C# Interview Questions This is a list of questions I have gathered from other sources and created myself over a period of time from my experience, many of which I felt where incomplete or simply wrong. I have finally taken the time to go through each question and correct them to the best of my ability. However, please feel free to post feedback to challenge, improve, or suggest new questions. I want to thank those of you that have contributed quality questions and corrections thus far. There are some question in this list that I do not consider to be good questions for an interview. However, they do exist on other lists available on the Internet so I felt compelled to keep them easy access. General Questions Class Questions Method and Property Questions Events and Delegates XML Documentation Questions Debugging and Testing Questions ADO.NET and Database Questions Assembly Questions
No.
It is available to any sub-class (a class inheriting this class).
Yes, but they are not accessible. Although they are not visible or accessible via the class interface, they are inherited.
It is available to classes that are within the same assembly and derived from the specified base class.
System.Object.
The data value may not be changed. Note: The variable value may be changed, but the original immutable data value was discarded and a new data value was created in memory.
System.String is immutable. System.StringBuilder was designed with the purpose of having a mutable string where a variety of operations can be performed.
StringBuilder is more efficient in cases where there is a large amount of string manipulation. Strings are immutable, so each time a string is changed, a new instance in memory is created.
No.
The Clone() method returns a new array (a shallow copy) object containing all the elements in the original array. The CopyTo() method copies the elements into another existing array. Both perform a shallow copy. A shallow copy means the contents (each array element) contains references to the same object as the elements in the original array. A deep copy (which neither of these methods performs) would create a new instance of each element's object, resulting in a different, yet identacle object.
By calling Sort() and then Reverse() methods.
HashTable.
A sorted HashTable.
Yes.
A catch block that catches the exception of type System.Exception. You can also omit the parameter data type in this case and just write catch {}.
No. Once the proper catch block processed, control is transferred to the finally block (if there are any).
Presentation (UI), Business (logic and underlying code) and Data (from storage or other sources).
Place a colon and then the name of the base class.
Example: class MyNewClass : MyBaseClass
Yes. The keyword "sealed" will prevent the class from being inherited.
Yes. Just leave the class public and make the method sealed.
A class that cannot be instantiated. An abstract class is a class that must be inherited and have the methods overridden. An abstract class is essentially a blueprint for a class without any implementation.
1. When the class itself is inherited from an abstract class, but not all base abstract methods have been overridden.
2. When at least one of the methods in the class is abstract.
Interfaces, like classes, define a set of properties, methods, and events. But unlike classes, interfaces do not provide implementation. They are implemented by classes, and defined as separate entities from classes.
They all must be public, and are therefore public by default.
Yes. .NET does support multiple interfaces.
It's up to you to implement the method inside your own class, so implementation is left entirely up to you. This might cause a problem on a higher-level scale if similarly named methods from different interfaces expect different data, but as far as compiler cares you're okay.
To Do: Investigate
In an interface class, all methods are abstract - there is no implementation. In an abstract class some methods can be concrete. In an interface class, no accessibility modifiers are allowed. An abstract class may have accessibility modifiers.
Structs are value-type variables and are thus saved on the stack, additional overhead but faster retrieval. Another difference is that structs cannot inherit.
Value. The data type of the value parameter is defined by whatever data type the property is declared as.
The method or property can be overridden.
When overriding a method, you change the behavior of the method for the derived class. Overloading a method simply involves having another method with the same name within the class.
No. The signature of the virtual method must remain the same. (Note: Only the keyword virtual is changed to keyword override)
Different parameter data types, different number of parameters, different order of parameters.
Yes, just place a colon, and then keyword base (parameter list to invoke the appropriate constructor) in the overloaded constructor definition inside the inherited class.
A delegate object encapsulates a reference to a method.
A delegate that has multiple handlers assigned to it. Each assigned handler (method) is called.
Yes.
Single-line comments, multi-line comments, and XML documentation comments.
Compile it with the /doc switch.
1. CorDBG – command-line debugger. To use CorDbg, you must compile the original C# file using the /debug switch.
2. DbgCLR – graphic debugger. Visual Studio .NET uses the DbgCLR.
In debug compilation, assert takes in a Boolean condition as a parameter, and shows the error dialog if the condition is false. The program proceeds without any interruption if the condition is true.
