24 Jan
2003
24 Jan
'03
8:28 p.m.
Your COM wrapper code probably behaves differently because the error is not evoked at the very top level. Note that `seq` (and hence ($!)) only force evaluation to "weak head normal form", which essentially means only enough to determine the top-level constructor. You may need to evaluate more deeply. Check out `DeepSeq` (http://haskell.org/pipermail/haskell/2001-August/001586.html) and/or "strategies" (http://www.mail-archive.com/haskell@haskell.org/msg09543/Strategi es.lhs).
DeepSeq fixed it in one go. Brilliant! Many thanks for the help. My COM object now appears to be unreasonably solid regardless of what I throw at it. :) Sarah