Help me understand ComObject()

[doctorMe]

I want to translate a code from AHK to VB6. I have managed to understand and translate all the commands but one: ComObject(9, <xxx>, 1) where <xxx> is a ComObjQuery() statement. What exactly ComObject() does and what is the equivalent for Microsoft?

[doctorMe]

ComObj(9, ComObjQuery(Acc,"{618736e0-3c3d-11cf-810c-00aa00389b71}"), 1)

Can anyone tell me what this command does exactly? What exactly is retrieved from the registry with ComObjQuery() and what exactly does ComObj()?

[Blackholyman]

What script are you trying to convert?

You may not need this function

The inner is querying for a raw interface pointer and the outer is then getting a script usable com object from that pointer

[doctorMe]

What script are you trying to convert?

You may not need this function

The inner is querying for a raw interface pointer and the outer is then getting a script usable com object from that pointer

I am trying to translate this: https://autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic ... rowser+tab
I think I know how to translate the inner with objectIa.QueryInterface() but I have no idea for the outer.

[Blackholyman]

I don't know vba that well so can't really tell you where to find that info

[lexikos]

I haven't touched VB6 in over a decade, and never had to do the equivalent of QueryInterface, but don't think you actually call QueryInterface. Just add the right type library as a reference, declare a variable of the right interface type, and assign the object to it.

ComObject() is highly specific to AutoHotkey. VB6 is a COM-based language; you typically don't deal with the pointers directly in VB6, just references to objects.

I would suggest looking for resources on the topic of using Active Accessibility in VB6.

@Blackholyman: VBA is not VB6.

[doctorMe]

To be honest, I use another type of Basic which is VB with some extra abilities. Do not worry about that. The only thing is to understand what ComObj does. For example, I understood that ComObjQuery retrieves something from the IAccessible interface from Windows Registry. The acc variable indicates what to retrieve. I want to understand something like that for ComObj too.

[lexikos]

If you want my description of it, look in the manual. If that's not good enough, you'll need to ask a more specific question (or wait for someone else to answer).

For example, I understood that ComObjQuery retrieves something from the IAccessible interface from Windows Registry. The acc variable indicates what to retrieve.

No, it does nothing like that.

[doctorMe]

If you want my description of it, look in the manual. If that's not good enough, you'll need to ask a more specific question (or wait for someone else to answer).

I have already read it but it didn't help. I don't want to get rude, but, what more should I ask? I have posted the initial code that I want to translate, I ask what exactly these commands do, what more should I say? The only thing that I should say now, is that I want to translate these two lines in C++. Forget VB6.

No, it does nothing like that.

Are you referring to ComObj or ComObjQuery?

[just me]

This is my version of Acc_Query():

Code: Select all

; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Retrieves the IAccessible interface from an IDispatch interface, if any, and releases the IDispatch interface on success.
; Thanks Lexikos - www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=81731&p=509530#509530
; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acc_Query(Acc) {
   Try
      IA := ComObjQuery(Acc, "{618736e0-3c3d-11cf-810c-00aa00389b71}")
   Catch E
      Return Acc_Error(A_ThisFunc, E)
   ObjRelease(Acc)
   Return ComObj(9, IA, 1)
}

For ComObject() see ComObjActive()

[doctorMe]

This is my version of Acc_Query():

Code: Select all

; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Retrieves the IAccessible interface from an IDispatch interface, if any, and releases the IDispatch interface on success.
; Thanks Lexikos - www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=81731&p=509530#509530
; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acc_Query(Acc) {
   Try
      IA := ComObjQuery(Acc, "{618736e0-3c3d-11cf-810c-00aa00389b71}")
   Catch E
      Return Acc_Error(A_ThisFunc, E)
   ObjRelease(Acc)
   Return ComObj(9, IA, 1)
}

For ComObject() see ComObjActive()

I have already read it and didn't help. Why do you need ComObj()? What does it do for you? What does parameter 9 do? What does parameter 1 do? What's the point?

[just me]

Wraps ... a raw IDispatch pointer in a usable object ...

[lexikos]

The only thing that I should say now, is that I want to translate these two lines in C++. Forget VB6.

ComObject() is highly specific to AutoHotkey. Just use the pointer directly in C++.

As for the C++ equivalent of ComObjQuery, see 'General Remarks' in the documentation.

No, it does nothing like that.

Are you referring to ComObj or ComObjQuery?

I was referring to the part of your post that I quoted, hence the quote; i.e. ComObjQuery.

[lmstearn]

Just for the record, it can be inferred from @JustMe's code snippet that ComObj() appears to be a functional, but (to-date) undocumented equivalent to ComObject().

[gregster]

Just for the record, it can be inferred from @JustMe's code snippet that ComObj() appears to be a functional, but (to-date) undocumented equivalent to ComObject().

Wouldn't this apply

In current versions, any function-call beginning with "ComObj" that does not match one of the other COM functions actually calls ComObjActive.

[lmstearn]

Missed the remarks section, sorry. Given that, all the possible alternatives should be explicitly listed in (the header area of, if not, at least in bold or code) the docs for ComObjActive, or else there would be no reason to suppose why any random functions Foo like ComObjFoo won't work.

Googling something like ComObj brings up the ComObjActive page, and the Google search hit sample includes the remarks section with the highlighted ComObj, Unfortunately. I've been in the habit of Googling things like "ComObj AHK" where ComObj is not highlighted in the search hit sample for ComObjActive as it should.

[lexikos]

Given that, all the possible alternatives should be explicitly listed

I think you missed the implication of any function-call beginning with "ComObj" . I can't be bothered to do the math to calculate how many alternatives are possible; it is too many to list in the documentation, unless you want the documentation to include a script to generate all possible combinations.

Just use one of the two listed at the top of the page.

However, this behaviour will be unavailable in a future release, so it is best to use only ComObject() and ComObjActive() as shown on this page.