5.5.1 Using the FactoryFinder Object

A FactoryFinder object is used by programmers to locate a reference to a factory object. The FactoryFinder object provides operations to obtain one or more references to factory objects based on the criteria specified.

There can be more than one FactoryFinder object in a process address space. Multiple references to a FactoryFinder object must be supported. A FactoryFinder object is semi-stateful in that it maintains state about the association between FactoryFinder objects within a domain and a particular IIOP Server Listener/Handler (ISL/ISH) through which to access the domain.

All FactoryFinder objects support the CosLifeCycle::FactoryFinder interface as defined in CORBAservices Specification, Chapter 6 “Life Cycle Service,” December 1997, published by the Object Management Group. The interface contains one operation that is used to obtain one or more references to factory objects that meet the criteria specified.

• Registering a Reference to a Factory Object
  
• Obtaining a Reference to a FactoryFinder Object Using the CosLifeCycle::FactoryFinder Interface
  
• Obtaining a Reference to a FactoryFinder Object Using the Extensions Bootstrap object