COM definitions are typically described in one of two ways, either as IDL files, which allow the full range of COM definitions or as type libraries, which are generally only used for Automation. Before you can use any COM functionality in a Lisp application, you need to convert the COM definitions into Lisp FLI definitions and various supporting data structures. This corresponds to using
midl.exe
or the MFC Class Wizard when writing C/C++ COM code.
To convert an IDL file, either compile it using the function midl or add it to a system definition with the option
:type
:midl-file and compile and load the system.
Note: types like
IDispatch
must declared before they are used, for this conversion to work.
Conversion of type libraries is covered in Using Automation.