Online Chat: Upgrading COM Applications to .NET with Visual C++ 2005

Many applications consume and expose COM interfaces as their object models today. And .NET has tools such as tlbimp, tlbexp and COM Interop support for RCWs and CCWs to help integrate managed code with COM objects. In addition, there are also a number of options in C++ unavailable to other languages such as C# or VB. Some mechanisms are simpler to code, while others provide deeper control over aspects such as data and interface marshaling, custom interface support and performance tuning. What are these options and when do I use them? What conveniences does Visual C++ provide to "go deep" but retain the simplicity of a tool like tlbimp? What goes on under the hood that I need to be aware of when I provide my own interface wrapping, and why might I do this? How is the COM apartment model honored when I recompile as managed code? What AppDomain and threading issues should I be aware of and how do I avoid any pitfalls? What is the fine-print surrounding areas like using interface sinks, object lifetime control, and COM capabilities in mixed or pure images? If you expose or consume COM interfaces in your C/C++ applications today and need to know your options moving forward in .NET then this chat is for you.

September 2, 2004
12:00 - 1:00 P.M. Pacific time
3:00 - 4:00 P.M. Eastern time
19:00 - 20:00 GMT

Chat time for cities world-wide:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?day=2&month=9&year=2004&hour=12&min=0&sec=0&p1=234&sort=1

To add this chat to you calendar:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/chats/outlook_reminders/MSDN_VC2005_Sep2_04.ics

Online Chat: Visual C++ 2005 Library and Runtime Enhancements

The next release of Visual C++ includes many new and enhanced libraries which improve security, support managed code and integrate existing applications and components. The CRT and STL fully support managed applications. There is a new secure CRT and STL that offer safe interfaces to familiar functionality. The managed support library provides conveniences such as lock patterns, COM interface wrapping and type marshaling templates. MFC has new support for integration with .NET Windows Forms to enable incremental migration of existing UI to incorporate .NET controls and forms. Bring your questions about new and existing application development to find out more on the next generation of libraries in Visual C++.

September 16, 2004
12:00 - 1:00 P.M. Pacific time
3:00 - 4:00 P.M. Eastern time
19:00 - 20:00 GMT

Chat time for cities world-wide:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?day=16&month=9&year=2004&hour=12&min=0&sec=0&p1=234&sort=1

To add this chat to you calendar:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/chats/outlook_reminders/MSDN_VC2005LRI_Sep16_04.ics

For more info on MSDN chats, including other upcoming developer chats, chat
archives, and other info see http://www.msdn.microsoft.com/chats