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DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID
Automation call uses an unsupported locale identifier
DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID is HRESULT 2147614732 (0x8002000C) from winerror.h. AllStat describes it as “Unknown language.” The value must be interpreted at IDispatch name lookup or invocation that requests locale-sensitive conversion, because the same high-level symptom can come from a different contract boundary and require different cleanup.
The decisive interpretation for DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID is that the target does not recognize or support the supplied LCID for the requested operation. A diagnostic event for DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID should retain both representations of the HRESULT and the exact API boundary that produced it.
Where the result appears
- DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID is returned while Automation binds or executes IDispatch name lookup or invocation that requests locale-sensitive conversion.
- For DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID, retain the member name and DISPID, invocation flags, LCID, cArgs, cNamedArgs, and the exact VARIANTARG sequence in reverse Automation order.
- The output contract for DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID includes puArgErr, EXCEPINFO, result VARIANT, by-reference values, and SAFEARRAY lock or ownership state; inspect them before cleanup.
Before assigning cause to DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID, identify the responsible thread, apartment, process, library generation, and server instance rather than relying on the final dialog text.
Typical causes and interpretation boundary
Common cause categories for DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID are: an invalid LCID is passed; the component supports only invariant or installed locales; a remote system lacks the locale data. The candidate causes for DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID are alternatives, so test one precondition at a time instead of applying several broad repairs together.
The check that separates DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID from nearby HRESULTs is: the target does not recognize or support the supplied LCID for the requested operation. When the boundary condition behind DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID has not been proven, avoid retries or repairs that assume a different neighboring HRESULT.
Evidence and telemetry
- Record DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID with the object CLSID or ProgID, interface identity, member DISPID, dispatch flags, and type-library version.
- For DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID, capture LCID value; user and system locale; target-supported locales; conversion being attempted; type-library locale.
- Log VARIANT type tags, dimensions, bounds, lengths, and null/empty distinctions for DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID, but redact actual confidential argument values.
- Preserve the caller language/runtime, generated interop version, LCID, and whether the call crossed a process boundary when DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID occurs.
- After DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID, call VariantClear, SysFreeString, SafeArrayDestroy, or release interfaces only for values whose ownership was transferred by the documented contract.
Telemetry for DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID should be reproducible without copying secret values: prefer GUIDs, lengths, flags, sanitized names, and correlation IDs.
Diagnostic sequence
- Capture DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID (0x8002000C) at IDispatch::GetIDsOfNames or IDispatch::Invoke before the language runtime converts it to a script exception.
- For <code>DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID</code>, resolve the deployed member signature from ITypeInfo and compare its DISPIDs, parameter flags, VARTYPEs, optional values, and property-put rules with the caller.
- Prove the decisive condition for DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID: the target does not recognize or support the supplied LCID for the requested operation.
- Inspect the likely binding or representation causes for DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID: an invalid LCID is passed; the component supports only invariant or installed locales; a remote system lacks the locale data.
- Reconstruct DISPPARAMS exactly, including reverse positional ordering and named argument placement, then reproduce DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID with the smallest value set.
- Verify the result VARIANT, EXCEPINFO, puArgErr, by-reference arguments, SAFEARRAY lock count, and object state after DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID before deciding on retry.
Correct handling and recovery
For DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID, the appropriate recovery is to use a documented supported LCID, prefer invariant typed values, and avoid guessing locale from display language. Before retrying DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID, specify which precondition changed and how duplicate effects or stale outputs will be detected.
For DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID, inspect every output before cleanup because interfaces, buffers, server effects, or metadata handles may be partially initialized.
Practical scenario
A client passes a custom LCID copied from configuration; switching to the application’s supported locale restores name lookup.
Test DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID by reproducing the smallest failing contract, recording postconditions, and then changing a single input or state transition.
Difference from related HRESULTs
TYPE_E_UNKNOWNLCID occurs while loading or creating type information; DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID occurs during live Automation dispatch.
Keeping DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID separate from its neighbor improves retry, cleanup, and user messaging because the two results imply different postconditions.
Developer and administrator guidance
Automation adapters should handle DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID at the dispatch boundary and expose the member, parameter, and type information needed to repair the call. A generic retry after <code>DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID</code> with unchanged DISPPARAMS usually repeats the same deterministic binding error.
For DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID, deployment owners should compare the registered type library and server binary as one versioned unit. After <code>DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID</code>, re-registering arbitrary DLLs or changing locale system-wide is inappropriate unless the captured metadata proves registration or LCID drift.
References
- Microsoft: IDispatch::GetIDsOfNames — official Microsoft documentation relevant to
DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID. - Microsoft: DISPPARAMS — official Microsoft documentation relevant to
DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID. - Microsoft: VARIANT structure — official Microsoft documentation relevant to
DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID. - Microsoft: HRESULT values — official Microsoft documentation relevant to
DISP_E_UNKNOWNLCID.
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