Documentation looks the same. Use Debug class for debug builds, use Trace class for both debug and release builds.
The tracing dumps can be quite verbose. For applications that are constantly running you run the risk of overloading the machine and the hard drive. Five levels range from None to Verbose, allowing you to fine-tune the tracing activities.
To the Console or a text file depending on the parameter passed to the constructor.
Attach the aspnet_wp.exe process to the DbgClr debugger.
1. Positive test cases (correct data, correct output).
2. Negative test cases (broken or missing data, proper handling).
3. Exception test cases (exceptions are thrown and caught properly).
Yes. If you are debugging via Visual Studio.NET, just go to Immediate window.
It returns a read-only, forward-only rowset from the data source. A DataReader provides fast access when a forward-only sequential read is needed.
SQLServer.NET data provider is high-speed and robust, but requires SQL Server license purchased from Microsoft. OLE-DB.NET is universal for accessing other sources, like Oracle, DB2, Microsoft Access and Informix. OLE-DB.NET is a .NET layer on top of the OLE layer, so it's not as fastest and efficient as SqlServer.NET.
Let's say you want to query database with LIKE for all employees whose name starts with La. The wildcard character is %, the proper query with LIKE would involve 'La%'.
A transaction must be:
1. Atomic - it is one unit of work and does not dependent on previous and following transactions.
2. Consistent - data is either committed or roll back, no "in-between" case where something has been updated and something hasn't.
3. Isolated - no transaction sees the intermediate results of the current transaction).
4. Durable - the values persist if the data had been committed even if the system crashes right after.
Windows Authentication (via Active Directory) and SQL Server authentication (via Microsoft SQL Server username and password).
Windows Authentication is trusted because the username and password are checked with the Active Directory, the SQL Server authentication is untrusted, since SQL Server is the only verifier participating in the transaction.
The database name to connect to.
Deletes it from the memory.
To Do: answer better. The current answer is not entirely correct.
Multiple processes must agree that they will share the same connection, where every parameter is the same, including the security settings. The connection string must be identical.
Assembly versioning allows the application to specify not only the library it needs to run (which was available under Win32), but also the version of the assembly.
An MSI installer, a CAB archive, and XCOPY command.
When you write a multilingual or multi-cultural application in .NET, and want to distribute the core application separately from the localized modules, the localized assemblies that modify the core application are called satellite assemblies.
System.Globalization and System.Resources.
an Assembly.
As a good rule, you should not call the garbage collector. However, you could call the garbage collector when you are done using a large object (or set of objects) to force the garbage collector to dispose of those very large objects from memory. However, this is usually not a good practice.
Use Boxing.
Boxing converts a value-type to a reference-type, thus storing the object on the heap. Unboxing converts a reference-type to a value-type, thus storing the value on the stack.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
C# Basic Questions
Vb Questions.
1. What are the three main differences between flexgrid control and dbgrid(Data bound Grid) control 3. What is difference between in process and out of process? 5. Explain single thread and multithread thread apartments 7. What is meant by "Early Binding" and "Late Binding"? Which is better? 9. What are Benefits of wrapping database calls into MTS transactions? 11. Controls which do not have events? 13. DIFF between Image and Picture box controls? 15. Define the scope of Public, Private, Friend procedures? 17. Difference between a function and a subroutine? 19. Difference between listbox and combo box? 21. Difference List index and Tab index? 23. Difference between Object and Class? 25. Difference between Declaration and Instantiation of an object? 27. Version |Year |Significant Changes and New Features of Visual Basic? 29. How can you force new objects to be created on new threads?
The Microsoft FlexGrid (MSFlexGrid) control displays and operates on tabular data. It allows complete flexibility to sort, merge, and format tables containing strings and pictures. When bound to a Data control, MSFlexGrid displays read-only data.Adaptation to existing Visual Basic code for the data-bound grid (DBGrid).
dbgrid is A spreadsheet-like bound control that displays a series of rows and columns representing records and fields from a Recordset object.
The data grids are bound controls; that is, they require a data source that actually connects to a database and retrieves their data. And it seems that the root of the problem with DBGrid is that there's no data source that can be readily included along with the DBGrid control.
