November 15, 1999

A Behind the Scenes Look At COM
 Howard Schutzman, Creative Computing

Although Delphi has an excellent set of wizards and tools for developing COM objects, many Delphi programmers find it difficult to understand the concepts behind COM. The intent of this presentation is to demystify COM and describe its inner workings. It will present a step-by-step description of how to implement a Delphi object that acts as a wrapper to the Microsoft OLE/COM library. Topics to be covered include interfaces, reference counting, guids and the registry, class factories, dispatch and dual interfaces, type libraries, and in process vs. out of process servers.

Time

7:00 PM

Location

Kronos, Inc.
400 Fifth Avenue, Waltham, MA

Directions
     MAP

Heading South on Route 128 / I95 take Waltham Exit 27A, Totton Pond Road / Wyman Street. The exit ramp will merge with Totton Pond Road West. Merge into the left lanes and follow the signs to Totton Pond Road East towards Waltham and Route 128 (you are making a u-turn, make sure you get in the correct lane). Proceed over Route 128 and at the second traffic light (the first and second traffic light are separated by about 50 feet) turn right onto Third Avenue.

Heading North on Route 128 / I95 take Waltham Exit 27A, Totton Pond Road. Proceed up the exit ramp and just before the traffic light, bear right towards the stop sign. Turn right onto Third Avenue.

On Third Avenue, proceed about a 100 yards and turn left onto Fifth Avenue, the first "real" left just before the Westin Hotel. Proceed up the hill on Fifth Avenue, at the top turn (bear) right. You will pass 4 buildings (3 red brick and 1 tan brick) on your left. Kronos is located in the last (4th) building on you left, the only tan brick building in the office park.

Park in the parking lot and proceed to the main entrance of the tan brick building. Signs in the lobby will direct you to the meeting room.

(If you get lost, ask for directions to the Westin Hotel in Waltham.)

Additional Information

Al Reinhart, DisCom Systems
Voice: 508/869-6417
EMail: reinhart@DisCom.com

In case of inclement weather or a holiday on the day of a scheduled meeting please call Kronos after 3:00 PM at (781) 890-3232 to determine if the building will be open and check the web site to determine if the meeting is canceled.
(An open building does not guarantee a meeting will take place.)