COM Discussion Boards

Re: Reverse engineering Information on MsOCF!

Stephane Rodriguez.31-Mar-03 20:14

31-Mar-03 20:14

safeeullah wrote:
MSOCF framework(i dont know what it means.. completely)

MS Ole Compound Framework. Again, it's a unit library which implements stream/storage, the basic elements of a compound document.

You can find equivalent implementations for this library in several places including :
- OpenOffice (that was required to read Word/Excel/... files)
- WINE32 (winehq)
- some simple implementations on the net

safeeullah wrote:
i mean there is no reference material that i may refer to interms of MSOCF..and no mapping from it to the new OLE2..

There is but you have to dig old MSDN papers (prior 1997). I believe that books like Inside OLE should provide good support for it.

Or may be an MS pal which advertedly would read this thread could forward you a couple white papers.

Large software companies that require extensive stream/storage support usually buy the code library from Microsoft. So in practice, this is not an issue.

Re: Reverse engineering Information on MsOCF!

Anonymous11-Apr-03 0:47

Anonymous

11-Apr-03 0:47

thanks for the reply rod..
do u mean the book inside OLE by brockshmidt?
but it contains hardly anything that relates to any thing this prehistoric Smile | :)

the thing is if u can help me in locating some of the white papers that MS may have published at the time when they were abandoning msocf and moving on to atl and stuff..that would be most instrumental..

please rod, do look into this as it is something very important..

Peace!

regards
safee

Re: Reverse engineering Information on MsOCF!

safee ullah11-Apr-03 0:51

safee ullah

11-Apr-03 0:51

thanks for the reply rod..
do u mean the book inside OLE by brockshmidt?
but it contains hardly anything that relates to any thing this prehistoric Smile | :)

Re: Reverse engineering Information on MsOCF!

Stephane Rodriguez.11-Apr-03 7:03

Stephane Rodriguez.

11-Apr-03 7:03

What about ordering old MSDN CDs? That's what I would do.

Re: Reverse engineering Information on MsOCF!

safee ullah14-Apr-03 1:38

safee ullah

14-Apr-03 1:38

ahaaa..thanks a lot..Rod..though i have already got msdn for 1996 but there is no mention of this framework in there..so i am on to look for even older versions..

btw ne advice whether other then MS, any other vendor u may know of can provide me with these cds..?

Re: Reverse engineering Information on MsOCF!

Stephane Rodriguez.14-Apr-03 1:54

Stephane Rodriguez.

14-Apr-03 1:54

That's your fifth post, and you still haven't told me (or the audience) what you meant behind the OCF acronym. Looks like I have time to waste.

Re: Reverse engineering Information on MsOCF!

safee ullah14-Apr-03 19:17

safee ullah

14-Apr-03 19:17

sorry sir,
by MS OCF we mean Microsoft Ole Control Framework..
sorry for my mistake..
thanks

How to mark MFC ActiveX as safe for scripting?

Ted Christiansen27-Mar-03 7:30

Ted Christiansen

27-Mar-03 7:30

Hello,

I have purchased a Verisign Authenticode Digital Id and have successfully signed my MFC ActiveX control. However, when I use it in an ASP file in Internet Explorer I still get an error that says the object does not support that method (that the VBscript is calling).

If I comment out the script code then it displays the control ok, but does not do much. I did some searching and found some information on MSDN about needing to mark the control as safe for scripting. I added the code to do this, but it still does not work.

Has anyone of you successfully done this? Can you provide some information to help me in the right direction? Thanks.

Ted

Re: How to mark MFC ActiveX as safe for scripting?

Chris Richardson27-Mar-03 8:28

Chris Richardson

27-Mar-03 8:28

I have found some code in the MSDN to mark a control as safe for scripting. Here it is (slightly modified):

// MSDN CODE:
//
HRESULT CreateComponentCategory(CATID catid, WCHAR* catDescription)
{
   ICatRegister* pcr = NULL ;
   HRESULT hr = S_OK ;

   hr = CoCreateInstance(CLSID_StdComponentCategoriesMgr, 
      NULL, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_ICatRegister, (void**)&pcr);
   if (FAILED(hr))
      return hr;

   // Make sure the HKCR\Component Categories\{..catid...}
   // key is registered.
   CATEGORYINFO catinfo;
   catinfo.catid = catid;
   catinfo.lcid = 0x0409 ; // english

