SAMPLE: SimpAuto.exe - Simple OLE Automation Object Sample

ID: Q107981

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft OLE Libraries for Windows and Win32s, version 2.0

Microsoft OLE Libraries included with:

    - Microsoft Windows NT, versions 3.5, 3.51
    - Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

SimpAuto.exe demonstrates how to create a simple OLE automation object.

MORE INFORMATION

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Software Library:

 ~ SimpAuto.exe (size: 27995 bytes)

For more information about downloading files from the Microsoft Software Library, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

SimpAuto.exe implements a simple OLE automation object called Hello that exposes one property, HelloMessage, and one method, SayHello. It uses an OLE-provided IDispatch implementation that is created using CreateStdDispatch.

The interface that SIMPAUTO exposes is described using an object description language (HELLO.ODL). The mktyplib tool is used to create a type library (HELLO.TLB) from HELLO.ODL. CreateStdDispatch() is then used to implement an IDispatch interface using the interface description in the type library.

SimpAuto.exe registers a class factory if it is started with the - Automation command-line switch. OLE uses this classfactory to create a Hello object. Automation controllers uses the IDispatch interface exposed by the Hello object to access its property and method.

The AUTODLL sample in the Software Library demonstrates the implementation of an inproc automation object with the same methods and properties as SIMPAUTO, but which is a DLL. The main differences between the two samples are in the MAIN.CPP file.

To Run

The Hello object exposes the following:

   ProgID : SimpleAutomation.Hello

   Method and Property Names       Notes
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   HelloMessage  (prop)          Sets and returns string.
   SayHello    (method)          Displays HelloMessage in an edit
                                 control.

Update the HELLO.REG file in two places to include the full path information to the HELLOEXE and the HELLO.TLB files. Change the lines from the following:

   LocalServer = hello.exe -Automation
   win16 = hello.tlb

to something similar to the following:

   LocalServer = c:\source\simpauto\hello.exe -Automation
   win16 = c:\source\simpauto\hello.tlb

To Compile

Requires OLE 2.01 or later.

Include device=vmb.386 in the [386Enh] section of SYSTEM.INI. Note that vmb.386 can be found in \OLE2\BIN. Run the WXSRVER.EXE from \OLE2\BIN before running the makefile.

   File        Function
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------

   MAIN.CPP    Does initialization, creates main window, contains message
               retriever, and contains code that calls CreateStdDispatch.
   HELLO.CPP   Implements the HELLO object.
   HELLOCF.CPP Implements the HELLO class factory.
   HELLO.ODL   Object description Language that describes the property and
               method that HELLO exposes.
   HELLO.H     Defines the HELLO object and the class factory.
   TLB.H       Header file created by mktyplib.
   MAKEFILE    Makefile for project.
   VB.MAK,
   VB.FRM      Visual Basic project files to control this sample.

Additional query words: Keywords : kbfile kbsample kbAutomation kbNTOS350 kbNTOS351 kbOLE200 kbWinOS95

Last Reviewed: December 11, 1998