In Visual Basic, the solution is simply to include the Data Control on the same form as DBGrid. But the Data Control is an intrinsic control; it's unavailable to anything outside of the Visual Basic environment itself. and VB 6.0 has a new set of data controls (DataGrid, DataList, DataCombo, MSHFlexGrid, MSFlexGrid) that once again are bound controls. Unlike DBGrid, though, they support OLE DB, and therefore rely on the an ADO Data Source (and in particular the ActiveX Data Objects Data Control, or ADO DC) for data access. Unlike the Data Control, the ADO
DC is a custom control (that is, an .OCX) that can be added to any project. In short, if you add ADO DC to your project along with the
DataGrid control.
2. ActiveX and Types of ActiveX Components in VB?
Standard EXE
ActiveX EXE
ActiveX DLL
ActiveX document
ActiveX Control
An in-process component is implemented as a DLL, and runs in the same process space as its client app, enabling the most efficient communication between client and component. Each client app that uses the component starts a new instance of it.
An out of process component is implemented as an EXE, and unlike a dll, runs in its own process space. As a result, exe's are slower then dll's
because communications between client and component must be marshalled across process boundaries. A single instance of an out of process component can service many clients.
4. Advantage of ActiveX Dll over Active Exe?
ACTIVEX DLL:
=============
An in-process component, or ActiveX DLL, runs in another application's process. In-process components are used by applications or other in-process components. this allows you to wrap up common functionality (like an ActiveX Exe).
ACTIVEX EXE:
=============
An out-of-process component, or ActiveX EXE, runs in its own address space. The client is usually an application running in another process.The code running in an ActiveX Exe is running in a separate process space. You would usually use this in N-Tier programming.
An ActiveX EXE runs out of process while an ActiveX DLL runs in the same process space as VB app. Also, and ActiveX EXE can be run independent of your application if desired.
All components created with Visual Basic use the apartment model, whether they're single-threaded or multithreaded. A single-threaded component has only one apartment, which contains all the objects the component provides.
This means that a single-threaded DLL created with Visual Basic is safe to use with a multithreaded client. However, there's a performance trade-off for this safety. Calls from all client threads except one are marshaled, just as if they were out-of-process calls.
6. What is a Component?
If you compile an ActiveX dll, it becomes a component.
If you compile an ActiveX Control, it becomes both a component and a control. Component is a general term used to describe code that's grouped by functionality. More specifically, a component in COM terms is a compiled collection of properties/methods and events.
Typically a component is loaded into your project via the References whereas an ActiveX Control is loaded into your project via "components".
Early binding and late binding refer to the method used to bind an interface's properties and methods to an object reference (variable). Early binding uses type library information at design time to reference procedures, while late binding handles this at run time. Late binding
handles this by interrogating the reference before each call to insure that it supports a particular method. Since every call to a late bound
object actually requires two calls
late binding is much less efficient than early binding. Except where early binding is not supported (ASP, scripting, etc.), late binding should only be used in very special cases.
It is a common misconception that any codes using the CreateObject function instead of Set = New is using late binding. This is not the case. The type declaration of the object variable determines whether
it is late or early bound, as in the following:
Dim A As Foo
Dim B As Foo
Dim C As Object
Dim D As Object
Set A = New Foo 'Early Bound
Set B = CreateObject("FooLib.Foo") 'Early Bound
Set C = CreateObject("FooLib.Foo") 'Late Bound
Set D = New Foo 'Late Bound
8. What are the Advantages of disconnected recordsets?
A disconnected Recordset, as its name implies, is a Recordset that lacks a connection.
seen that a Recordset that does not have a database connection can be very useful as a tool in your programming. It can save you time and effort and make your code more scalable.
In order to create a disconnected Recordset two Recordset properties must be set appropriately.
It is a requirement that the CursorLocation property is set to adUseClient and the LockType property is set to adLockBatchOptimistic. Note that the CursorType will default to adUseStatic if we don't explicitly state that it should be set to adUseClient.) i.e
rst.LockType = adLockBatchOptimistic
rst.CursorLocation = adUseClient
However, we've recently discovered that these steps aren't necessary. VB automatically assigns batch optimistic locking to newly created,
connectionless recordsets. And, of course, without a connection, a recordset can't have any other cursor but a client-side one. To create one of these structures, then, the only thing you need do is create
the object variable instance. After that, you can simply begin adding fields to the construct.
