Hi.
I would like to create an instance of a COM server from C# code.
I now use the System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetActiveObject()
function to get the running instance (but this implies that there is an
instance running). But I would like to check (at the start of my code) wether
there is a running instance and if not, start one. I'm not to familiar with
COM, so "best practise" hints would be nice!

znappa,

In order to do this, you are going to have to check the running object
table of the machine. The running object table is a list of com servers
that are identified with a unique moniker (name).

In order to get the running object table, you will have to define the
GetRunningObjectTable function so that you can call it through the P/Invoke
layer. Once you call that, it should return (through a parameter) an
implementation of UCOMIRunningObjectTable, an interface found in the
System.Runtime.InteropServices namespace. You can then call GetObject on
that interface to get an object based on its name.

Hope this helps.


--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- (E-Mail Removed)

"znappa" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ED406A16-7627-4716-95F9-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi.
> I would like to create an instance of a COM server from C# code.
> I now use the System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetActiveObject()
> function to get the running instance (but this implies that there is an
> instance running). But I would like to check (at the start of my code)
> wether
> there is a running instance and if not, start one. I'm not to familiar
> with
> COM, so "best practise" hints would be nice!

Thanks for your reply, but how do I start an instance of the COM server (if
it's not in the ROT)? When I declare an instance of the object in my C# code,
this object want show up in the ROT, and then I can't use GetActiveObject().
Is there a way to start the COM server object so it will show up in the ROT?

"Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" wrote:

> znappa,
>
> In order to do this, you are going to have to check the running object
> table of the machine. The running object table is a list of com servers
> that are identified with a unique moniker (name).
>
> In order to get the running object table, you will have to define the
> GetRunningObjectTable function so that you can call it through the P/Invoke
> layer. Once you call that, it should return (through a parameter) an
> implementation of UCOMIRunningObjectTable, an interface found in the
> System.Runtime.InteropServices namespace. You can then call GetObject on
> that interface to get an object based on its name.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
>
> --
> - Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
> - (E-Mail Removed)
>
> "znappa" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:ED406A16-7627-4716-95F9-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi.
> > I would like to create an instance of a COM server from C# code.
> > I now use the System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetActiveObject()
> > function to get the running instance (but this implies that there is an
> > instance running). But I would like to check (at the start of my code)
> > wether
> > there is a running instance and if not, start one. I'm not to familiar
> > with
> > COM, so "best practise" hints would be nice!
>
>
>

Check if your server is running and start him using Process.Start if he
ain't.

Willy.

"znappa" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:B58C3FA1-E47F-46D0-BB99-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks for your reply, but how do I start an instance of the COM server
> (if
> it's not in the ROT)? When I declare an instance of the object in my C#
> code,
> this object want show up in the ROT, and then I can't use
> GetActiveObject().
> Is there a way to start the COM server object so it will show up in the
> ROT?
>
> "Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" wrote:
>
>> znappa,
>>
>> In order to do this, you are going to have to check the running
>> object
>> table of the machine. The running object table is a list of com servers
>> that are identified with a unique moniker (name).
>>
>> In order to get the running object table, you will have to define the
>> GetRunningObjectTable function so that you can call it through the
>> P/Invoke
>> layer. Once you call that, it should return (through a parameter) an
>> implementation of UCOMIRunningObjectTable, an interface found in the
>> System.Runtime.InteropServices namespace. You can then call GetObject on
>> that interface to get an object based on its name.
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>>
>> --
>> - Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
>> - (E-Mail Removed)
>>
>> "znappa" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:ED406A16-7627-4716-95F9-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > Hi.
>> > I would like to create an instance of a COM server from C# code.
>> > I now use the System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetActiveObject()
>> > function to get the running instance (but this implies that there is an
>> > instance running). But I would like to check (at the start of my code)
>> > wether
>> > there is a running instance and if not, start one. I'm not to familiar
>> > with
>> > COM, so "best practise" hints would be nice!
>>
>>
>>