Registration Free COM, Threading Models, MT.exe and *.RGS scripts - com

Question

I have a registration free C++ COM component whose manifest I am generating with mt.exe using VS2010. Everything works except I cannot specify which threading model my classes use. I created a small repro project, whose generated manifest file (RGS.dll.embed.manifest) is as follows:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
<file name="RGS.dll" hashalg="SHA1">
<comClass clsid="{4EB506E0-0D9C-4281-9B61-F027376E21C3}" tlbid="{6B48D06F-A84C-4B72-A70F-F1B091789E67}"></comClass>
<typelib tlbid="{6B48D06F-A84C-4B72-A70F-F1B091789E67}" version="1.0" helpdir="" flags="HASDISKIMAGE"></typelib>
</file>
<comInterfaceExternalProxyStub name="IRgsObject1" iid="{4620CAB8-3E56-42EC-818E-8A55DF9267B7}" tlbid="{6B48D06F-A84C-4B72-A70F-F1B091789E67}" proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"></comInterfaceExternalProxyStub>
</assembly>
The part I have a problem with is the comClass node
<comClass clsid="{4EB506E0-0D9C-4281-9B61-F027376E21C3}"
tlbid="{6B48D06F-A84C-4B72-A70F-F1B091789E67}"></comClass>
should have a threadingModel attribute, as in "Sxs and Registration Free COM activation" example at the following page:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/junfeng/archive/2006/04/20/579748.aspx
I know the threading model isn't specified in the *.tlb, but from Sen Harada's comment on the MSDN docs for mt.exe, you should be able to specify one in a Registration Script file (*.rgs)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa375649(v=vs.85).aspx
So I have the *.rgs file that the ATL wizard created
HKCR
{
NoRemove CLSID
{
ForceRemove {4EB506E0-0D9C-4281-9B61-F027376E21C3} = s 'RgsObject1 Class'
{
ForceRemove Programmable
InprocServer32 = s '%MODULE%'
{
val ThreadingModel = s 'Neutral'
}
TypeLib = s '{6B48D06F-A84C-4B72-A70F-F1B091789E67}'
Version = s '1.0'
}
}
}
So I give the *.rgs file to mt.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\bin\mt.exe /nologo /verbose /out:"Debug\RGS.dll.embed.manifest" /tlb:"Debug\RGS.tlb" /rgs:"RgsObject1.rgs" /dll:"RGS.dll" /manifest Debug\RGS.dll.intermediate.manifest
And see from the build log that it has successfully parsed the *.rgs file
Valid GUID!!! {4EB506E0-0D9C-4281-9B61-F027376E21C3}
Adding entry ClsidTable[{4EB506E0-0D9C-4281-9B61-F027376E21C3}] = RgsObject1 Class
CManGenLib.ParseFileContents::Appending class {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
Processed .RGS file successfully
Found type library in file , guid {6B48D06F-A84C-4B72-A70F-F1B091789E67} (contains 2 types)
CManGenLib.ProcessTlb::Appending class {6B48D06F-A84C-4B72-A70F-F1B091789E67}
Found interface {4620CAB8-3E56-42EC-818E-8A55DF9267B7} 'IRgsObject1'
Processed .TLB file successfully
Looking for pstub {4620CAB8-3E56-42EC-818E-8A55DF9267B7} (IRgsObject1)
(specifically the "Valid GUID!!!" line is gone without the rgs: parameter to mt.exe)
YET my RGS.dll.embed.manifest doesn't have the threadingModel attribute.
This person is the only one online I can find talking about the problem, http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vcmfcatl/thread/dbab28cd-023f-45b1-be62-7dc71e8d3d9f , and he never found a solution and edited the manifest after it was generated. Does anyone know how the mt.exe tool uses the RGS file to create the manifest, and what I need to do to get a threadingModel out the other end?

