wrestling with .NET application via perl

trillich has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

short version: using blackbaud API

perl script throws an error

VB script throws the same error

simple fix to the VB script gets it to work

how to replicate that fix in the perl script?

long version:

we're stuck, trying to grapple with the interface to a .NET application (blackbaud). it has a well-documented API and some sample scripts (VB) that come with it, which are VB version 6; we only have VStudio 2003pro, so when we upgrade the scripts there's a glitch -- the same exact problems that our perl attempts have (namely "Startup Error: Failed to load control 'WebHost'") we managed to get a fix working from inside VB, but we don't know how to replicate that fix using perl... any ideas?

the fix: here's the declaration added to the VB code:

Private Declare Function OleInitialize Lib "ole32" (ByVal reserved As Integer) As Integer

then we can call it before the rest of our app starts up:

OleInitialize(0) 'only needed if no UI shown before init

the minimal perl script we're using -- complete with error dialog -- is:

use Win32::OLE;
use strict;

my $appid = 'AFNAPI7.FE_API';
my $app = Win32::OLE->new($appid)
        or die "Canna create new object for $appid";
$app->{SignOutOnTerminate} = 1;
my $login = $app->Init(''); # error dialog here
print "Login results: $login\n\n";

the ideal situation would be to PULL the data from blackbaud on request using perl, instead of PUSHING it from within blackbaud using visual basic, which is, um, not quite as robust a language. but how to mimic that fix from within perl? using Win32 no doubt, but how? any pointers?

Comment on wrestling with .NET application via perl

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: wrestling with .NET application via perl by Errto (Vicar) on Sep 28, 2007 at 03:31 UTC
Use Win32::API. You can call any old Windows library function your heart desires using that, and `OleInitialize` should not be an exception for any reason I can think of.	[reply] [d/l]
Re: wrestling with .NET application via perl by Corion (Patriarch) on Sep 28, 2007 at 06:36 UTC
I would try the following (as gleaned from the Win32::OLE documentation): `Win32::OLE->Initialize(Win32::OLE::COINIT_OLEINITIALIZE)` [download] If that doesn't work, the other way already recommended is using Win32::API and calling OleInitialize yourself. That will bring different problems if Win32::OLE thinks it's the only one making OLE calls.	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: wrestling with .NET application via perl by trillich (Sexton) on Sep 28, 2007 at 11:38 UTC
blessings upon you and your horse and the road you rode in on. :) works a treat! thanks a ton!	[reply]


Come for the quick hacks, stay for the epiphanies.
	PerlMonks