Arg! This is killing me. I know there is a disgustingly easy answer to this.

Every time I pass a regular cached COM pointer around, it is not a problem. But when I try to SendMessage a smart pointer I either get a) casting problems if I just pass it without &-ing it or b) if I do & it, the pointer at the recipient end of SendMessage now points to... NULL. Every time.

I know the answer is a one liner... please please help a frazzled gal... it must be some way to make the smart pointer give up its smartness to become a regular COM pointer.

Thanks in advance.