Answer 1

Interesting... it looks like some vestigial ProgId stuff needs to be there for mt.exe to be happy. Specifically, the following *.rgs
HKCR
{
AtlObjectProgId.1 = s 'AtlObject Class'
{
CLSID = s '{2371607D-284A-4D7C-A6DD-20C15373F43F}'
}
NoRemove CLSID
{
ForceRemove {2371607D-284A-4D7C-A6DD-20C15373F43F} = s 'AtlObject Class'
{
InprocServer32 = s '%MODULE%'
{
val ThreadingModel = s 'Free'
}
}
}
}
produces the following *.embed.manifest
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0"><file name="ATLProject2.dll" hashalg="SHA1"><comClass clsid="{2371607D-284A-4D7C-A6DD-20C15373F43F}" tlbid="{92B1424C-0D03-4909-99DC-2A70EFD210D5}" threadingModel="Free"></comClass><typelib tlbid="{92B1424C-0D03-4909-99DC-2A70EFD210D5}" version="1.0" helpdir="" flags="HASDISKIMAGE"></typelib></file><comInterfaceExternalProxyStub name="IAtlObject" iid="{81A8B3DA-2AFE-4C25-B0ED-CDD777FB01A4}" tlbid="{92B1424C-0D03-4909-99DC-2A70EFD210D5}" proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"></comInterfaceExternalProxyStub></assembly>
whereas the following *.rgs
HKCR
{
NoRemove CLSID
{
ForceRemove {2371607D-284A-4D7C-A6DD-20C15373F43F} = s 'AtlObject Class'
{
InprocServer32 = s '%MODULE%'
{
val ThreadingModel = s 'Free'
}
}
}
}
produces the following *.embed.manifest
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0"><file name="ATLProject2.dll" hashalg="SHA1"><comClass clsid="{2371607D-284A-4D7C-A6DD-20C15373F43F}" tlbid="{92B1424C-0D03-4909-99DC-2A70EFD210D5}"></comClass><typelib tlbid="{92B1424C-0D03-4909-99DC-2A70EFD210D5}" version="1.0" helpdir="" flags="HASDISKIMAGE"></typelib></file><comInterfaceExternalProxyStub name="IAtlObject" iid="{81A8B3DA-2AFE-4C25-B0ED-CDD777FB01A4}" tlbid="{92B1424C-0D03-4909-99DC-2A70EFD210D5}" proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"></comInterfaceExternalProxyStub></assembly>
Edit: It appears that this works, but it only works for the first class in the *.rgs file. For example, the following *.rgs
HKCR
{
AtlObj1ProgId.1 = s 'AtlObj1 Class'
{
CLSID = s '{D15A646A-4F2F-42C2-BA8B-780AABCFB133}'
}
AtlObj1ProgId = s 'AtlObj1 Class'
{
CurVer = s 'AtlObj1ProgId.1'
}
NoRemove CLSID
{
ForceRemove {D15A646A-4F2F-42C2-BA8B-780AABCFB133} = s 'AtlObj1 Class'
{
ProgID = s 'AtlObj1ProgId.1'
VersionIndependentProgID = s 'AtlObj1ProgId'
ForceRemove Programmable
InprocServer32 = s '%MODULE%'
{
val ThreadingModel = s 'Neutral'
}
TypeLib = s '{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}'
Version = s '1.0'
}
}
AltObj2ProgId.1 = s 'AtlObj2 Class'
{
CLSID = s '{C208B430-8E12-4C65-AA5A-899F6AB13C4B}'
}
AltObj2ProgId = s 'AtlObj2 Class'
{
CurVer = s 'AltObj2ProgId.1'
}
NoRemove CLSID
{
ForceRemove {C208B430-8E12-4C65-AA5A-899F6AB13C4B} = s 'AtlObj2 Class'
{
ProgID = s 'AltObj2ProgId.1'
VersionIndependentProgID = s 'AltObj2ProgId'
ForceRemove Programmable
InprocServer32 = s '%MODULE%'
{
val ThreadingModel = s 'Neutral'
}
TypeLib = s '{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}'
Version = s '1.0'
}
}
}
Produces the following *.embed.manifest
