ITypeInfo interface (oaidl.h)

This section describes ITypeInfo, an interface typically used for reading information about objects. For example, an object browser tool can use ITypeInfo to extract information about the characteristics and capabilities of objects from type libraries.

Inheritance

The ITypeInfo interface inherits from the IUnknown interface. ITypeInfo also has these types of members:

Methods

The ITypeInfo interface has these methods.

 
ITypeInfo::AddressOfMember

Retrieves the addresses of static functions or variables, such as those defined in a DLL.
ITypeInfo::CreateInstance

Creates a new instance of a type that describes a component object class (coclass).
ITypeInfo::GetContainingTypeLib

Retrieves the containing type library and the index of the type description within that type library.
ITypeInfo::GetDllEntry

Retrieves a description or specification of an entry point for a function in a DLL.
ITypeInfo::GetDocumentation

Retrieves the documentation string, the complete Help file name and path, and the context ID for the Help topic for a specified type description.
ITypeInfo::GetFuncDesc

Retrieves the FUNCDESC structure that contains information about a specified function.
ITypeInfo::GetIDsOfNames

Maps between member names and member IDs, and parameter names and parameter IDs.
ITypeInfo::GetImplTypeFlags

Retrieves the IMPLTYPEFLAGS enumeration for one implemented interface or base interface in a type description.
ITypeInfo::GetMops

Retrieves marshaling information.
ITypeInfo::GetNames

Retrieves the variable with the specified member ID or the name of the property or method and the parameters that correspond to the specified function ID.
ITypeInfo::GetRefTypeInfo

If a type description references other type descriptions, it retrieves the referenced type descriptions.
ITypeInfo::GetRefTypeOfImplType

If a type description describes a COM class, it retrieves the type description of the implemented interface types.
ITypeInfo::GetTypeAttr

Retrieves a TYPEATTR structure that contains the attributes of the type description.
ITypeInfo::GetTypeComp

Retrieves the ITypeComp interface for the type description, which enables a client compiler to bind to the type description's members.
ITypeInfo::GetVarDesc

Retrieves a VARDESC structure that describes the specified variable.
ITypeInfo::Invoke

Invokes a method, or accesses a property of an object, that implements the interface described by the type description.
ITypeInfo::ReleaseFuncDesc

Releases a FUNCDESC previously returned by ITypeInfo::GetFuncDesc.
ITypeInfo::ReleaseTypeAttr

Releases a TYPEATTR previously returned by ITypeInfo::GetTypeAttr.
ITypeInfo::ReleaseVarDesc

Releases a VARDESC previously returned by ITypeInfo::GetVarDesc.

Remarks

Type information interfaces are intended to describe the parts of the application that can be called by outside clients, rather than those that might be used internally to build an application.

The ITypeInfo interface provides access to the following:

  • The set of function descriptions associated with the type. For interfaces, this contains the set of member functions in the interface.
  • The set of data member descriptions associated with the type. For structures, this contains the set of fields of the type.
  • The general attributes of the type, such as whether it describes a structure, an interface, and so on.
The type description of an IDispatch interface can be used to implement the interface. For more information, see the description of CreateStdDispatch in Dispatch Interface and API Functions.

An instance of ITypeInfo provides various information about the type of an object, and is used in different ways. A compiler can use an ITypeInfo to compile references to members of the type. A type interface browser can use it to find information about each member of the type. An IDispatch implementer can use it to provide automatic delegation of IDispatch calls to an interface.

Requirements

Requirement Value
Target Platform Windows
Header oaidl.h

See also

Type Description Interfaces and Functions