A type library can be thought of as a binary version of an IDL (Interface Definition Language) file. Visual Basic creates a type library when it creates a VB server object, thus eliminating the need for an IDL file. A C-like language used to define interfaces and co-classes for COM. Ole View is a COM utility that reverse-engineers a type library into an IDL-readable form. IDL is used to provide language independence for COM interfaces, so that identical interfaces defined in VB, C++, and Java look the same in IDL even though they look different in the language used for the implementation.
Other types of type library
There is also the type library in the system which is used to display the type or font on the screen and the printed document. This font type or library is found in the system registry. Whenever a program calls the top of the typelib to display the font, the typelib looks in the registry to locate the type to display. If the type is not present in the library, the page displays the closest default font to that type.
So what is the system registry?
The operating system must know where to find certain files when programs request them for some function. This information was initially stored in the information folder named INF in earlier versions of Windows, primarily 95 and 98 First Edition. Microsoft introduced the registry in Windows 98 Second Edition to speed things up when loading and locating programs. But this can also slow down the system drastically. This Registry is a database used to store settings and options for 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows, including Windows ME and NT/2000. The Registry contains information and settings for all of the PC’s hardware, software, users, and preferences. This registry is constantly growing and updating. There will come a time when it will be necessary to clean it. This can be done with one of the free XP registry cleaners if you are using XP or any other Microsoft Free Registry Cleaner.
The physical files that make up the registry are stored differently depending on your version of Windows; under Windows 95 and 98 it is contained in two hidden files in your Windows directory, called USER.DAT and SYSTEM.DAT, for Windows Me there is an additional CLASSES.DAT file, while under Windows NT/2000 the files are contained separately in the SystemRootSystem32Config directory. You cannot edit these files directly, you must use a tool commonly known as registry cleaner to make changes to the registry. In fact, it’s wise not to mess around with the Registry unless you have a windows registry cleaner such as the PC Registry Cleaner or the Eusing Free Registry Cleaner They are available on many free download sites.
