Bridges > Java and COM - Export Bridge Assistant > Export Bridge Assistant Overview

# Export Bridge Assistant Overview

The Export Bridge technology lets an IDL object be accessed from Java or COM through the use of wrapper objects. The Export Bridge Assistant helps to automate the process of creating the Java or COM wrapper object from the IDL source object.

The Assistant obtains as much information as possible about the IDL object directly from IDL. Since IDL is loosely typed, the return types of functions and the types of object properties and method parameters cannot be determined from IDL. Other information such as the output destination (Java or COM) and destination specific properties are not available from IDL and must be specified by the user.

The Assistant lets you specify the information described above for each item that is to be exported. Note that you can choose not to export some properties, methods, or parameters of the IDL source object. Any items that are both fully specified and marked for export are built in the exported Java or COM object.

The Export Bridge Assistant can produce an IDL SAVE file containing a specification of the IDL source object that is to be exported. This SAVE file, called a wrapper definition file, preserves the state of your work between invocations of the Assistant. You can stop the Assistant before the specification is complete and reopen it at a later time to continue building.

Note: There are special requirements for IDL source object that are to be exported including data type limitations, structural requirements, and methods that need to be included for drawable objects. See Writing IDL Objects for Exporting for complete details.

#### Platform Support and Machine Configuration

See Supported Platforms and IDL Modes for information on the platforms on which you can use the Export Bridge Assistant to create wrapper objects. See Configuring Build and Client Machines for details on configuring computers to build and run wrapper objects.