{"id":68112,"date":"2011-10-04T22:25:31","date_gmt":"2011-10-04T15:25:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bahtera.jp\/com-interface\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T09:27:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T02:27:46","slug":"com-interface","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bahtera.jp\/en\/com-interface\/","title":{"rendered":"Extending Asprova Functionality Through the COM Interface"},"content":{"rendered":"

The production scheduler Asprova exposes a COM interface, allowing functionality to be extended through EXE files or plugins (DLLs). It retrieves project objects deployed in memory from EXE or DLL files, accessing lower-level table objects in Asprova.
\nThe Asprova main body provides Hooks to execute plugins at specific event timings. These access points, represented by plugin keys, correspond to WordPress\u2019s do_action hook or apply_filters hook.
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Production Scheduler in Indonesia<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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In Indonesia’s Japanese manufacturing industry, the adoption of production management systems has been increasing. However, when it comes to one of the key challenges in production management\u2014creating feasible production plans that take machine and equipment loads into account\u2014manual work using Excel remains the standard practice. As a result, the demand for production schedulers is expected to grow in the future.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u7d9a\u304d\u3092\u898b\u308b<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/dl>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

What is a COM Interface?<\/h2>\n

Asprova has a mechanism to expose internal data and processing via COM (Component Object Model). Functionality can be added through plugins (ActiveX DLL files: function calls from Asprova) or automation clients (Standard EXE files: accessing Asprova from external programs).
\nDLL files are placed in the same folder as Asprova\u2019s EXE and are automatically loaded by Asprova at startup.
\nDLLs are registered as internal commands in Asprova, so they can be attached to user-defined menus and called from Asprova. For EXE files, an active project is obtained by specifying and opening a project file name.<\/p>\n

DLL Placement Location<\/h2>\n

DLLs must be placed in the following locations relative to the launching EXE:<\/p>\n

\n
\n
    \n
  1. Place the EXE and DLL in the same directory.<\/li>\n
  2. Launch the EXE with the DLL\u2019s directory set as the current directory.<\/li>\n
  3. Place the DLL in the system32 directory.<\/li>\n
  4. Place the DLL in the Windows directory.<\/li>\n
  5. Set the DLL\u2019s directory in the Path environment variable.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    Reference Settings in the Development Environment (Using Asprova Libraries from Within Plugins)<\/h2>\n

    Reference settings are stored in the project file (.vbp file) to use the type library of an ActiveX object without a GUI in the project. Plugins (DLLs compiled from project files) access Asprova\u2019s libraries via the COM interface.
    \nWith reference settings, object types can be used in Dim variable declarations, and instances can be created with the new operator.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \n
      \n
    1. Asprova Project Class
      \nDim project As aslib.ASBProject<\/li>\n
    2. List of Objects Related to Plugin Keys Used in Extended Plugin DLLs
      \nDim ArgList As ASPArgList<\/li>\n
    3. Item Class
      \nDim item As ASBItem<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      When referencing Asprova libraries from a plugin, register the following two Asprova class libraries in the development environment\u2019s reference settings:<\/p>\n

      \n
      \n
        \n
      1. As 1.1 Type Library<\/li>\n
      2. AsPlugInManager 1.0 Type Library<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        Structure of a Plugin Project File<\/h2>\n

        For plugins, functions called by Asprova are registered in the AutoRegistration method of the ASDefault class.<\/p>\n

        If registered as a plugin in Asprova\u2019s \u201cPlugin Information,\u201d the AutoRegistration function is automatically called at startup and implemented in the project object.<\/p>\n

        \"COM<\/p>\n

        For Standard EXE (automation clients), the ASDefault class is not needed.<\/p>\n

        Plugins are registered by passing four arguments to the AddASPlugIn method of Asprova\u2019s plugin manager (plugin registration function). This essentially says, \u201cI\u2019m in a project called Factory, with a method AddOverTime in the Overtime class, so call it at the KeyHookGeneric plugin key timing.\u201d<\/p>\n

        <\/div>\n

        Mapping Hooks and Functions to Plugin Keys (Access Points)<\/h2>\n

        Asprova provides hooks to execute plugins at specific events.
        \nThese access points, called plugin keys, represent each event. For example, KeyHookGeneric is the \u201ccommand addition\u201d access point\u2014executing a command triggers the plugin.<\/p>\n

