# WIN32OLE Question

**URL:** <https://rubytalk.org/t/win32ole-question/44855>\
**Category:** ruby-talk\
**Created:** [29 February 2008 15:49 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/win32ole-question/44855 "2008-02-29T15:49:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Brian\_Mac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@Brian\_Mac](https://rubytalk.org/u/Brian_Mac)\
**Post date:** [29 February 2008 15:49 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/win32ole-question/44855/1 "2008-02-29T15:49:55Z")

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newbie question from one not too familiar with windows ole...

is there a way to determine if a windows application has win32ole  
automation capabilities? if i understand what i've read correctly, if  
a component is listed in the mmc component service dcom config menu it  
has ole server capability.

how can one tell what methods are available to manipulate the  
underlying component. i'm trying to work with an application on a  
remote machine but need to know what i can do.

any and all help is greatly appreciated,  
brian

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**Author:** ![Kyle\_Schmitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kyle\_Schmitt](https://rubytalk.org/u/Kyle_Schmitt)\
**Post date:** [29 February 2008 17:53 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/win32ole-question/44855/2 "2008-02-29T17:53:40Z")

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Brian,  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I don't have time to hunt it down right now, but there are  
several free(speech & beer) ole/com browsers out there, that will  
display all the available objects for you to play with, and their  
methods. There's even one written in ruby.  
Google for something like ruby win32 com browser, and see if you find it.

--Kyle

> **···**
>
> On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 9:49 AM, Brian Mac \<mcnamarabrian@gmail.com\> wrote:
> 
> > newbie question from one not too familiar with windows ole...
> > 
> > is there a way to determine if a windows application has win32ole  
> > automation capabilities? if i understand what i've read correctly, if  
> > a component is listed in the mmc component service dcom config menu it  
> > has ole server capability.
> > 
> > how can one tell what methods are available to manipulate the  
> > underlying component. i'm trying to work with an application on a  
> > remote machine but need to know what i can do.
> > 
> > any and all help is greatly appreciated,  
> > brian

---

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**Author:** ![Brian\_Mac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@Brian\_Mac](https://rubytalk.org/u/Brian_Mac)\
**Post date:** [29 February 2008 18:24 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/win32ole-question/44855/3 "2008-02-29T18:24:55Z")

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hi kyle,

awesome - thanks for giving me a jab in the right direction. much  
appreciated! (now the trick is to make heads or tails of the  
information i do get...)

thanks!  
brian

> **···**
>
> On Feb 29, 12:53 pm, Kyle Schmitt \<kyleaschm...@gmail.com\> wrote:
> 
> > Brian,  
> > I don't have time to hunt it down right now, but there are  
> > several free(speech & beer) ole/com browsers out there, that will  
> > display all the available objects for you to play with, and their  
> > methods. There's even one written in ruby.  
> > Google for something like ruby win32 com browser, and see if you find it.
> > 
> > --Kyle
> > 
> > On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 9:49 AM, Brian Mac \<mcnamarabr...@gmail.com\> wrote:  
> > \> newbie question from one not too familiar with windows ole...
> > 
> > \> is there a way to determine if a windows application has win32ole  
> > \> automation capabilities? if i understand what i've read correctly, if  
> > \> a component is listed in the mmc component service dcom config menu it  
> > \> has ole server capability.
> > 
> > \> how can one tell what methods are available to manipulate the  
> > \> underlying component. i'm trying to work with an application on a  
> > \> remote machine but need to know what i can do.
> > 
> > \> any and all help is greatly appreciated,  
> > \> brian- Hide quoted text -
> > 
> > - Show quoted text -