Using COM dll in dot net -- HELP

Question

I have a COM dll which I want to include in a DotNet Application. i gave the reference to it from the local path. It generates a assembly with name such as Interop.somedll.dll and the application runs fine on local. When I have to upload it to the server do I need to uploda the COM dll and the assembly generted (Interop.somedll.dll) in the bin folder of the application ? That COM dll is though installed on the server already. Where does the application when run from server will look for the reference?

Alan · Answer

Yes you'll need to upload the Interop dll to the server and (preferably) place it in the same folder as the application itself. The Interop dll is what's called a Runtime Callable Wrapper (or RCW) . This is a managed dll which is generated automatically by VS (or manually using the tlbimp utility) and provides a bridge for communication between the managed application and the COM dll itself. It should be able to find the whereabouts of the COM dll on the server by looking it up in the registry.