Guys, Just got to the chapter about COM in ToTWGPG. I''m so damn confused. What I want to know is this:- Is there anywhere on-line which explains it well? How important is it for me to know the ins and outs of how it works at this stage - e.g. Can I come back to it later? I''m stumped. I have tried re-reading but its not sinking in yet. Help!

I have not read ToTWGPG so I don''t into what depth it goes with COM.

However, to use DirectX you just need to know how to make use of COM objects - not to create them or use IUnknown interfaces and other seemingly confusing stuff. What you need to know is that you get a COM object in DirectX by calling the appropriate factory function:

mypointer = Direct3DCreate8(...);

and when you are done with the object you call:

mypointer->Release();

or the object you created will never be deleted. And thats it.

However, if you are serious about learning more about COM then I can heartedly recommend the book:
Andrew Troelsen: Developer''s Workshop to COM and ATL 3.0
It introduces COM usage and class definition so everybody can understand it. A truely good book.



Jacob Marner, M.Sc.
Console Programmer, Deadline Games