Creating a COM Server

This section assumes that you are familiar with the COM-related terms and concepts presented in Using COM and Automation Objects and related sections, such as Overview of COM and Automation Objects. These sections (starting with Using COM and Automation Objects) discuss using COM and Automation objects from a Visual Fortran application, using the Fortran Module Wizard. That is, using a Visual Fortran application as a client of a COM server.

The Component Object Model (COM) supports a model of client server interaction between a user of an object, the client, and the implementor of the object, the server.

The Visual Fortran Professional and Enterprise Editions provide the capability to create a COM server. This section and its subsections discusses creating a COM server using Visual Fortran:

• Advantages of a COM Server
• What You Need to Provide and What the Fortran COM Server Wizard Will Do
• Using the Fortran COM Server Wizard, which includes:
  • Specifying the Fortran COM Server as a Developer Studio Add-in
  • Creating a Fortran COM Server Project
  • Using the Fortran COM Server Wizard to Define your COM Server
  • Adding a Property
  • Working with the Hierarchy Pane
  • Description of Property Pages
  • Modifying the Generated Code
  • Build Notes
  • Visual C++ ClassView
  • Using Example Clients
  • Modifying Your COM Servers
• Interface Design Considerations, which includes:
  • Method and Properties Data Types
  • COM Status Codes: HRESULT
  • Visual Basic and Visual C++ Client Notes
• Advanced COM Server Topics, which includes:
  • Choosing Between DLL or EXE COM Servers
  • DLL Server Surrogates
  • Discussion of Wizard Code Generation
  • Adding Support for COM ErrorInfo Objects
  • Threading Models
  • Marshalling, Proxies and Stubs
  • A Map of the Generated "Do Not Edit" Code
• Deploying the Server on Another System