Create instance of COM class dynamically in .NET

Question

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I can load COM DLLs that are registered on my machine like this:

Type type = Type.GetTypeFromProgID("MYCOMDLL.ClassName");
object boxed = Activator.CreateInstance(type);

I can then poke around invoking methods etc.

How can I achieve this from a DLL file that is not registered on my machine?

Something like this magicode:

Type type = Type.GetTypeFromFile("MyFile.dll", "MYCOMDLL.ClassName");
object boxed = Activator.CreateInstance(type);

Is this possible?

asked Jun 26 '09 at 15:35

78% accept rate

Christian Hayter · Answer 1 · 2009-06-26 15:51:21Z

You either have to (a) register the DLL first in the traditional way, or (b) muck about with Registration-Free COM manifest files.

João Marcus · Answer 2 · 2009-06-26 15:50:34Z

up vote 0 down vote

I found this link which may have what you want:

Looks like you could wrap a helper class around it.

answered Jun 26 '09 at 15:50

	That works for unmanaged native DLL's, but if it's a COM library it won't. – Kev Jun 26 '09 at 15:55
	Oops, you're right. I looked for alternatives, found a way to load a livrary and retrieve all the COM objects, but the activation itself seems to require the DLL to be registered. – João Marcus Jun 26 '09 at 19:18

arbiter · Answer 3 · 2009-06-26 19:45:08Z

up vote 0 down vote

Read similar question here and look into my and author comments.

answered Jun 26 '09 at 19:45

arbiter
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3 Answers