book

COM Programming with Microsoft® .NET

by John Paul Mueller, Julian Templeman

February 2003

Intermediate to advanced

544 pages

14h 11m

English

Microsoft Press

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What’s in This BookWho Is the Audience for This Book?Companion ContentWhat You NeedEquipment UsedWorkstation SetupServer SetupReader AidsMicrosoft Press Support
Is COM Dead?How Does COM Work in the .NET World?Differences in the COM and .NET PhilosophiesLocating ComponentsComponent IdentificationObject LifetimesDetermining Object CapabilitiesConstructors and DestructorsNondeterministic FinalizationError HandlingType InformationVisibilityData HandlingUsing .NET Servers with COM ClientsUsing COM Servers with .NET ClientsInterop MarshalingMarshaling StructuresThe Marshal ClassEvent HandlingUsing the IDE to Access ComponentsLocating the Component You NeedLocating COM ComponentsLocating UI ComponentsSimple COM Access ExamplesUsing a COM ComponentUsing an ActiveX ControlSummary
What Is the Place of COM+ in the .NET World?COM+ Problems and ImprovementsUsing the Component Services MMC Snap-InAn Overview of the InterfaceCreating COM+ Applications and Installing ComponentsCreating the COM+ ApplicationAdding Components to a COM+ ApplicationAdding Security to a COM+ ApplicationExporting COM+ ApplicationsUsing the .NET Framework Configuration MMC ConsoleManaging Components and ControlsRemoting Services ConfigurationDefining a Runtime Security PolicySummary
COM Interop: Principles and MechanismsInterop AssembliesPrimary Interop AssembliesGenerating Runtime Callable WrappersUsing Visual Studio .NETUsing the TlbImp.exe ToolSimple Use of TlbImp.exeUsing TlbImp.exe OptionsNamespacesResolving ReferencesThe /transform:dispret OptionUsing the TypeLibConverter ClassAssemblies and the GACStrong NamesSigning AssembliesInstalling Assemblies into the GACDelayed SigningGenerating and Installing Primary Interop AssembliesHow COM Entities Are ConvertedDealing with AttributesImporting LibrariesImporting Data TypesHandling void* ArgumentsUsing IntPtr from Visual C#Converting ArraysImporting ClassesImplementing Multiple InterfacesImporting InterfacesImporting MethodsImporting PropertiesImporting Structures, Unions, and EnumerationsStructuresUnionsEnumerationsConstantsImporting TypedefsImporting ModulesHow to Design COM Components for Use with .NETResponding to COM EventsConnection PointsHandling Events from a COM SourceEvents ExampleUsing ActiveX Controls with .NETAdding an ActiveX Control to the ToolboxUsing the Command LineSummary
The COM Callable WrapperObject IdentityObject LifetimeStandard COM Interfaces on .NET ComponentsCustom Interfaces on .NET ComponentsThe Class InterfaceProblems with Using the Class InterfaceGenerating and Using COM Callable WrappersUsing COM-Related AttributesThe ClassInterface AttributeThe InterfaceType AttributeThe Guid and ProgId AttributesThe ComVisible AttributeThe AutomationProxy AttributeThe IDispatchImpl AttributeThe ComRegisterFunction and ComUnregisterFunction AttributesCreating a Type LibraryCommand-Line ToolsUsing TypeLibConverterSigning the AssemblyRegistering the ComponentUsing .NET Components from COM Client CodeThe Sample ComponentInstalling the Component for COM UseLooking at the Type LibraryUsing the Class in COM CodeExporting Metadata to Type LibrariesExporting AssembliesExporting NamespacesExporting ClassesExporting InterfacesChoosing Interface TypesInterfaces and InheritanceExporting MethodsExporting PropertiesExporting Data TypesExporting Value TypesExporting EnumerationsHow to Design .NET Components for Use with COMProvide a Default ConstructorAvoid Using Static and Overloaded MethodsBe Aware of Possible Naming ProblemsAssembly NamingMethod-Naming ConflictsAvoid Altering InterfacesDefine Event Source InterfacesUse of AttributesProvide HRESULTsUse Versioning CorrectlyHosting Windows Forms Controls in ActiveX Control ContainersRegistry EntriesIdentifying a ControlType Library EntriesMiscellaneous EntriesExample: Hosting a Windows Forms Control in Internet ExplorerExposing .NET Events in COMUsing Explicit Source InterfacesConsuming Events in Visual Basic 6Summary
COM+ Begins with COMA Look at COM+ InteroperabilityCOM+ Design GoalsTransactions and COM+Messages and COM+COM+ ServicesUnderstanding the Role of DCOM in COM+How Does the Connection Work?Connection-Oriented Data Flow OptimizationCOM+-Specific IssuesApplication TypesServer ApplicationsLibrary ApplicationsProxy ApplicationsPreinstalled ApplicationsError HandlingSecuritySummary