   // Make sure the provided description is not too long.
   // Only copy the first 127 characters if it is.
   int len = wcslen(catDescription);
   if (len>127)
      len = 127;
   wcsncpy(catinfo.szDescription, catDescription, len);
   // Make sure the description is null terminated.
   catinfo.szDescription[len] = '\0';

   hr = pcr->RegisterCategories(1, &catinfo);
   pcr->Release();

   return hr;
}

HRESULT RegisterCLSIDInCategory(REFCLSID clsid, CATID catid)
{
   // Register your component categories information.
   ICatRegister* pcr = NULL ;
   HRESULT hr = S_OK ;
   hr = CoCreateInstance(CLSID_StdComponentCategoriesMgr, 
      NULL, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_ICatRegister, (void**)&pcr);
   if (SUCCEEDED(hr))
   {
      // Register this category as being "implemented" by the class.
      CATID rgcatid[1] ;
      rgcatid[0] = catid;
      hr = pcr->RegisterClassImplCategories(clsid, 1, rgcatid);
   }

   if (pcr != NULL)
      pcr->Release();

   return hr;
}

// I made this function a static member of my control.
/*static*/ HRESULT CYourActiveXControl::RegisterSafetyCategories()
{
   HRESULT hr = S_OK;
   hr = CreateComponentCategory(CATID_SafeForInitializing, L"Controls safely initializable from persistent data!");
   if (FAILED(hr))
      return hr;

   hr = RegisterCLSIDInCategory(IID_YourActiveXControlHere, CATID_SafeForInitializing);
   if (FAILED(hr))
      return hr;

   // Mark the control as safe for scripting.

   hr = CreateComponentCategory(CATID_SafeForScripting, L"Controls safely scriptable!");
   if (FAILED(hr))
      return hr;

   hr = RegisterCLSIDInCategory(IID_YourActiveXControlHere, CATID_SafeForScripting);
   if (FAILED(hr))
      return hr;
   
   return hr;
}
//
// END MSDN CODE.

Then you can just call the static member "CYourActiveXControl::RegisterSafetyCategories()" in your app's InitInstance function.

Chris Richardson

You can stash and you can seize
In dreams begin, responsibilities
U2 - Acrobat[^]

Stop being PC and accounting for everyone and his momma's timeframe. Just enjoy your - Rohit Sinha in the content-challenged thread

Re: How to mark MFC ActiveX as safe for scripting?

Ted Christiansen27-Mar-03 12:12

Ted Christiansen

27-Mar-03 12:12

Chris,

I added these and some AfxMessageBox calls for debugging. The OCX is in a cabinet file which is called by the HTML:

<br />
	<OBJECT ID=fevis CLASSID="clsid:383680F6-54B7-4970-BB12-A41E7AC0B94B"<br />
	HEIGHT=400 WIDTH=680 CODEBASE="http://localhost/controls/fevisactivex.cab#version=1,0,0,2"><br />
	</OBJECT><br />

The AfxMessageBox's are never displayed when IE loads the control and tries to execute the VBscript:

<br />
<script language="vbscript"><br />
  fevis.OpenFromURL "http://localhost/gallery/connectingrod.fvs"<br />
</script><br />

Any ideas?

Ted

Re: How to mark MFC ActiveX as safe for scripting?

Chris Richardson27-Mar-03 13:33

Chris Richardson

27-Mar-03 13:33

I'm not sure. What you've done looks exactly like what I've done to host an ActiveX control in the browser, with the exception that my control was not in a CAB file, it was just in an OCX. Have you tried doing this:

<br />
Call fevis.OpenFromURL( "http://localhost/gallery/connectingrod.fvs" )<br />

That's how I wrote the calls into my OCX from the VBScript. Other than that, I can throw together a small sample of hosting a really simple control if it would help.

Chris Richardson

You can stash and you can seize
In dreams begin, responsibilities
U2 - Acrobat[^]

Stop being PC and accounting for everyone and his momma's timeframe. Just enjoy your - Rohit Sinha in the content-challenged thread

COM Method parameters

Tzoockee26-Mar-03 5:34

Tzoockee

26-Mar-03 5:34

Hello ! I have a simple COM component with an interface that exposes the following method:

[id(2), helpstring("method GetString2")] HRESULT GetString2([in] BSTR in, [out] BSTR* out, [out,retval] BSTR* ret);

The implementation :

STDMETHODIMP CTest::GetString2(BSTR in, BSTR* out, BSTR* ret)
{
AFX_MANAGE_STATE(AfxGetStaticModuleState());

*out=in;
*ret=in;
return S_OK;
}

I call this method from asp:

Set business = CreateObject("COMTest.Test")
result=business.GetString2("Something", cstr(out))
Response.Write cstr(result)+cstr(out)

So result and out should be identical. ("Something") But out=="";

Any ideeas ?

Re: COM Method parameters

Tzoockee26-Mar-03 6:00

Tzoockee

26-Mar-03 6:00

I mean... how can I return two or more parameters from a method ?

Re: COM Method parameters

thowra26-Mar-03 7:46

thowra

26-Mar-03 7:46

A COM interface method can only have one [out, retval] parameter and it has to be the last parameter in the method. Your method could return a number of [out] only parameters but not all COM language mappings support [out] only parameters.