To add fields, you use the Fields collection's Append method. This method requires two parameters, the field name and the field data type. So, to create a connectionless recordset with two fields,you'd use code similar to:
Dim rst As ADODB.Recordset
Set rst = New ADODB.Recordset
rst.Fields.Append "CustID", adVarChar
rst.Fields.Append "CustName", adVarChar
Additional, optional Append method parameters include DefinedSize and Attrib. The DefinedSize argument takes the size of the field. Fill the Attrib parameter with constants that define additional field characteristics, such as whether it will allow null values or is updatable.
Since, in our technique, we want the fields to mirror the structure of the original recordset, we'll simply use existing values for these parameters.
Disconnected Recordsets, first available with ADO 2.0, are the most commonly used mechanism to retrieve a Recordset and open a connection for only the necessary amount of time, thus increasing scalability. They are call disconnected because the connection to the database is closed.
The collections, properties, and methods of a disconnected Recordset are still available even though the connection is closed. This frees up server resources, given that the number of open connections is limited and database locking is a non-issue.
If database calls are made within the context of a transaction, aborting the transaction will undo and changes that occur within that transaction.
This removes the possibility of stranded or partial data. Transaction that uses the Microsoft® Transaction Server (MTS) environment. MSMQ implicitly uses the current MTS transaction if one is available.
BENIFTIS OF USING MTS:
Database Pooling, Transactional operations, Deployment, Security, and Remote Execution This allows MTS to reuse database connections. Database connections are put to 'sleep' As opposed to being created and destroyed and are activated upon request.
10. How to register a component?
Compiling the component, running REGSVR32 MyDLL.dll
Shape and line controls are useful for drawing graphical elements on
the surface of a form. These controls don't support any events; they
are strictly for decorative purposes.
EXTRA INFO::
The image, shape and line controls are considered to be lightweight controls; that is, they support only a subset of the properties, methods, and events found in the picture box. Because of this, they typically require less system resources and load faster than the picture box control.
12. What are the Control Categories
a)Intrinsic controls:
such as the command button and frame controls. These controls are contained inside the Visual Basic .exe file. Intrinsic controls are always included in the toolbox
b) ActiveX controls:
which exist as separate files with a .ocx file name extension. These include controls that are available in all editions of Visual Basic (DataCombo, DataList controls, and so on) and those that are available only in the Professional and Enterprise editions (such as Listview, Toolbar, Animation, and Tabbed Dialog). Many third-party ActiveX controls are also available.
c)Insertable Objects:
such as a Microsoft Excel Worksheet object containing a list of all your company's employees, or a Microsoft Project Calendar object containing the scheduling information for a project. Since these can
be added to the toolbox, they can be considered controls.Some of these objects also support Automation (formerly called OLE Automation),which allows you to program another application's objects from within a Visual Basic application.
The sizing behavior of the image control differs from that of the picture box. It has a Stretch property while the picture box has an AutoSize property. Setting the AutoSize property to True causes a picture box to resize to the dimensions of the picture; setting it to False causes the picture to be cropped (only a portion of the picture is visible). When set to False (the default) , the Stretch property of the image control causes it to resize to the dimensions of the picture.
Setting the Stretch property to True causes the picture to resize to the size of the image control, which may cause the picture to appear
distorted.
14. Default property of datacontrol ?
connect property......
The set of public variables, methods, properties, and events described in a class module define the interface for an object. The interface consists of the object members that are available to a programmer who's using the object from code.
You can create private variables, methods, properties, and events that are used by other procedures within the class module but are not part of the object's public interface. Additionally, constants user-defined types, and Declare statements within a class module must always be private.
The Friend keyword makes a procedure private to the project: The procedure is available to any code running within the project, but it is not available to a referencing project.
16. Describe Database Connection pooling relative to MTS?
This allows MTS to reuse database connections. Database connections are put to sleep as opposed to being created and destroyed and are activated upon request.
Object pooling is an important design concept required for high-performance applications. A performance optimization based on using collections of preallocated resources, such as objects or database connections. Pooling results in more efficient resource allocation.
A function accepts any number of parameters (possibly zero), does something with them, and returns a value. A subroutine is performs an action, but doesn't return a value.
There are two differences between a function and a subroutine: A)How they are invoked. B)How they are accessed.
A function call has the following syntax:
function(arg1, arg2, ...)
where: function Is the name of the function. arg1, arg2, ... Are the arguments.
