SnagIt COM Server

• What is the SnagIt COM Server?
• Why should I use the COM Server?
• What can you do with the COM Server?
• How do I start using the COM Server?
• What is the difference between the COM Server and the DDE Server?

What is the SnagIt COM Server?

The SnagIt COM Server is a programming interface to SnagIt. It allows any programming language that supports COM access to SnagIt's image and text capture features. For example, developers using Visual Basic, VB Script, Visual C/C++, Visual Studio.Net, Delphi, or C++ Builder can now embed and control SnagIt directly in their applications.

If you are unfamiliar with COM, see Microsoft's site on COM Technologies.

Why should I use the COM Server?

Innovative - SnagIt is the only screen capture product that provides a full featured, enterprise-level screen capture COM Server.

Powerful - SnagIt's entire array of image and text capture features can be programmatically controlled. This includes features such as Auto Scroll, DirectX capture, capture filters and capture effects.

Flexible - Simplify or enhance your organization's use of SnagIt by using only the features you want in exactly the way you need.

Rapid Development - With only a few lines of code, your application can instantly possess the complete power of SnagIt's image and text capture features.

Proven Technology - Over twelve years of TechSmith's industry leading screen capture technology can now be a part of your application.

"I just used [the COM Server] to document some 60 forms... in about a minute. That ghastly job used to take a whole day." - Theo Callahan, President, Read more...

What can you do with the COM Server?

Integration with other applications - TechSmith specifically designed the COM Server as a way for developers to incorporate SnagIt into any application that needs screen capture functionality. Many corporate application environments need a way to capture and save screen data in an automated, customized way. The SnagIt add-ins are excellent examples of integrating SnagIt into the Microsoft Office environment.

Programmatic control of SnagIt - Automate processes and create custom capture instructions for SnagIt to perform.

Limitless possibilities - The flexibility of COM makes the usage of SnagIt limited only to one's imagination.

How do I start using the COM Server?

The SnagIt COM Server is built into SnagIt. To start using it, download and install SnagIt on your system. This automatically registers the SnagIt COM server and makes it available to other applications. Next download and read the COM Server documentation. Examine and try out the example programs. This should quickly give you the necessary information to begin developing with the SnagIt COM Server.

What is the difference between the COM Server and the DDE Server?

The SnagIt COM Server and the SnagIt DDE Server both provide programmatic control of SnagIt. However, the functionality provided by the SnagIt COM Server far exceeds the functionality provided by the DDE Server. The COM Server functionality is intended to completely replace the DDE server. Both interfaces are provided for backward compatibility. However, if you need to access SnagIt programmatically, it is highly recommended that you use the COM Server.

Note: Current users of the DDE Server are not required to use the COM Server. Any application using the DDE Server is fully supported by SnagIt.