Programming COM and OLE Using MFC

This course is a thorough introduction to OLE and ActiveX technology using Microsoft Foundation Class library (MFC). The course also introduces the Active Template Library (ATL). The course emphasizes understanding the fundamental concepts of OLE, including COM, laying a foundation for the effective use of OLE in your applications and for understanding new OLE technologies such as ActiveX. The course presents OLE at both the interface and MFC levels. An overview of the OLE technologies is presented, including a careful examination of the rationale of the OLE approach to developing software using components. The course is hands-on, with extensive laboratory exercises using the Visual C++ development environment. The student will also gain experience using various tools, documentation and sample programs that are furnished with the OLE Software Development Kit (SDK).

The component object model (COM) is presented and compared with the C++ object model, laying a foundation for understanding the basic structure of OLE. Implementation of COM objects is discussed. A custom interface is implemented as a DLL, and a standard interface is implemented as an executable. The use of class factories is studied. The use of the Windows system registry is described for storing the information needed for OLE clients and servers to connect. MFC low level support of COM is covered, including implementation of IUnknown, interface maps, and implementation of class factories. Visual C++ tool support of Automation is leveraged to partially automate the implementation of COM. The Active Template Library (ATL) is introduced, including use of Visual C++ wizard support, to create and use COM objects. Hands-on lab exercises give the student practice in writing both clients and servers using COM.

Automation is introduced, and the Visual C++ and MFC tools are used to build Automation servers and clients. Visual Basic is also used to illustrate how Automation components implemented in one language can be accessed by applications implemented in another language. The use of Object Description Language (ODL) and type libraries for describing Automation interfaces is discussed.

ActiveX controls are introduced, and the student will build an ActiveX control using the Visual C++ Control Wizard and support provided by Class Wizard. The principal features of ActiveX controls are illustrated, including custom, stock and ambient properties, methods, events, property persistence, and property pages. The use of Visual C++ for implementing control containers is presented.

Structured storage and compound files are covered. OLE compound documents architecture is thoroughly explored. Both embedding and linking are described. The implementation of in-place activation is discussed. ActiveX documents are introduced. Extensive laboratory exercises illustrate the development of both OLE compound document container and server applications The OLE Uniform Data Transfer (UDT) technology is described, including the IDataObject interface. The MFC encapsulation of UDT is discussed, and the student will learn how to implement data transfer using both the clipboard and drag and drop.

Course Duration: 5 days

Prerequisites

A basic knowledge of C++ (including virtual functions), Windows architecture, and MFC programming.

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