8.2. Staying with OLE DB: A Summary of OLE DB Concepts

Before we discuss the option of retaining an existing OLE DB provider, it is helpful to explain the major concepts of the OLE DB object model.

The OLE DB object model consists of a series of well-defined abstract objects called cotypes and a set of well-factored interfaces for each cotype. To implement a provider, only three cotypes are required, and each cotype (including optional cotypes) has required and optional interfaces.

A set of optional, special-purpose cotypes are individually implemented at the provider's discretion. For example, the OLE DB Command cotype is optional, required only if the provider supports a command language. If a provider implements the Command cotype, there is ...

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