arwcom

Lightweight Python 3 API to access Windows COM Objects

Developer Configuration

Configure VS Code for Microsoft C++

References

Python Bindings Libraries

• pywin32

  • Access to many of the Windows APIs from Python

• win32com

  • Python COM Extensions, example: xl = win32com.client.Dispatch("Excel.Application")

• comtypes

  • Lightweight Python COM package, based on the ctypes_FFI library, in less than 10000 lines of code (not counting the tests).

• win32-setctime

  • Pure python package using from ctypes import windll, wintypes, byref, FormatError, WinError

• SoundCard

  • Patch for combase.dll _ole32 = _ffi.dlopen('ole32') and _combase.CoUninitialize()

• Python ctypes.OleDLL() Examples

  • General examples of using ctypes.OleDLL

• NSF2X

  • Example of finding a DLL in C2R version of COM object and get a COM object

• MSL-LoadLib

  • Supported: LIBTYPES = ['cdll', 'windll', 'oledll', 'net', 'clr', 'java', 'com', 'activex']

• pywinauto test_backend.py

  • Unit tests for Windows COM threading mode initialization by mocking pythoncom.CoInitializeEx

• Spark

  • CoInitializeEx = windll.ole32.CoInitializeEx

• pystrict3

  • Manual pythoncom.CoInitializeEx(pythoncom.COINIT_APARTMENTTHREADED) and pythoncom.CoUninitialize()

• pywin32-stubs

  • pywin32-stubs is generated from pywin32.chm

• pymfc

• r2com

  • Reversing a binary calling the CoCreateInstance function from the OLE32.DLL library
  • https://reverseengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/2822/com-interface-methods/2823#2823

• ComIDA

  • ea_cocreateinstance = find_import("ole32", "CoCreateInstance") or find_import("api-ms-win-core-com-l1-1-0", "CoCreateInstance")

Other language bindings to COM

• Go OLE

C/C++ Examples

• Fastboi
  • A lightweight and simple C++20 game engine written over SDL2. It implements a basic component model and event system.
• Win32batch-GokhleSir
  • COM, Class factory, Containment, Aggregation, Automation, etc.
• CommeCOM
  • Header-only library providing basic means for working with "comme" (like) COM objects - querying interfaces and acccessing functionality from dynamically loaded plug-ins (DLLs or shared objects)
• EasyOLE: C/C++ OLE Automation Client Library
  • Ease the development of OLE Automation Clients in C/C++ handling the internal not-so-friendly aspects of COM interfaces
• OLEVIEW Sample: ActiveX Object Viewer
  • Illustrates how to implement ActiveX Object viewers through custom ActiveX interfaces
• MapWinGis

Writing COM Applications

• OLE Component Object Model
  • General overview of COM
• Get Started with Win32 and C++
  • Write a desktop program in C++ using Win32 and COM APIs
• COM Clients and Servers
  • Getting a Pointer to an Object, COM Glossary, etc.
• Active Template Library (ATL) Concepts
  • Active Template Library (ATL) is a set of template-based C++ classes that let you create small, fast Component Object Model (COM) objects
  • CComPtr Class from atlbase.h

COM API Reference

• Windows System Services APIs
  • COM, COM+
• Component Object Model (COM)
  • Overview of the Component Object Model (COM) technology, header files, methods e.g. IUnknown interface (unknwn.h)

Books

• Essential COM by Don Box
• Atl Internals by Brent Rector
• Inside COM by Dale Rogerson
• Inside COM+ by Guy Eddon and Henry Eddon https://thrysoee.dk/InsideCOM+/ch03b.htm