Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Development:
Programming Interfaces

Using COM Objects in the 4GL

Both ActiveX Automation objects and ActiveX controls are COM objects—objects that conform to the specifications of the Microsoft Component Object Model (COM). As such, COM objects have common features that govern the programming of both Automation objects and ActiveX controls in the 4GL.

This chapter describes the common features of COM objects supported by Progress and how to work with them in a 4GL application and your development environment, in the following sections:

How COM objects differ from Progress widgets
Obtaining access to COM objects
Accessing COM object properties and methods
Managing COM objects in an application
Locating COM object information on your system

For an overview of the architectural elements that support COM objects in Progress, see Chapter 8, " Introduction to External Program Interfaces." For information on COM object support that is unique for Automation objects, see Chapter 15 "ActiveX Automation Support" and for ActiveX controls, see Chapter 16, " ActiveX Control Support." The information in this chapter applies equally to Automation objects and ActiveX controls, except where noted.