The following table shows the steps you might perform in a typical Internet client application.
Your goal
Actions you take
Effects
Begin an Internet session.
Create a object.
Initializes WinInet and connects to server.
Read or set an Internet query option (time-out limit or number of retries, for example).
Use or .
Returns FALSE if operation was unsuccessful.
Establish a callback function to monitor the status of the session.
Use .
Establishes a callback to . Override OnStatusCallback to create your own callback routine.
Connect to an Internet server, intranet server, or local file.
Use .
Parses the URL and opens a connection to the specified server. Returns a (if you pass OpenURL a local file name) or a . This is the object through which you access data retrieved from the server or file.
Read from the file.
Use .
Reads the specified number of bytes using a buffer you supply.
Handle exceptions.
Use the class.
Handles all common Internet exception types.
End the Internet session.
Dispose of the object.
Automatically cleans up open file handles and connections.