Exploring Windows Type Libraries
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You can open and inspect the interfaces and other types contained within a Windows type library. The type library contents are displayed in a Windows Explorer-style presentation, with a left pane containing a tree of the interface and type definitions within the type library. The right pane displays specific information on the selected item in the tree. The Type Library Explorer can open a .TLB
file, as well as OCX controls, and .DLL
and .EXE
files that have type libraries as embedded resources.
To Inspect a Windows Type Library
- Choose File > Open.
- In the Open dialog box, from the Files of type drop-down list, select Type Library. This sets the file filter to display files with extensions of
.TLB
,.OLB
,.OCX
,.DLL
, and.EXE
. - Navigate to the folder where the type library is located.
- Select the file and click Open.
You can open multiple type libraries in the explorer. Each open type library is displayed in the tree in the left pane; the top-level node for a type library is denoted by the icon.
To close a particular type library, right-click the top-level icon and select Close.