A subroutine call has the following syntax
::subroutine (arg1, arg2, ... {outputfield|'format'})
where: subroutine -->Is the name of the subroutine. arg1, arg2, ... Are the arguments. {outputfield|'format'} Is the name of the output field or its format.
In addition, on some platforms, the functions are available immediately; whereas, the subroutines are available in a special subroutine library that you must access.
18. Difference between Linked Object and Embedded Object?
Embedding objects -
When you embed an object, a copy of the object is inserted into the destination document. There's no link to the original file. When you change information in the source document, no changes will be reflected in the destination document. The actual data for the object is stored within the destination file. To make changes to the embedded object, double click it and it will launch the original application the source file was in.
Linking objects -
Information is updated when you modify the original source file when you use a linked object. This dynamic updating is very handy for things such as the aforementioned monthly report. You can open up the Excel spreadsheet that is referenced within your Word document.Make changes to the spreadsheet, close Excel, and when you open your Word document... viola! The changes are already there. If that object is linked to ten other Word files, the changes are already in those ten files, too! actually linking or embedding an object is fast and easy.
A LISTBOX CONTROL displays a list of items from which the user can select one or more. If the number of items exceeds the number that can be displayed, a scroll bar is automatically added to the ListBox control. A COMBOX CONTROL combines the features of a text box and a list box. This control allows the user to select an item either by typing text into the combo box, or by selecting it from the list.
DIFF::Generally, a combo box is appropriate when there is a list of suggested choices, and a list box is appropriate when you want to limit input to what is on the list. A combo box contains an edit field, so choices not on the list can be typed in this field.
20. Difference between Dynaset and Snapshot?
All Recordset objects are constructed using records (rows) and fields (columns). There are five types of Recordset objects:
Table-type Recordset ::
representation in code of a base table that you can use to add, change, or delete records from a single database table (Microsoft Jet workspaces only).
Dynaset-type Recordset ::
the result of a query that can have updatable records. A dynaset-type Recordset object is a dynamic set of records that you can use to add, change, or delete records from an underlying database table or tables. A dynaset-type Recordset object can contain fields from one or more tables in a database. This type corresponds to an ODBC keyset cursor.
Snapshot-type Recordset ::
a static copy of a set of records that you can use to find data or generate reports. A snapshot-type Recordset object can contain fields from one or more tables in a database but can't be updated. This type corresponds to an ODBC static cursor.
Forward-only-type Recordset::
identical to a snapshot except that no cursor is provided. You can only scroll forward through records. This improves performance in situations where you only need to make a single pass through a result set. This type corresponds to an ODBC forward-only cursor.
Dynamic-type Recordset ::
a query result set from one or more base tables in which you can add, change, or delete records from a row-returning query. Further, records other users add, delete, or edit in the base tables also appear in your Recordset. This type corresponds to an ODBC dynamic cursor (ODBCDirect workspaces only).
LIST INDEX::
Returns or sets theindex of the currently selected item in the control. Not available at design time.Default LIST INDEX IS -1 for ComboBox, DirListBox, and DriveListBox controls
TAB INDEX::
Returns or sets thetab order of most objects within their parent form. Visual Basic automatically renumbers the TabIndex of other controls to reflect insertions and deletions. You can make changes atdesign time using theProperties window or atrun time in code.The TabIndex property isn't affected by the ZOrder method.
22. Difference modal and moduless window?
MODAL forms are forms which require user input before any other actions can be taken place. In other words, a modal form has exclusive focus in that application until it is dismissed. When showing a modal form, the
controls outside this modal form will not take user interaction until the form is closed. The internal MsgBox and InputBox forms are examples of modal forms. To show a form modally, use the syntax:
MyForm.SHOW.vbModal ' a predeclared constant for 1
MODELESS forms are those which are shown but do not require immediate user input. MDI child forms are always modeless. To show a form modeless, use the syntax:: MyForm.SHOW
Classes and objects are separate but related concepts. Every object belongs to a class and every class contains one or more related objects.
1)A Class is static. All of the attributes of a class are fixed before,during, and after the execution of a program. The attributes of a class don't change.The class to which an object belongs is also (usually) static. If a particular object belongs to a certain class at the time that it is created then it almost certainly will still belong to that class right up until the time that it is destroyed.
