IDispatch Interface [Automation]

The IDispatch interface exposes objects, methods and properties to programming tools and other applications that support Automation. COM components implement the IDispatch interface to enable access by Automation clients, such as Visual Basic.

For an example on how to access a COM object through the IDispatch interface, see Implementing the IDispatch Interface [Automation].

Methods

IUnknown Methods	Description
QueryInterface	Returns pointers to supported interfaces.
AddRef	Increments reference count.
Release	Decrements reference count.

IDispatch Methods	Description
IDispatch::GetTypeInfoCount Method	Retrieves the number of type information interfaces that an object provides (either 0 or 1).
IDispatch::GetTypeInfo Method	Gets the type information for an object.
IDispatch::GetIDsOfNames Method	Maps a single member and an optional set of argument names to a corresponding set of integer DISPIDs.
IDispatch::Invoke Method	Provides access to properties and methods exposed by an object.

Requirements

IDispatch is located in the Oleauto.h header file on 32-bit systems, and in Dispatch.h on 16-bit and Macintosh systems.