4.3.3 Type libraries and type information

The registry information for a Class ID may also include a type library, which provides a description of all of the interfaces that the server supports. Controllers (and various utilities) can examine a COM class's type library without running the associated server application.

For example, the Microsoft OLE Viewer utility can use the type library to display a detailed description of the services provided by an Automation server, and the Visual C++ wizards can use a type library to generate the skeleton for a controller application that could use the server.

Each of the dispinterfaces in the type library is described by an item of type information, or a typeinfo. There is also an item of coclass type information for the COM object that the server implements.

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OLE, COM, ActiveX and DBMS Reference - 31 MAR 2000