Problem:

Net Express Release 4.0:

How to get more information about interfaces writing a COM client?

Resolution:

The Type Library Assistant in Net Express can be used to get more information.

The Type Library for a COM object defines information that can be useful when writing a COM client.

A COBOL copyfile can be generated for any Type Library by using the Type Library Assistant. Click Type Library Assistant on the Net Express Tools menu followed by all registered Type Libraries.

According to the Net Express doc files in

Distributed Computing Part 4: COM,COBOL and .NET Chapter 16: Creating COM clients:

Depending on the information in the Type Library, the COBOL copyfile includes the following:

COBOL type definitions for any data types defined by the Type Library

For each automation interface defined by the library:

Level-78 data items containing the IID (interface IDs) of any interfaces defined by the type library

A comment showing the interface description

A commented-out pointer data item with the name of the interface

Comments showing how to set and get all the properties of the interface

Comments showing how to invoke all the methods of the interface

For each class defined by the type library:

Level-78 data items containing the CLSID and ProgID of classes defined by the library

A comment showing the class-control entry needed to use the class

A comment showing the class description

Data items for each enumeration