What Are Attributes?How Do Attributes Work?Using Attributes in C++ CodeWalkthrough: Creating a Simple COM ComponentSeeing the Inserted CodeAdding COM ObjectsWhat About IDL?Adding Methods and PropertiesTesting the ComponentCreating the Server by HandCreating the Header FileCreating the ATL DLLAdding Interface and Coclass DefinitionsBasic Attributed ProgrammingCreating ModulesUsing the module AttributeThe custom AttributeCreating InterfacesDefining Interface MethodsDispatch InterfacesHandling ArraysCreating CoclassesDefault InterfacesStand-Alone AttributesThe emitidl AttributeHandling AggregationReview of COM Aggregation and DelegationThe aggregatable and aggregates AttributesHandling ErrorsEventsAdding Event SupportManually Writing COM Event CodeHandling EventsCompiler OptionsGenerating IDLSuppressing IDL GenerationSummary
Changes in ATL 7.0New Module ClassesData Handling and CollectionsClasses for Managing Lists, Arrays, and TreesThe CSimpleArray ClassThe CAtlArray ClassSupport for SAFEARRAYsSupport for Collections and EnumeratorsShared ClassesThe CSimpleStringT ClassMemory ManagementCSimpleStringT ExampleThe CStringT ClassPredefined Types for Use with CStringTCStringT ExampleString Conversion ClassesSecurity ClassesRegular Expression ClassesOther ChangesBreaking Changes Since Visual C++ 6.0Introduction to ATL ServerATL Server ArchitectureISAPI ExtensionsWeb Application DLLsServer Response FilesSRF SyntaxHandler and Subhandler TagsIncluding FilesDefining Replacement TagsWriting Web Applications Using ATL ServerUsing AttributesThe request_handler AttributeThe tag_name AttributeDefining Handler MethodsUsing Parsing FunctionsA Sample ATL Server ApplicationCreating the ProjectHandling Simple ArgumentsImplementing Custom ParsingWriting Web Services Using ATL ServerATL Server Web Service ArchitectureSOAP and Web ServicesImplementing Web ServicesExample: Creating a Web ServiceConsuming Web Services in C++Summary
The Importance of Using GUIDsA Simple Component ExampleCreating the Simple ComponentRegistering the Component on the ServerUsing the GUI MethodUsing the RegSvcs UtilityExporting the ApplicationCreating the ClientTesting the ApplicationA Component Class ExampleDeriving from the Component ClassPerforming the Component Class SetupCreating the ClientA ServicedComponent Class ExampleDeriving from the ServicedComponent ClassPerforming the ServicedComponent Class SetupCreating the ClientSummary
Understanding the Role of MSMQ in this ApplicationCreating a Simple Recorder/PlayerDefining the Message QueueAccessing the Message QueueCreating the RecorderTesting the RecorderCreating the PlayerCreating a Simple COM+ Listener/PlayerCreating the Listener/Player ComponentDefining the MSMQ Rule and TriggerTesting the Listener/Player ApplicationCreating the MSMQ Client ApplicationDesigning the Data Encapsulation ComponentDesigning the Message Queue ComponentInstalling the Message Queue ComponentDesigning a Managed ClientTesting the ApplicationSummary
