Sorry if this is the wrong place for a COM question...

I was under the impression that, while I can create a COM component with VFP and that the baseclass for that component can even be a visual one (e.g., a form), the component cannot actually become visible when instantiated from a COM client.

Apparently, at least for out-of-process (.EXE) components, and at least when the COM client is C++, this is not true. Someone who attended one of my classes and a user group presentation (where I said you couldn't do this <s>) sent me an example C++ application that instantiates a VFP COM server (in an EXE) that definitely is a visible VFP form with buttons that I can click (at which point VFP method code runs). She uses the C++ CoCreateInstance and CreateCOMInstance statements to do this.

My question, now that I've seen that this is possible, is what are the limitations here? Does the client have to be C++ or can I also do this from VB? Does it only work with the VFP form class or is it possible to create a visible instance of something like a VFP container with textbox controls (for example)?

Is any of this discussed in Rick Strahl's recent FPA article re: calling VFP COM servers from C++ (which I seem to have misplaced...)?

TIA,

Kelly
[the BMP looked better before I shrunk it to 43x55 - honest!]