COM Error 0x80004003 (Invalid Pointer) access MS Outlook contacts - c++

I am some ATL code that uses smart COM pointers to iterate through MS Outlook contacts, and on some PC's I am getting a COM error 0x80004003 ('Invalid Pointer') for each contact. The same code works fine on other PCs. The code looks like this:
_ApplicationPtr ptr;
ptr.CreateInstance(CLSID_Application);
_NameSpacePtr ns = ptr->GetNamespace(_T("MAPI"));
MAPIFolderPtr folder = ns->GetDefaultFolder(olFolderContacts);
_ItemsPtr items = folder->Items;
const long count = items->GetCount();
for (long i = 1; i <= count; i++)
{
try
{
_ContactItemPtr contactitem = items->Item(i);
// The following line throws a 0x80004003 exception on some machines
ATLTRACE(_T("\tContact name: %s\n"), static_cast<LPCTSTR>(contactitem->FullName));
}
catch (const _com_error& e)
{
ATLTRACE(_T("%s\n"), e.ErrorMessage());
}
}
I wonder if any other applications/add-ins could be causing this? Any help would be welcome.

FullName is a property and you do the GET operation (it's probably something like this in IDL: get_FullName([out,retval] BSTR *o_sResult)). Such operation works ok with null values.
My assumption is that contactItem smart pointer points to any valid COM object. In such case the formatting operation done by ATLTRACE can cause the problem. Internally it behaves probably like standard sprintf("",args...) function.
To avoid such problems just do something like below:
ATLTRACE(_T("\tContact name: %s\n"),
_bstr_t(contactitem->FullName)?static_cast<LPCTSTR>(contactitem->FullName):"(Empty)")

Just a guess:
Maybe the "FullName" field in the address book is empty and that's why the pointer is invalid?
hard to tell, because your code doesn't indicate which COM-interfaces you're using.

Does this make any difference?
ATLTRACE(_T("\tContact name: %s\n"), static_cast<LPCTSTR>(contactitem->GetFullName()));

In my example you format NULL value to a proper text value.
If the question is about the difference between FullName(as a property) and GetFullName() (as a method) then the answer is no. Property and method should give the same result. Sometimes property can be mapped to different methods then setXXX and getXXX. It can be achieved by using some specific syntax in IDL (and in reality in TLB after compilation of IDL to TLB). If property FullName is not mapped to method GetFullName then you will achieve different result.
So please examine file *.tlh after importing some type library to your project...

Related

Segmentation Fault when i use GetInternalField() FROM V8 library

i use the newer version of the v8 library. When i run demo from this page(process.cc),
my program crash when GetInternalField is called in UnwrapMap function. Does anyone have a similar problem, or does they know how to solve it?
Here example:
map<string, string>* JsHttpRequestProcessor::UnwrapMap(Local<Object> obj) {
Local<External> field = Local<External>::Cast(obj->GetInternalField(0)); // here segmentation fault
void* ptr = field->Value();
return static_cast<map<string, string>*>(ptr);
}
EDIT:
I solved my problem. I had to insert macro V8_COMPRESS_POINTERS = 1. Thank you
The provided sample works fine here; did you modify it in any way? How exactly are you running it?
You can only call obj->GetInternalField(0) if you know that obj is an object with internal fields. You can use obj->InternalFieldCount() to check. Objects only have internal fields if you, the embedder, gave them any. If you are trying to convert a regular JavaScript object to a C++ map, you'll have to iterate over its properties, not its internal fields.

Compiling old C++ classes under Borland C++Builder XE

Currently, I'm working on compiling old .cpp classes under C++ Builder XE. Apart from many troubles, there is one which I have completely no idea how to solve.
My code:
String txt = "<Not so long sql query>";
int licz = some_function(txt, dzeFDS); //1
//assigning licz to somewhere
txt = "<much longer query>";
licz = some_function(txt, budFDS); //2
Problem is that during second call of some_function program is stopped and i have this alert:
First chance exception at $75A1C42D. Exception class EDatabaseError with message 'budFDS: Type mismatch for field 'Function', expecting: String actual: WideString'. Process Call.exe (1896)
It's strange form be, bacause first call of some_function works fine, but this second one (with arguments with the same type) doesn't.
some_function code:
int __fastcall some_function(String txt, TIBDataSet *firDS)
{
firDS->Close();
firDS->SelectSQL->Text = txt;
firDS->Open(); //during debugging, exception occurs in this line
int count = 0;
while(!firDS->Eof)
{ count++;
firDS->Next();
}
return count;
}
Any ideas what why it happens?
Thanks in advance
There is much pain in your future.
Anyway, the problem you're having is with the database connection. There's a field in your database called "Function" that holds a string. This field came across as a String with the ancient database driver that this program originally used. Your shiny, new database driver is telling VCL to expect such things as Unicode, and VCL doesn't like to shove such things into plain Strings, so it expects you to have a WideString ready in which to shove it.
Fortunately, there are ways of beating VCL into submission. What you want to do, since you surely don't want to rewrite half the application by changing TIBDataSet, is to tell the connection not to bother with Unicode. In order to do this, you have to set up the TSQLConnection object with UseUnicode=false, which I hope (I have no way of testing VCL code anymore) should look something like this:
connection->Params->Add("UseUnicode=false");
Where connection is the TSQLConnection object. I think you have to do this before connecting to the database.
If that doesn't work, see if you can configure the database driver to not use Unicode.
Problem solved - this one field Function has other type in C++ Builder design view - it was TStringField, and rest fields has TIBStringField...

