Opening an Existing Type Library

When you use the wizards to create an Automation object, COM object, transactional object, or a remote data module, a type library is automatically created with an implementation unit. In addition, you may have type libraries that are associated with other products (servers) that are available on your system.

To open a type library that is not currently part of your project,

Choose FileOpen from the main menu in the IDE.
In the Open dialog box, set the File Type to type library.
Navigate to the desired type library files and choose Open.

To open a type library associated with the current project,

Choose ViewType Library.

Now, you can add interfaces, CoClasses, and other elements of the type library such as enumerations, properties, and methods.

Note: Changes you make to any type library information with the Type Library Editor

can be automatically reflected in the associated implementation class. If you want to review the changes before they are added, be sure that the Apply Updates dialog is on. It is on by default and can be changed in the setting, "Display updates before refreshing," on theToolsOptionsDelphi OptionsType Library page.

Tip: When writing client applications, you do not need to open the type library. You only need the Project_TLB unit that the Type Library Editor

creates from a type library, not the type library itself. You can add this file directly to a client project, or, if the type library is registered on your system, you can use the Import Type Library dialog (Component Import Type Library).