A COM component's class objects have characteristics similar to VB objects.
You can manipulate their members properties, events, and methods) as you would the members
of VB controls and other objects.
You use the Object Browser to find out about a COM component's object
model just as you would find out about the native objects provided by VB. To see the component's
information in the Object Browser, you must first have set a reference to the component
as described in the previous section, "Setting a Reference to a COM Component."
In order to use the Object Browser with a COM component, you must execute the following
steps:
STEP BY STEP
10.2 Using the Object Browser with a COM Component
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Access the Object Browser within VB by pressing F2 or the toolbar button (see Figure
10.3).
FIGURE 10.3. The Object Browser can give you detailed information about a COM
component's objects and their methods and properties.
-
Select the COM component from the list of references in the Projects/Servers list.
Select a class from the Classes/Modules list.
Select a property or method from the Methods/Properties list. Notice the brief description of the
method or property at the bottom of the Object Browser dialog to the right of the
question mark (?) icon.
If the component's Object Library has a help file, you can click the question
mark (?) icon on the Object Browser's Toolbar for more information about the selected
method or property (see Figure 10.4).
FIGURE 10.4. Clicking the ? icon in the Object Browser's Toolbar brings
up an extended help screen for the selected item when you're browsing information
about a COM component.
If you're not already familiar with the Object Browser, you will soon find
it's a powerful tool that helps you intelligently and efficiently program with
COM components.
