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ActiveX Glossary
Automation. ActiveX automation (formerly called OLE automation) is a technology that lets applications expose their unique features to scripting tools and other applications. The application that exposes its features is called an ActiveX automation server, and the application that uses the features is called an ActiveX automation client.
Automation Client. An application that uses the objects exported by an ActiveX automation server.
Automation Server. An application that uses ActiveX automation to expose its features for use by other applications. These features are exported as a set of ActiveX objects that expose methods and properties that can be called from other applications.
Object. A component of an application exposed by an ActiveX automation server. For example, Microsoft Excel exposes its workbooks, worksheets, and charts as ActiveX objects. An ActiveX object is manipulated by calling its methods and getting or setting its properties.
Collections. Collections are ActiveX objects that contain other objects of a particular type. An ActiveX automation client can search through the contained objects or get a particular object by name.
Externally Creatable Objects. These objects are top-level ActiveX objects that can be created directly by automation clients. Objects that are not externally creatable can be accessed only through the properties or methods of another object.
Methods. These perform an action on an object. For example, the Excel worksheet object provides a calculate method that determines the values in a worksheet.
Object Hierarchy. An object hierarchy is a diagram that illustrates the relationships between objects. These relationships define how clients gain access to objects. Objects at the top of the hierarchy can be created directly by automation clients; other objects, known as dependent objects, can be accessed only through objects above them in the hierarchy.
Properties. These are characteristics or attributes of an object. For example, the Excel worksheet object provides a Visible property.
Registry. An operating system database that contains information about the operating system and applications installed on a computer. This information includes a list of automation servers installed on the computer.
Type Library. This is a file or part of a file that describes the type of one or more objects. Type libraries do not store objects; they store type information. By accessing a type library, applications and browsers can determine the characteristics of an object, such as the methods and properties provided by the object.
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