idsMail - by AssurX.com

OLE Servers - Software Components with a Universal Appeal

Introduction

OLE Servers (also known as ActiveX Code Components) are changing the way we design and develop software. Built upon object-oriented concepts, OLE Servers provide the ultimate in reuse and portability. Finally, components can be developed that are both rich in features, and usable by almost all development environments.

Software developers today often struggle with the choice of developing 16-bit applications for the widest possible compatibility, or moving to 32-bit applications to gain the best performance. Sometimes we simply can't move to the 32-bit world because some critical API's are 16-bit only.

OLE Servers can help break down the barrier. 16-bit OLE Servers can be constructed that use the older API's. These same OLE Servers can then be utilized by 32-bit development environments. The magic of OLE handles the 16/32 bit translation automatically.

Tutorials: Using OLE Servers in...

OLE Servers can be used by Visual Basic (yes, even v3.0), C++, Delphi, Visual FoxPro, Access, Paradox, etc. These tutorials developed by AssurX provide the finer points of specific languages and environments.

Visual Basic v3.0 - VB3 can utilize OLE Servers with very few problems. Read on.
Visual Basic v4.0/5.0 - VB4/VB5 and OLE Servers are a match made in heaven.
Delphi 1.0 - Delphi 1.0 does not directly support OLE Servers. But we'll show you how to use a powerful shareware component to easily work around this limitation.
Delphi 2.0 - Delphi 2.0 supports OLE Servers directly.
Visual C++ - Tips and tricks for rapid integration of OLE Servers into your Visual C++ (16-bit or 32-bit) project.
Borland C++ - The Borland documentation and example code projects are good references for OLE Server integration.
C Language - Yes, you can use OLE Servers from C without the OLE classes and libraries provided by C++.
Microsoft Access - Access versions 2.0 and above support OLE Servers.
Visual FoxPro - Visual FoxPro has a problem-free interface to OLE Servers.
SQLServer Stored Procedures - SQLServer Stored Procedures can interface to OLE Servers and add great new features.