[python-win32] COM server

[Peter Schay]

Help!
I am trying to implement a python COM server to be a
custom test type for a commercial test tool.  I'm not
sure how to handle in/out parameters on the server
side (I have no trouble on the client side).

For example, the doc says that the test type object
has a method with the following syntax:
  HRESULT GetBitmap([in] long Status, [out, retval]
long * Value)
Another method looks like this:
  HRESULT CreateScriptTemplate([in] long TestKey,
[in,out] BSTR * LocalPath, [out,retval] long * Value)

How can I correctly implement methods like these in a
COM server?

  Here's what I've done so far, trying to implement
GetBitmap():
  Value is supposed to be an HBITMAP of the 16x16 test
type bitmap.  I used the dynamic policy for my server
and popped up some win32ui.MessageBoxes in my object. 
The __init__ gets called, _dynamic_ gets called,
various properties are queried, and then GetBitmap is
called.  However I'm not sure how to return the
HBITMAP.  I tried this:
  def GetBitmap(self, Status):
    f = open("c:\icon.bmp", "r")
    b = win32ui.CreateBitmap()
    b.LoadBitmapFile(f)
    return 1, b.GetHandle()

I've tried just returning b.GetHandle() and other
possibilities such as (0, b.GetHandle()).  However the
test tool does not use my bitmap -- of course I don't
get any errors and there is no relevant log.

Maybe I've done things right and the test tool always
ignores the returned value of getbitmap; however I
suspect the problem is on my side and most likely with
my COM server since I never wrote one before.

How can Python COM possibly know the expected
interface of methods like GetBitmap() and
CreateScriptTemplate() ?  Doesn't it need to know? 
Can I just return tuples and expect pythoncom to
magically do the right things when there are byref
parameters?

Thanks,
Pete