2)An Object on the other hand has a limited lifespan. Objects are created and eventually destroyed. Also during that lifetime, the attributes of the object may undergo significant change.So basically the difference between a class and an object is that a class is a general concept while objects are the specific and real instances that embody that concept. When creating an object oriented program we define the classes and the relationships between the classes . We then execute the program to create, update, and destroy the objects which are the specific realization of these classes.
24. Difference between Query unload and unload in form?
Occurs before a form or application closes. When an MDIForm object closes, the QueryUnload event occurs first for the MDI form and then in all MDI child forms. If no form cancels the QueryUnload event, the Unload event occurs first in all other forms and then in an MDI form. When a child form or a Form object closes, the QueryUnload event in that form occurs before the form's Unload event.
Dim obj as OBJ.CLASS with either
Set obj = New OBJ.CLASS or
Set obj = CreateObject(?OBJ.CLASS?) or
Set obj = GetObject( ,? OBJ.CLASS?)
or
Dim obj as New OBJ.CLASS
Set object = Nothing
ensure the object is release from the memory.
If this object is a form, you can add set myform = nothing and Form_Unload() event.Maintain a habit of remove the object by using set object = nothing which will benefit at last.
Visual Basic is supposed to automatically release objects when they go out of scope. To free up some memory usage, you can set the object to
nothing.
26. Draw and explain Sequence Modal of DAO
Connection,Container,Database,DBEngine,Document,Error,Field,Group,Index
Parameter Property,QueryDef,Recordset,Relation,TableDef,User,Workspace
1 1991 initial release, with drag and drop GUI creation
2 1992 ODBC, object variables
3 1993 Access Engine, OLE 2.0, Crystal Reports, new tools and controls
4 1995 classes, OCXs
5 1997 compiler, ActiveX controls
6 1998 web support, windowless controls, designers, data sources
.NET 2001 XML, SOAP, inheritance, structured exception handling
28. How can objects on different threads communicate with one another?
Processes communicate with one another through messages, using Microsoft's Remote Procedure Call (RPC) technology to pass information to one another. There is no difference to the caller between a call coming from a process on a remote machine and a call coming from another process on the same machine.
Multithreaded applications must avoid two threading problems: deadlocks and races. A deadlock occurs when each thread is waiting for the other to do something
The CreateThread function creates a thread to execute within the virtual address space of the calling process.
To create a thread that runs in the virtual address space of another process Creating a new thread is as easy as declaring it and supplying it with a delegate to the method where the thread is to start. When you are ready to begin execution on the thread, call the Thread.Start Method. There are special considerations involved when working with multiple threads of execution.
To create a new thread of execution
====================================
Declare the thread.
******************
' Visual Basic
Dim myThread as System.Threading.Thread
// C#
System.Threading.Thread myThread;
Instantiate the thread with the appropriate delegate for the starting point of the thread. Use the AddressOf operator to create the delegate
in Visual Basic, or create a new ThreadStart object in C#.
*******************
' Visual Basic
myThread = New System.Threading.Thread(AddressOf
myStartingMethod)
// C#
myThread = new System.Threading.Thread(new
System.Threading.ThreadStart(myStartingMethod));
call the Thread.Start method to start the thread.
*******************
' Visual Basic
myThread.Start()
// C#
myThread.Start();
30. How does a DCOM component know where to instantiate itself?
To create a remote instance of a script component, call the CreateObject method, passing it the name of the remote computer as a parameter. If the remotable attribute of a script component's <registration> element has been set to "true," the script component can be instantiated remotely from another computer using Distributed COM (DCOM).
Both computers must have basic DCOM installed. Note The ability to use CreateObject for instantiating remote script components requires Visual Basic 6.0 or later or VBScript 5.0 or later. The following Visual Basic example shows how to do this on a computer named "myserver":
Set newS = CreateObject("Component.MyComponent", "myserver")
Note There can be a slight delay when you first instantiate a remote script component while DCOM establishes communication between the computers.
1. You can specify the machine on which you want to create the remote server object in DCOM config ('dcomVBfg').
2. You can specify the machine name when instantiating the remote server object.
In C you can do this with a call to CoGetClassObject or CoCreateInstanceEx (instead of CoCreateInstance, which does not allow you to specify the name of the machine).
In VB you can specify the name in one of the parameters in the call to CreateObject