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0"><file name="RgsClass2.dll" hashalg="SHA1"><comClass clsid="{D15A646A-4F2F-42C2-BA8B-780AABCFB133}" tlbid="{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}" threadingModel="Neutral" progid="AltObj2ProgId"><progid>AtlObj1ProgId.1</progid><progid>AltObj2ProgId.1</progid></comClass><comClass clsid="{C208B430-8E12-4C65-AA5A-899F6AB13C4B}" tlbid="{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}"></comClass><typelib tlbid="{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}" version="1.0" helpdir="" flags="HASDISKIMAGE"></typelib></file><trustInfo xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3"><security><requestedPrivileges><requestedExecutionLevel level="asInvoker" uiAccess="false"></requestedExecutionLevel></requestedPrivileges></security></trustInfo><comInterfaceExternalProxyStub name="IAtlObj1" iid="{FF2A4D47-DADA-451E-8125-610643B00FBC}" tlbid="{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}" proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"></comInterfaceExternalProxyStub><comInterfaceExternalProxyStub name="IAtlObj2" iid="{F9226919-2AB7-4DBE-9F79-092839480351}" tlbid="{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}" proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"></comInterfaceExternalProxyStub></assembly>
Observe that only the first CoClass has a threadingModel (or a ProgId for that matter).
Edit: Success! The following *.rgs
HKCR
{
AtlObj1ProgId.1 = s 'AtlObj1 Class'
{
CLSID = s '{D15A646A-4F2F-42C2-BA8B-780AABCFB133}'
}
NoRemove CLSID
{
ForceRemove {D15A646A-4F2F-42C2-BA8B-780AABCFB133} = s 'AtlObj1 Class'
{
ProgID = s 'AtlObj1ProgId.1'
VersionIndependentProgID = s 'AtlObj1ProgId'
ForceRemove Programmable
InprocServer32 = s '%MODULE%'
{
val ThreadingModel = s 'Neutral'
}
TypeLib = s '{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}'
Version = s '1.0'
}
}
}
HKCR
{
AltObj2ProgId.1 = s 'AtlObj2 Class'
{
CLSID = s '{C208B430-8E12-4C65-AA5A-899F6AB13C4B}'
}
NoRemove CLSID
{
ForceRemove {C208B430-8E12-4C65-AA5A-899F6AB13C4B} = s 'AtlObj2 Class'
{
ProgID = s 'AltObj2ProgId.1'
VersionIndependentProgID = s 'AltObj2ProgId'
ForceRemove Programmable
InprocServer32 = s '%MODULE%'
{
val ThreadingModel = s 'Neutral'
}
TypeLib = s '{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}'
Version = s '1.0'
}
}
}
produces the following *.embed.manifest
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0"><file name="RgsClass2.dll" hashalg="SHA1"><comClass clsid="{D15A646A-4F2F-42C2-BA8B-780AABCFB133}" tlbid="{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}" threadingModel="Neutral" progid="AtlObj1ProgId"><progid>AtlObj1ProgId.1</progid></comClass><comClass clsid="{C208B430-8E12-4C65-AA5A-899F6AB13C4B}" tlbid="{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}" threadingModel="Neutral" progid="AltObj2ProgId"><progid>AltObj2ProgId.1</progid></comClass><typelib tlbid="{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}" version="1.0" helpdir="" flags="HASDISKIMAGE"></typelib></file><trustInfo xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3"><security><requestedPrivileges><requestedExecutionLevel level="asInvoker" uiAccess="false"></requestedExecutionLevel></requestedPrivileges></security></trustInfo><comInterfaceExternalProxyStub name="IAtlObj1" iid="{FF2A4D47-DADA-451E-8125-610643B00FBC}" tlbid="{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}" proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"></comInterfaceExternalProxyStub><comInterfaceExternalProxyStub name="IAtlObj2" iid="{F9226919-2AB7-4DBE-9F79-092839480351}" tlbid="{85D8EC5E-3C24-4151-83D9-34CCE9A1E534}" proxyStubClsid32="{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"></comInterfaceExternalProxyStub></assembly>