Type Libraries in C++ for Windows

RADE	Multi-Workspace Application Builder	Type Libraries in C++ for Windows Support of type libraries import in C++ sources for Windows
Technical Article

The #import directive is used to reference type libraries. It is possible to import files named ".olb" or ".tlb". The C++ compiler will generate two files named ".tlh" and ".tli" for each #import directive found. Those two files are standard C++ header used to compile C++ source code.

1 - C++ sources named ".tlbcpp" that imports the type libraries are built and header files are generated.

During the "grammar1st" step of mkmk, files named ".tlbcpp" will be compiled as C++ sources. Because those sources use some #import directive, files named ".tlh" and ".tli" will be generated in addition to the ".obj". All of these ".tlh" and ".tli" files will be moved to the generated interfaces directory according to a variable named TLB_GENERATED_PATH, defined in the Imakefile.mk, that specify the level of their exposition.

TLB_GENERATED_PATH = Public to generated interfaces in PublicGenerated of the framework.
TLB_GENERATED_PATH = Protected to generated interfaces in ProtectedGenerated of the framework.
TLB_GENERATED_PATH = Private to generated interfaces in PrivateGenerated of the framework.
TLB_GENERATED_PATH = Local to generated interfaces in LocalGenerated of the module, the default.

All the imported files, ".dll", ".olb" and ".tlb", must be delivered as header in interfaces directories (PublicInterfaces, ProtectedInterfaces, PrivateInterfaces, LocalInterfaces). The compiler will search for them as a standard include file. Then, as the #include directive, the #import must reference imported files without any path name (i.e. #import "foo.olb").

Attention: Because this compilation occurs during the grammar1st step of mkmk, the ".tlbcpp" cannot contain more than the #import directives. Remember that many generated interfaces may not exist at this time.

2 - C++ sources that include the generated files are compiled

As ".tlh" and ".tli" files has been moved in generated interfaces directories, a ".cpp" file can #include these headers as other headers.

[Top]

History

Version: 1 [Jun 2003]	Document created
[Top]

RADE

Multi-Workspace Application Builder