The solutions to your problem include the following:

1. Defining an IDL array as a method parameter or use a SAFEARRAY to be variant compliant.

2. Use a structure as a method parameter (define it in your IDL).

3. Use a COM interface as a method parameter

4. Use a COM enumerator - these provide a pattern to allow a client to get batches of items. Alternatively, use a COM collection if you need it to work with VB/VBS.

Best of luck Smile | :)

"The folly of man is that he dreams of what he can never achieve rather than dream of what he can."

"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."

Re: COM Method parameters

Vi226-Mar-03 20:19

Vi2

26-Mar-03 20:19

ASP as well as VBS has the basic type of parameter as VARIANT.

I suggest you to make some test:

[id(2), helpstring("method GetString2")]
HRESULT GetString2([in] BSTR inStr, [out] BSTR* outStr, [out] VARIANT* outStr2, [out,retval] BSTR* retStr);

and

STDMETHODIMP CTest::GetString2(/*[in]*/ BSTR inStr, /*[out]*/ BSTR* outStr, /*[out]*/ VARIANT* outStr2, /*[out,retval]*/ BSTR* retStr)
{
AFX_MANAGE_STATE(AfxGetStaticModuleState());

	*outStr = SysAllocString(inStr);
	*retStr = SysAllocString(inStr);
	outStr2->vt = VT_BSTR;
	outStr2->bstrVal = SysAllocString(inStr);
	return S_OK;
}

and

Set business = CreateObject("COMTest.Test")
result=business.GetString2("Something", cstr(out), out2)
Response.Write "result=" & result & " out=" & out & " out2=" & out2

It's clearly that "cstr(out)" is not identical to "out".
"cstr(out)" expression means the temporary variable having the string type.
It can not be the receiver of any [out] data.

With best wishes,
Vita

Re: COM Method parameters

AsimHussnain30-Mar-03 22:21

AsimHussnain

30-Mar-03 22:21

do u really think that merely assigning/swapping the pointers would do? I think you should look into the marshalling issues.. The memory that you are returning to client needs to be marshalled and allocated...

HTH Rose | [Rose]

Convert CComBSTR to char*

msh25-Mar-03 19:09

msh

25-Mar-03 19:09

Hi all,

I need to send an array of char via serial line and I have a method to do that. However the string I should send is a CComBSTR. How can I convert it into a "old C style" array of chars?

Thank you in advance.

Re: Convert CComBSTR to char*

Michael Dunn25-Mar-03 19:31

Michael Dunn

25-Mar-03 19:31

See The Complete Guide to C++ Strings, Part II - String Wrapper Classes[^]

--Mike--
THERE IS NO THERE IS NO BUT THERE IS MAGIC PIXIE DUST BUSINESS GENIE CODE PROJECT

Homepage | RightClick-Encrypt | 1ClickPicGrabber
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COM+ Partitions

Anonymous25-Mar-03 11:41

Anonymous

25-Mar-03 11:41

With Win2003 we have the ability to set up partions for COM to run on. Hence set up different properties for the same COM object under each partition.

I want to know if there is any way for us to do similar stuff in win2k.

Thanks!!

Editable FlexGrid Control

helloaamir24-Mar-03 1:29

helloaamir

24-Mar-03 1:29

I want to create a wrapper control to MSFlexGrid Control. I want my Wrapper FelxGrid Control editable. I have done this following example in msdn. Now what i want is to have all the events and properties of MSFlexGrid control inhereted in my Wrapper ActiveX Control.
Mean my wrapper control should be editable and also handle all other events which MSFlexGrid control can handle.
Cry | :((

Re: Editable FlexGrid Control

Stephane Rodriguez.24-Mar-03 2:15

Stephane Rodriguez.

24-Mar-03 2:15

Forget about MSFlexGrid. Rely on the Office Web Components[^]. That's incredible stuff for the price (0$).

Re: Editable FlexGrid Control

helloaamir24-Mar-03 18:02

helloaamir

24-Mar-03 18:02

Thanks S.Rod for your suggestions. But the problem is i want to know how can i inherit all the properties, events and methods of activex control in my wrapper activex control. Someone told me to learn containment and aggregation but i couldnt find the solution that way as well.
Cry | :((

Re: Editable FlexGrid Control

Stephane Rodriguez.24-Mar-03 18:42

Stephane Rodriguez.

24-Mar-03 18:42

Aggregation can be done for instance by using the ATL CComAggregateCreator helper.

Re: Editable FlexGrid Control

Dan Thurman3-Apr-03 7:04

Dan Thurman

3-Apr-03 7:04

What if you dont have XP or Office 2002? SOL?

Re: Editable FlexGrid Control

Stephane Rodriguez.3-Apr-03 9:21

Stephane Rodriguez.

3-Apr-03 9:21

The "Office Web Components" package has nothing to do with the XP, Office 2002 or the Challenger space shuttle. I know it is so since I am running OWC at home with only Office97 installed. RTFM!

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