# Automation Server (AUTO) and Component Object Model (COM) Library Routines

This section contains descriptions of the Automation Server (AUTO) and Component Object Model (COM) library routines, which are restricted to Windows* systems. They are listed in alphabetical order.

To access the appropriate library when using AUTO routines, you must specify a USE IFAUTO statement in your program.

To access the appropriate library when using COM routines, you must specify a USE IFCOM statement in your program.

Some routines also require the USE IFWINTY module. If a procedure requires USE IFWINTY, it is shown in the routine description.

### Note

Routine names are shown in mixed case to make the names easier to understand. When writing your applications, you can use any case.

Parent topic: A to Z Reference

- AUTOAddArg (W*S)
  AUTO Subroutine: Passes an argument name and value and adds the argument to the argument list data structure.
- AUTOAllocateInvokeArgs (W*S)
  AUTO Function: Allocates an argument list data structure that holds the arguments to be passed to AUTOInvoke.
- AUTODeallocateInvokeArgs (W*S)
  AUTO Subroutine: Deallocates an argument list data structure.
- AUTOGetExceptInfo (W*S)
  AUTO Subroutine: Retrieves the exception information when a method has returned an exception status.
- AUTOGetProperty (W*S)
  AUTO Function: Passes the name or identifier of the property and gets the value of the automation object's property.
- AUTOGetPropertyInvokeArgs (W*S)
  AUTO Function: Passes an argument list data structure and gets the value of the automation object's property specified in the argument list's first argument.
- AUTOInvoke (W*S)
  AUTO Function: Passes the name or identifier of an object's method and an argument list data structure and invokes the method with the passed arguments.
- AUTOSetProperty (W*S)
  AUTO Function: Passes the name or identifier of the property and a value, and sets the value of the automation object's property.
- AUTOSetPropertyByID (W*S)
  AUTO Function: Passes the member ID of the property and sets the value of the automation object's property into the argument list's first argument.
- AUTOSetPropertyInvokeArgs (W*S)
  AUTO Function: Passes an argument list data structure and sets the value of the automation object's property specified in the argument list's first argument.
- COMAddObjectReference (W*S)
  COM Function: Adds a reference to an object's interface.
- COMCLSIDFromProgID (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: Passes a programmatic identifier and returns the corresponding class identifier.
- COMCLSIDFromString (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: Passes a class identifier string and returns the corresponding class identifier.
- COMCreateObject (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: A generic routine that executes either COMCreateObjectByProgID or COMCreateObjectByGUID.
- COMCreateObjectByGUID (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: Passes a class identifier, creates an instance of an object, and returns a pointer to the object's interface.
- COMCreateObjectByProgID (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: Passes a programmatic identifier, creates an instance of an object, and returns a pointer to the object's IDispatch interface.
- COMGetActiveObjectByGUID (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: Passes a class identifier and returns a pointer to the interface of a currently active object.
- COMGetActiveObjectByProgID (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: Passes a programmatic identifier and returns a pointer to the IDispatch interface of a currently active object.
- COMGetFileObject (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: Passes a file name and returns a pointer to the IDispatch interface of an automation object that can manipulate the file.
- COMInitialize (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: Initializes the COM library.
- COMIsEqualGUID (W*S)
  COM Function: Determines whether two globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) are the same.
- COMQueryInterface (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: Passes an interface identifier and returns a pointer to an object's interface.
- COMReleaseObject (W*S)
  COM Function: Indicates that the program is done with a reference to an object's interface.
- COMStringFromGUID (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: Passes a globally unique identifier (GUID) and returns a string of printable characters.
- COMUninitialize (W*S)
  COM Subroutine: Uninitializes the COM library.