GetComPlusApplications - Retrieving the installed COM+ applications

' Returns an array with the names of the installed COM+ Applications
' Params: the name of the server - defaults to the local server
' Requires a reference to the COM+ Admin Type Library,
'  in the COM tab of the References dialog box
'
' Example:
'  Dim apps() As String = GetComPlusApplications()
'  Dim app As String
'  For Each app In apps
'     debug.writeline(app)
'  Next

Function GetComPlusApplications(Optional ByVal serverName As String = "") As _
    String()
    Dim catalog As New COMAdmin.COMAdminCatalog()
    catalog.Connect(serverName)

    ' get the Applications collection
    Dim apps As COMAdmin.COMAdminCatalogCollection = catalog.GetCollection _
        ("Applications")
    apps.Populate()

    ' add each application name to an ArrayList
    Dim app As COMAdmin.COMAdminCatalogObject
    Dim appNames As New ArrayList(apps.Count)
    For Each app In apps
        appNames.Add(app.Name.ToString())
    Next

    ' convert from the ArrayList to an array of strings, and return it
    Return appNames.ToArray(GetType(String))
End Function