        Option Explicit\r\nPublic Function AutoRegistration(plugInManager As ASPPlugInManager, module As ASPModule) As Boolean\r\n    'Set the comment for this module\r\n    module.Comment = \"APS Extended Functionality PlugIns (VB)\"\r\n    'Define a variable to hold the plugin object\r\n    Dim plugIn As ASPPlugIn\r\n    ' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\r\n    'Call the plugin manager to register a new plugin. The method name is AddASPlugIn\r\n    ' 1st Param: Plugin display name\r\n    ' 2nd Param: ProgID representing the module and class where the plugin is implemented\r\n    ' 3rd Param: Plugin entry function name (call name)\r\n    ' 4th Param: Key name representing the context in which the plugin is used\r\n\r\n    '(1) Automatically calculate overtime or weekend work and set it in the calendar table\r\n    Set plugIn = plugInManager.AddASPlugIn(\"Incorporate Overtime into Regular Overtime and Saturday Shifts\", \"Factory1.OverTime\", \"AddOverTime\", ASPlugInKeyName.KeyHookGeneric)\r\n    'Set comments, etc., for this plugin\r\n\r\n    plugIn.Comment = \"Distribute overtime into 2 hours of weekday overtime and 2 Saturday shifts.\"\r\n    'Plugin call order (for cases with multiple plugins for the same plugin key)\r\n    plugIn.Order = 1\r\n    'Return True to indicate successful auto-registration\r\n    AutoRegistration = True\r\nEnd Function<\/code><\/pre>\n
        When Asprova loads plugins at startup, it displays the \u201centry function display name\u201d (the first argument in the plugin manager call) in the internal command plugins.
        \nPlugins register themselves by calling Asprova\u2019s plugin manager from within and passing four arguments.
        \n\"COM<\/p>\n
        Same Concept as COM Port (Communication Port)<\/h2>\n
        By the way, COM in COM ports and COM interfaces are different, but both are standard interfaces for external communication, making them conceptually similar.
        \nSoftware and hardware have standardized interfaces (ports) for exchanging data with external entities. For instance, POP and SMTP server ports or database connection ports are TCP\/IP ports.
        \nStandard PCs feature interfaces like PS\/2 ports, USB ports, and LAN ports (Ethernet ports) for connecting peripherals such as keyboards.
        \nIn software, OSes provide standardized methods to uniformly handle data transmission with external devices or networks, using ports to identify communication partners.
        \nWindows offers \u201cCOM ports\u201d to standardize I\/O methods, allowing applications to access modems, printers, or scanners uniformly. Apps only need to know which COM port their device is connected to for I\/O handling.
        \nFor example, connecting a USB barcode assigns COM13, but since PCs don\u2019t physically have 13 interfaces, COM13 is virtual.
        \nIn TCP\/IP network communication, \u201cport numbers\u201d from 0 to 65,535 serve as sub-addresses under a device\u2019s or computer\u2019s IP address, enabling multiple services or simultaneous communication with multiple computers. \u201cPort\u201d alone often refers to these TCP\/IP port numbers.<\/p>\n
        Mapping Recordset Field Values to Crystal Report Field Definitions via TTX Files<\/h2>\n
        Export Asprova\u2019s operation table to Access to issue production tags.
        \nThough outdated, Crystal Report 9 has Parameter Fields. I thought VB would pass parameters, but tossing a Recordset auto-fetches field values, displaying reports in the free Crystal Report Viewer ActiveX component.<\/p>\n
            CrRep.Database.SetDataSource rs, 3, 1\r\n    CRViewer91.ReportSource = CrRep\r\n    CRViewer91.ViewReport<\/code><\/pre>\n
        Here, the third argument, 1, represents the Table Number.<\/p>\n
            'Get ORDERCOD from the selected combo\r\n    result = Combo1.List(Combo1.ListIndex)\r\n\r\n    'Passing parameter from VB6 to CR using CRAXDRT\r\n    Dim CrApp As CRAXDRT.Application\r\n    Dim CrRep As CRAXDRT.Report\r\n\r\n    'Get the recordset for ORDERCOD from ORDERTBL\r\n    Dim conn As New ADODB.Connection\r\n    Dim rs As ADODB.Recordset\r\n\r\n    Dim mySQL As String\r\n\r\n    cn.Open _\r\n        \"Provider = Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; \" & _\r\n            \"Data Source = \" & CurDir & \"\\NNA.mdb\"\r\n\r\n    Set CrApp = New CRAXDRT.Application\r\n    Set CrRep = CrApp.OpenReport(App.Path & \"\\reports\\TravelSheet.rpt\", & _\r\n                    crOpenReportByTempCopy)\r\n\r\n    CrRep.DiscardSavedData\r\n\r\n    