- AUTODLL - A simple inproc (DLL-based), 16-bit automation server. See the
  Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

  Q107982 SAMPLE: OLE Automation Inproc Object

- DISPCALC, DISPCALC2, SPOLY, and SPOLY2 are other servers that ship with the
  Win32 SDK. These are older samples and should be looked at only after you
  have seen the others previously mentioned in this section.

Clients
-------

- HELLCTRL - Client that controls the server using vtbl-binding.

- BROWSE - Client that controls server using late-binding. The invhelp.cpp and
  invhelp.h files contain helper functions that make it easy to write clients
  for any server.

- DISPDEMO - Client that controls server using late-binding.

- AUTOCTRL - 16-bit automation client that uses late-binding. See the Microsoft
  Knowledge Base article:

  Q106080 SAMPLE: OLE Automation Controller Sample

NOTE: Clients can also be easily written using Visual Basic.

Type Library Browsers
---------------------

- TIBROWSE - Simple type library browser that demonstrates the use of ITypeLib
  and ITypeInfo.

- BROWSEH - More complex type library browser.

Type Library Builders
---------------------

- TYPEBLD - Demonstrates how to use ICreateTypeLib and ICreateTypeInfo to
  create a type library. See the Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

  Q131105 SAMPLE: TYPEBLD: How to Use ICreateTypeLib & ICreateTypeInfo

Safe Arrays
-----------

- SAFEARAY - Demonstrates the use of safe arrays. See the Microsoft Knowledge
  Base article:

  Q131086 SAMPLE: SAFEARAY: Use of Safe Arrays in Automation

- BINARY - Demonstrates the use of safe arrays to transfer binary data. See the
  Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

  Q131046 SAMPLE: BINARY: Transfer Binary Data Using OLE Automation

Optional and Variable Number of Arguments
-----------------------------------------

- OPTARG - Demonstrates the use of optional and variable number of arguments.
  See the Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

  Q131052 SAMPLE: OPTARG: Optional Parameters with Automation

Collections
-----------

- LINES - Implements collections.

- COLLECT - 16-bit sample that demonstrates how to implement collections.

MultiLingual Servers
--------------------

- MULTLING - Server that implements properties and methods in three languages.
  See the Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

  Q107698 SAMPLE: Multilingual OLE Automation Object

REFERENCES
==========

For additional information about Automation, please click the article numbers
below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q196776 FAQ: Office Automation Using Visual C++

  Q181473 HOWTO: Use OLE Automation from a C Application Rather Than C++

  Q194656 HOWTO: Do 16-Bit Automation in C++ Using VC 1.52

  Q216686 HOWTO: Automate Excel From C++ Without Using MFC or #import

  Q216388 FILE: B2CSE.exe Converts Visual Basic Automation Code to Visual C++

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbole kbProgramming kbAutomation kbOSWinNT kbOSWinNT350 kbOSWinNT351 kbOSWinNT400 kbOSWin kbOSWin95 kbOSWin98 kbOSWinNT400sp4 kbGrpDSCom kbDSupport kbOLE200 kbwebcontent 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTW400sp4 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search kbWin95search kbWin98search kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin98
Version           : :3.5,3.51,4.0,4.0 SP4
Issue type        : kbinfo

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.