TypeLib Explorer [Windows COM Stuff]

RE-A · **Posted:** Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:57 pm

When I was using the other well-known PB compiler on the net, it had a nice tool created by someone from that community, that was able to enumerated all typelibs available on your system, included with all guids, progids, events, enumeration, structures, interfaces, comments, property names, types, ect….

If you program a lot of COM then this is (I hope) a good reference and code generator tool.

Make sure that you have an administrator account and that the TBLINF32.DLL is installed on your system.

Most of the generated code will compile fine but it is possible that some errors occur about the order of the interfaces or double creation of enumeration fields.

Maybe the next version could include procedures and some event handling routines.

Tested on Vista and WinXP (32 bit)

Download: http://www.re-applications.be/downloads/TypeLib%20Explorer.exe

Have fun.
[edit title by Rings]

netmaestro · **Joined:** Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:42 am **Posts:** 6466

Thanks for sharing, looks like it might be very useful. However, when I select one of the controls and press 'Create PB Code' the item becomes unselected and nothing happens. No code gets generated.

Josh · **Joined:** Sat Feb 13, 2010 3:45 pm **Posts:** 246

@netmaestro
i have no problems. works fine

@RE-A
thxs, looks very nice

what i see at my first quickcheck:
you create interfacecodes for interfaces and dispinterfaces. if i'm writing a application using earl binding, i need only the interfaces, but no dispinterfaces. so i think, you can reduce the generated code nearly to the half.

RE-A · **Posted:** Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:03 pm

netmaestro, I already made a minor bug fix so get the latest version (V1.1)
If that doesn't work, can you tell me what control it is?
Some of them take some time to process

Josh, I know, some generated source could be very big so just take what you need :wink:

netmaestro · **Joined:** Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:42 am **Posts:** 6466

It's all the controls. If I select one and press the Create button it unselects the item and nothing happens. I waited a minute or two but no code appears. I'm using Windows 7.

Josh · **Joined:** Sat Feb 13, 2010 3:45 pm **Posts:** 246

RE-A wrote:

Josh, I know, some generated source could be very big so just take what you need :wink:

maybe i'm wrong, but i don't see any possibility, dispinterfaces are needed. compare this interface and dispinterface:

Code:

   Interface ExcelIVPageBreak Extends IDispatch
    get_Application(a)
    ; a BYREF RHS INTEGER coclass Application
    get_Creator(a)
    ; a BYREF RHS INTEGER enum XlCreator
    get_Parent(a)
    ; a BYREF RHS INTEGER coclass Worksheet
    Delete()
    DragOff(a, b)
    ; a BYVAL Direction INTEGER enum XlDirection
    ; b BYVAL RegionIndex LONG (#VT_I4)
    get_Type(a)
    ; a BYREF RHS INTEGER enum XlPageBreak
    put_Type(a)
    ; a BYVAL RHS INTEGER enum XlPageBreak
    get_Extent(a)
    ; a BYREF RHS INTEGER enum XlPageBreakExtent
    get_Location(a)
    ; a BYREF RHS INTEGER dispinterface ExcelRange
    putref_Location(a)
    ; a BYREF RHS INTEGER dispinterface ExcelRange
  EndInterface
  
  Interface ExcelVPageBreak Extends IDispatch
    get_Application()
    get_Creator()
    get_Parent()
    Delete()
    DragOff(a, b)
    ;a [IN] BYVAL Direction INTEGER enum XlDirection
    ;b [IN] BYVAL RegionIndex LONG (#VT_I4)
    get_Type()
    put_Type()
    get_Extent()
    get_Location()
    putref_Location()
  EndInterface

i know, if the code for dispinterfaces is included, it's no difference for the exe. but when i'm looking at the generated code from excel, i have 35k lines and it can be confusing to find the correct interface. it's not guaranteed, that each interface has an "I" as prefix.

RE-A · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 6:29 am

Could be a Win7 issue, I couldn't test it on a Win7 or 64 bit system because the only one have isn't available and I hope I won't get it soon... it’s paying itself back, running as a backup server with a customer

Josh, I give it a look.

RE-A · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 8:59 am

Josh, to make a difference between an interface and a dispinterface I made a change in the interface header comment block.

Example:
; --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
; NAME: VPageBreak
; GUID: {00024402-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
; TYPE: DISPINTERFACE
; --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That should do it for now, a selection or option window could be useful, maybe when I find more time.

New version: 1.2

Kiffi · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 4:14 pm

@RE-A: Thanks a lot for this useful tool!

Greetings ... Kiffi

srod · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 4:31 pm

Okay, where can I get a copy of TBLINF32.DLL ?

I don't want to install VS.NET just to get my hands on this dll.

Kiffi · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 4:45 pm

TLBINF32.DLL, not TBLINF32.DLL

TLB stands for TypeLiB.

srod wrote:

Okay, where can I get a copy of TBLINF32.DLL ?

i guess in your System32-Folder. ;-)

Greetings ... Kiffi

srod · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 5:06 pm

Yes, just a typo.

Right, I'll have a rummage around.

**EDIT : have searched the whole drive and I do not possess that dll.

RE-A · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 6:34 pm

srod, this dll it part of VB6.... I know you definitely don't want to install that

but you can find it on the net, just google for it.

RE-A · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 7:43 pm

Minor change, all referenced interfaces that does not exist in the typelib are changed to IUnknown.

srod · **Posted:** Sun Aug 01, 2010 7:58 pm

RE-A wrote:

srod, this dll it part of VB6.... I know you definitely don't want to install that

but you can find it on the net, just google for it.

Yes I have done, but can find no 'reputable' looking site offering this dll. I am not about to download what purports to being tlbinf32.dll from some dodgy looking site - no sir!

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TypeLib Explorer [Windows COM Stuff]

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