Question

For one of a side-projects i need to write a C# app that required to use a third-party INPROC COM object. Unfortunately, C# is not my primary programming language, so my knowledge is a bit limited. Is it any good tutorials available on how to access COM object from C#? The usage of this third-party COM object requires me to create implementation of specified COM interface and supply that implementation into COM object in order for it to function.

Answer 1

There is a good book called .NET and COM: The Complete Interoperability Guide that I am about to start reading as I want a better understanding of COM interop. Maybe it would be useful for you too, check it out.

The focus of the book is on COM
Interoperability (since it’s a much
larger subject), and the heart of the
discussion is broken down into four
parts:

* Using COM Components Within the .NET Framework
* Using .NET Framework Components from COM
* Designing Good .NET Framework Components for COM Clients
* Designing Good COM Components for .NET Framework Clients

The scope of the book is just about
everything related to using “unmanaged
code” in the .NET Framework.
Technologies built on top of COM
Interoperability are also
covered-Interoperability of Windows
Forms Controls and ActiveX controls,
Interoperability with COM+, and
Interoperability with Distributed COM
(DCOM). Although Platform Invocation
Services is a separate technology from
COM Interoperability, there are many
areas of overlap, so including in the
book is a natural fit. All of these
technologies are a core part of the
Common Language Runtime and .NET
Framework, and will likely be used not
only as the path of migration for
existing software projects, but for
brand new software development for the
next several years

Also have a look at this (legally) free pdf ebook COM and .NET Interoperability which you can download from TheServerSide.com. You have to register before you can download, but you can just bugmenot if you don’t feel like it.