Describing a Class Object Path

A class object path describes the location of a class within a namespace.

You can use the following methods to specify an object path:

• A full object path to a class appends the class name to a namespace path.

  The following example shows the location of the Win32_LogicalDisk class within the \root\cimv2 namespace on the server named Admin.

  \\Admin\Root\CimV2:Win32_LogicalDisk
  

• A relative object path represents a class that resides in the current namespace. A relative object path to a class contains only the class name.

  The following example shows the relative path to the Win32_LogicalDisk class.

  Win32_LogicalDisk
  

When you query for a class name but specify no instances, WMI returns the class definition. The following procedure describes how to retrieve a class definition in VBScript.

To retrieve a class definition in VBScript

• You can use the moniker connection either with a query or GetObject. You can also use SWbemServices.Get.

  The following example shows how to use GetObject to get a class definition.

  strComputer = "."
  Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
     & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" _
     & strComputer & "\root\cimv2:Win32_Printer")
  

  The following example shows how to query for a class definition.

  strComputer = "."
  Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
      & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" _
      & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
  Set colInstalledPrinters =  objWMIService.ExecQuery _
      ("Select * from Win32_Printer")
  

You can retrieve a class definition in C++ by specifying only the class name and no path to a particular instance. The following procedure describes how to retrieve a class definition in C++.

To retrieve a class definition in C++

• Make a call to the IWbemServices::GetObject or IWbemServices::GetObjectAsync functions.

  The following example shows how to call theIWbemServices::GetObject function.

  IWbemServices* pSvcs = 0;
  
  BSTR Path = SysAllocString(L"Win32_LogicalDisk");
  IWbemClassObject *pDiskClass = 0;
  pSvcs->GetObject(Path, 0, 0, &pDiskClass, 0);
  

  The previous code example requires the following #include statement to compile correctly.

  #include <wbemidl.h>