How can we use COM Components in .NET?

.NET components communicate with COM using RCW (Runtime Callable Wrapper). Following are the ways with which you can generate RCW :-

• Adding reference in Visual Studio.net. See figure below. Wrapper class is generated and placed in the “BIN” directory.

Adding Reference using VS.NET

• Using Type library import tool. Tlbimp.exe yourname.dll.


• Using interopservices.System.runtime.Interopservices namespace contains class TypeLib Converter which provides methods to convert COM classes and interface in to assembly metadata.


• Make your custom wrappe rs.If your COM component does not have type library then the only way to communicate is writing custom wrappers. That means communicating directly with COM components.