How do I use the registry?

In the simplest possible terms (I'm an occasional programmer who lacks up-to-date detailed programming knowledge) can someone explain the simplest way to make use of the registry in codegear C++ (2007).
I have a line of code in an old (OLD!) program I wrote which is causing a significant delay in startup...
DLB->Directory=pIniFile->ReadString("Options","Last Directory","no key!");
The code is making use of an ini file. I would like to be able to use the registry instead (to write variables such as the last directory the application was using)
But the specifics are not important. I'd just like a generic how-to about using the registry that's specific to codegear c++ builder.
I've googled this, but as usual with this type of thing I get lots of pages about c++ builder and a few pages about the windows registry, but no pages that explain how to use one with the other.
Use the TRegistry class... (include registry.hpp)
//Untested, but something like...
TRegistry *reg = new TRegistry;
reg->RootKey = HKEY_CURRENT_USER; // Or whatever root you want to use
reg->OpenKey("theKey",true);
reg->ReadString("theParam",defaultValue);
reg->CloseKey();
Note, opening and reading a ini file is usually pretty fast, so maybe you need to test your assumption that the reading of the ini is actually your problem, I don't think that just grabbing your directory name from the registry instead is going to fix your problem.
Include the Registry.hpp file:
#include <Registry.hpp>
Then in any function you have, you can write the following to read the value:
String __fastcall ReadRegistryString(const String &key, const String &name,
const String &def)
{
TRegistry *reg = new TRegistry();
String result;
try {
reg->RootKey = HKEY_CURRENT_USER;
if (reg->OpenKeyReadOnly(key)) {
result = reg->ReadString(name, def);
reg->CloseKey();
}
}
__finally {
delete reg;
}
return result;
}
So reading the value should be as easy as:
ShowMessage(ReadRegistryString("Options", "Last Directory", "none"));
You can use the following to write the value:
void __fastcall WriteRegistryString(const String &key, const String &name,
const String &value)
{
TRegistry *reg = new TRegistry();
try {
reg->RootKey = HKEY_CURRENT_USER;
if (reg->OpenKey(key, true)) {
reg->WriteString(name, value);
reg->CloseKey();
}
}
__finally {
delete reg;
}
}
Should be self explaining, remembering the try ... finally is actually really helpful when using the VCL TRegistry class.
Edit
I've heard that .ini files are stored in the registry in Windows, so if you want the speed advantage of ini files you should call them something else - like .cfg
This is something I've heard from an although reliable source, I haven't tested it myself.
Tim is right but an even simpler class to use is TIniRegFile but it is also more limited in what you can do.
Please see the documentation for the QSettings class from the Qt 4.5 library. It will allow you to load and store your program's configuration settings easily and in a cross-platform manner. The Windows implementation uses the Windows registry for loading and storing your program's configuration data. On other platforms, the platform's preferred, native mechanism for storing configuration data will be used. This is far better than interacting with the Windows registry directly, as you will not be tied to a specific platform.