An Overview of the COM+ CatalogWhat Are Subscriptions?Understanding Transient SubscriptionsUnderstanding Permanent SubscriptionsUnderstanding the Need for Dynamic RegistrationCreating the Event ObjectDesigning the ComponentInstalling the Event ObjectCreating the PublisherCreating a Component SubscriberDesigning the Subscriber ComponentInstalling and Testing the Subscriber ComponentCreating a Dialog-Based SubscriberCreating a Permanent SubscriptionTesting the Permanent SubscriptionCreating a Transient SubscriptionTesting the Transient SubscriptionSummary
How Do Web-Based Applications Differ?COM+ 1.5 and SOAPCOM+ 1.5 and Application DumpsComponent InteractionsScripting Error HandlingHuman-Language SupportAccessibility ConcernsASP and Component CommunicationDefining the DatabaseCreating the Data Access ComponentUsing ASP to Access the DatabaseTesting the ApplicationSummary
Managed and Unmanaged CodeManual and Automatic Memory ManagementInteroperating Between Managed and Unmanaged CodeGarbage Collection in .NETGenerationsThe Large Object HeapRootsFinalizationPlatform InvokeUsing Platform Invoke from Visual Basic .NETUsing the Declare StatementUsing DllImportSpecifying an Entry PointThe CharSet and ExactSpelling ParametersThe PreserveSig ParameterHandling ErrorsConverting Windows API Parameter TypesUsing Platform Invoke from Visual C#Using Platform Invoke from Managed C++Visual C# ConcernsThe unsafe KeywordThe fixed KeywordThe stackalloc KeywordVisual C++ ConcernsMarshaling Argument TypesPinningCalling Exported C++ Member FunctionsIJW (It Just Works)IJW vs. P/InvokeSummary
The MarshalAs AttributeMarshaling StringsString and StringBuilderMarshaling StructsThe StructLayout AttributeExplicit LayoutHandling Nested StructuresMarshaling ArraysMarshaling Arrays in Platform InvokePassing Arrays by ValuePassing Arrays by ReferenceMarshaling Arrays in StructuresMarshaling Arrays of StructuresMarshaling Arrays in COM InteropPassing Arrays to COMPassing Managed Pointers to Unmanaged CodePinning in Managed C++Using gcroot in Managed C++Dynamically Loading Platform Invoke DLLsChoosing the Path to the DLL at Run TimeFully Dynamic DLL LoadingUsing CallbacksIntroduction to DelegatesUsing Delegates for CallbacksGarbage Collection ConsiderationsUsing the KeepAlive MethodUsing the HandleRef TypePerformance ConsiderationsSummary
COM Requires Specific InterfacesUsing the OLE/COM Object ViewerA Quick Overview of InterfacesViewing the .NET CategoryViewing an Unmanaged ControlPerforming Interface AnalysisRe-creating COM Interfaces Using Managed CodeCreating a Component with Specialized Interfaces ExampleSummary

Content preview from COM Programming with Microsoft® .NET

Appendix . About the Author

Julian Templeman

Julian Templeman first touched fingers to keypunch in 1972 and has since programmed everything from 8-bit microcomputers to Cray supercomputers. He currently runs a consultancy and training company in London, specializing in Microsoft .NET, COM, C++, and Java. Julian has written several programming books, including titles on Microsoft Visual C#, Visual Basic .NET, and ATL.

John Paul Mueller

John Mueller is a freelance author and technical editor. He has writing in his blood, having produced 57 books and over 200 articles to date. The topics range from networking to artificial intelligence and from database management to heads-down programming. Some of his current books include several C# developer guides, ...