If result <> \"ALL\" Then\r\n        mySQL = \"SELECT * FROM OPERATIONTBL WHERE ORDERCOD='\" & _\r\n            Combo1.Text & \"' ORDER BY ORDERCOD\"\r\n    Else\r\n        mySQL = \"SELECT * FROM OPERATIONTBL ORDER BY ORDERCOD\"\r\n\r\n    End If\r\n    With rs\r\n        .ActiveConnection = cn\r\n        .CursorLocation = adUseServer\r\n        .CursorType = adOpenKeyset\r\n        .LockType = adLockOptimistic\r\n        .Properties(\"IRowsetIdentity\") = True\r\n\r\n        .Open mySQL\r\n    End With\r\n    CrRep.Database.SetDataSource rs, 3, 1\r\n    CRViewer91.ReportSource = CrRep\r\n    CRViewer91.ViewReport\r\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
        However, apps using non-standard Win7 components like Crystal Report Viewer can cause issues in XP. Since crviewer9.dll causes frequent problems on older PCs, I downgraded to CR8.5 and adjusted the code as follows.
        \nCR8.5 limits itself to form layout, defining fields in a TTX file. VB throws a recordset, mapping it to the form per the TTX file\u2019s field definitions.<\/p>\n
        Dim result As String\r\n\r\n    'Get ORDERCOD from the selected combobox\r\n    result = Combo1.List(Combo1.ListIndex)\r\n\r\n    'Get the recordset for ORDERCOD from ORDERTBL\r\n    Dim conn As New ADODB.Connection\r\n    Dim rs As ADODB.Recordset\r\n\r\n    Dim mySQL As String\r\n\r\n    cn.Open _\r\n        \"Provider = Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; \" & _\r\n            \"Data Source = \" & CurDir & \"\\DNN.mdb\"\r\n\r\n    If result <> \"ALL\" Then\r\n        mySQL = \"SELECT * FROM OPERATIONTBL WHERE ORDERCOD='\" & _\r\n                    Combo1.Text & \"' ORDER BY ORDERCOD\"\r\n\r\n    Else\r\n        mySQL = \"SELECT * FROM OPERATIONTBL ORDER BY ORDERCOD\"\r\n\r\n    End If\r\n\r\n    rs.Open mySQL, cn, adOpenKeyset, adLockOptimistic\r\n\r\n    With rptControl\r\n        .WindowTitle = \"Travel Sheet\"\r\n        .ReportFileName = App.Path & \"\\Reports\\TravelSheet.rpt\"\r\n\r\n        .SetTablePrivateData 0, 3, rs\r\n        .WindowShowPrintBtn = True\r\n        .WindowShowPrintSetupBtn = True\r\n\r\n        .RetrieveDataFiles\r\n        .WindowState = crptMaximized\r\n        .Destination = crptToWindow\r\n        .Action = 1\r\n    End With<\/code><\/pre>\n
        Specifying the TTX file (rpt.ttx) in CR\u2019s Report Expert maps the recordset\u2019s field values to CR file fields automatically.
        \n\"reportexpert\"
        \nDefining field names, attributes, and lengths in a tab-delimited TTX file may be a classic approach in Japan, but it\u2019s still active in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
        ORDERCOD\tstring\t100\r\nPROCNO\tnumber\r\nRESOURCE\tstring\t100\r\nITEM\tstring\t100\r\nQTY\tnumber\r\nSTARTDATE\tstring\t100\r\nENDDATE\tstring\t100\r\nWORKTIME\tstring\t100\r\nPARENTITEM\tstring\t100\r\nCLASS\tnumber<\/code><\/pre>\n
        Accessing Jet Database Engine from VB<\/h2>\n
        Add \u201cMicrosoft ActiveX Data Objects 2.1 Library\u201d from reference settings.<\/p>\n
        Dim conn As New ADODB.Connection\r\nDim rs As New ADODB.Recordset\r\nconn.Open _\r\n    \"Provider = Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; \" & _\r\n\"Data Source = C:\\Users\\Toshiba\\Desktop\\ERP\\VB\\LinkWithERP.mdb\"\r\n'DELETE\r\nDim query1 As String\r\nquery1 = \"DELETE * FROM ORDER_SOURCE\"\r\nrs.Open query1, cn, adOpenKeyset, adLockOptimistic\r\n'SELECT\r\nDim query2 As String\r\nquery2 = \"SELECT * FROM ORDER_SOURCE\"\r\nrs.Open query2, cn, adOpenKeyset, adLockOptimistic\r\nDo Until rs.EOF\r\n    X1 = rs!Order_Code\r\n    X2 = rs!Order_Item\r\n    X3 = rs!Order_Qty\r\n\r\nrs.MoveNext\r\n\r\nLoop<\/code><\/pre>\n
        ADO and ODBC are middleware for using the Jet Database Engine (MDB).
        \nThe MDB file in MS-Access format is a Jet Database Engine file (a relational database engine by Microsoft)\u2014a mere data container, separate from the Microsoft Access GUI application.
        \nThis means MDB files can be used without MS-Access installed.
        \nOn PCs without MS-Access, you can manipulate tables via Excel VBA with ADO or download the Runtime from Microsoft\u2019s site to open it\u2014without violating licensing.
        \nRuntime is \u201ca program stripped of development functions from software with both development and execution capabilities, leaving only execution functions\u201d\u2014an \u201cexecution environment without a development environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
        \n
        \n