Exception handling aware of execution flow

Edit:
For personn interested in a cleaner way to implemenent that, have a look to that answer.
In my job I often need to use third-made API to access remote system.
For instance to create a request and send it to the remote system:
#include "external_lib.h"
void SendRequest(UserRequest user_request)
{
try
{
external_lib::Request my_request;
my_request.SetPrice(user_request.price);
my_request.SetVolume(user_request.quantity);
my_request.SetVisibleVolume(user_request.quantity);
my_request.SetReference(user_request.instrument);
my_request.SetUserID(user_request.user_name);
my_request.SetUserPassword(user_request.user_name);
// Meny other member affectations ...
}
catch(external_lib::out_of_range_error& e)
{
// Price , volume ????
}
catch(external_lib::error_t& e)
{
// Here I need to tell the user what was going wrong
}
}
Each lib's setter do checks the values that the end user has provided, and may thow an exception when the user does not comply with remote system needs. For instance a specific user may be disallowed to send a too big volume. That's an example, and actually many times users tries does not comply: no long valid instrument, the prices is out of the limit, etc, etc.
Conseqently, our end user need an explicit error message to tell him what to modify in its request to get a second chance to compose a valid request. I have to provide hiim such hints
Whatever , external lib's exceptions (mostly) never specifies which field is the source
of aborting the request.
What is the best way, according to you, to handle those exceptions?
My first try at handling those exceptions was to "wrap" the Request class with mine. Each setters are then wrapped in a method which does only one thing : a try/catch block. The catch block then throws a new exceptions of mine : my_out_of_range_volume, or my_out_of_range_price depending on the setter. For instance SetVolume() will be wrapped this way:
My_Request::SetVolume(const int volume)
{
try
{
m_Request.SetVolume(volume);
}
catch(external_lib::out_range_error& e)
{
throw my_out_of_range_volume(volume, e);
}
}
What do you think of it? What do you think about the exception handling overhead it implies? ... :/
Well the question is open, I need new idea to get rid of that lib constraints!
If there really are a lot of methods you need to call, you could cut down on the code using a reflection library, by creating just one method to do the calling and exception handling, and passing in the name of the method/property to call/set as an argument. You'd still have the same amount of try/catch calls, but the code would be simpler and you'd already know the name of the method that failed.
Alternatively, depending on the type of exception object that they throw back, it may contain stack information or you could use another library to walk the stack trace to get the name of the last method that it failed on. This depends on the platform you're using.
I always prefer a wrapper whenever I'm using third party library.
It allows me to define my own exception handling mechanism avoiding users of my class to know about external library.
Also, if later the third party changes the exception handling to return codes then my users need not be affected.
But rather than throwing the exception back to my users I would implement the error codes. Something like this:
class MyRequest
{
enum RequestErrorCode
{
PRICE_OUT_OF_LIMIT,
VOLUME_OUT_OF_LIMIT,
...
...
...
};
bool SetPrice(const int price , RequestErrorCode& ErrorCode_out);
...
private:
external_lib::Request mRequest;
};
bool MyRequest::SetPrice(const int price , RequestErrorCode& ErrorCode_out)
{
bool bReturn = true;
try
{
bReturn = mRequest.SetPrice(price);
}
catch(external_lib::out_of_range_error& e)
{
ErrorCode_out = PRICE_OUT_OF_LIMIT;
bReturn = false;
}
return bReturn;
}
bool SendRequest(UserRequest user_request)
{
MyRequest my_request;
MyRequest::RequestErrorCode anErrorCode;
bool bReturn = my_request.SetPrice(user_request.price, anErrorCode);
if( false == bReturn)
{
//Get the error code and process
//ex:PRICE_OUT_OF_LIMIT
}
}
I think in this case I might dare a macro. Something like (not tested, backslashes omitted):
#define SET( ins, setfun, value, msg )
try {
ins.setfun( value );
}
catch( external::error & ) {
throw my_explanation( msg, value );
}
and in use:
Instrument i;
SET( i, SetExpiry, "01-01-2010", "Invalid expiry date" );
SET( i, SetPeriod, 6, "Period out of range" );
You get the idea.
Although this is not really the answer you are looking for, but i think that your external lib, or you usage of it, somehow abuses exceptions. An exception should not be used to alter the general process flow. If it is the general case, that the input does not match the specification, than it is up to your app to valid the parameter before passing it to the external lib. Exceptions should only be thrown if an "exceptional" case occurrs, and i think whenever it comes to doing something with user input, you usually have to deal with everything and not rely on 'the user has to provide the correct data, otherwise we handle it with exceptions'.
nevertheless, an alternative to Neil's suggestions could be using boost::lambda, if you want to avoid macros.
In your first version, you could report the number of operations that succeeded provided the SetXXX functions return some value. You could also keep a counter (which increases after every SetXXX call in that try block) to note what all calls succeeded and based on that counter value, return an appropriate error message.
The major problem with validating each and every step is, in a real-time system -- you are probably introducing too much latency.
Otherwise, your second option looks like the only way. Now, if you have to write a wrapper for every library function and why not add the validation logic, if you can, instead of making the actual call to the said library? This IMO, is more efficient.

C++, OLE, Excel Automation: EAccessviolation at 00000800

I am writing an background service application that has to automatically read data from Excel 2003 files. But no matter what I try, the method OlePropertyGet() always results in an EAccessViolation error while trying to read from address "00000800".
The error always occurs at the last line of this code snippet, and seems independent of what parameter the method receives:
Variant excel, workbooks;
try
{
excel = GetActiveOleObject("Excel.Application");
}
catch(...)
{
excel = CreateOleObject("Excel.Application");
}
workbooks = excel.OlePropertyGet("Workbooks");
I've done some extensive google search on this, but found nothing that's even remotely helpful, only this forum thread where someone has the same issue, but doesn't give any information about the cause or solution (it's somewhat funny that at one point the author mentions he knows the cause, but doesn't say what it is!).
I'm open to any ideas as to what is causing this and how to solve this problem, but also alternative approaches to Excel OLE automation.
My guess is its a null pointer issue..
It looks like neither GetActiveOleObject() nor CreateOleObject() worked.
Try checkign the validity of 'excel' before calling OlePropertyGet.
And I guess you should make sure you have Excel installed.
You can use Visual Studio Tools for Office (see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/d2tx7z6d.aspx).
Or you can use ATL support to instantiate the object model provided by office.
Your code may not be able to resolve "Excel.Application" successfully, leading to a null pointer. It uses a registry lookup with that string to identify Excel. It sounds like you're missing that registry entry.
I use such code to determine validity of created objects(in C++ Builder):
Varaint excel = GetActiveOleObject("Excel.Application");
TAutoDriver<IDispatch> dispatcher;
dispatcher.Bind(excel, false);
if (dispatcher.IsBound())
{
Variant workbooks = excel.OlePropertyGet("Workbooks");
}