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TYPE_E_CANTCREATETMPFILE
Type-library builder cannot create its temporary file
TYPE_E_CANTCREATETMPFILE is HRESULT 2147650723 (0x80028CA3) from winerror.h. AllStat describes it as “Error creating unique tmp file.” The result belongs to type-library generation that stages output before the final file is committed. The important boundary is not merely failure but which object and state transition established: the builder cannot create or open the temporary file required for safe serialization.
The decisive meaning of this result is that the builder cannot create or open the temporary file required for safe serialization. The severity bit does not decide handling; the controlling fact is that the builder cannot create or open the temporary file required for safe serialization. Interpret it at the native boundary before a wrapper hides the condition that the builder cannot create or open the temporary file required for safe serialization.
Where the result appears
- This result can surface in a type-library compiler, importer, registration step, proxy generator, or Automation metadata consumer.
- map the failure to one concrete operation among LoadTypeLib, RegisterTypeLib, ITypeInfo, ICreateTypeInfo, FUNCDESC, TYPEDESC, and imported LIBID versions.
- Preserve LIBID, type-library version, LCID, SYSKIND, TYPEKIND, GUID, MEMBERID, HREFTYPE, and the producer toolchain before releasing or replacing the object that returned this result.
An incident record for it must distinguish caller, runtime, provider, and backing resource while testing whether the builder cannot create or open the temporary file required for safe serialization.
Typical causes and interpretation boundary
The immediate contract boundary is specific: the builder cannot create or open the temporary file required for safe serialization. Common cause branches include the following:
- The configured temporary directory does not exist or is not writable.
- A sandbox, quota, or endpoint-protection rule blocks temporary file creation.
- A stale file name collision or exhausted handle table prevents creation.
Confirm the cause branch that explains why the builder cannot create or open the temporary file required for safe serialization by using call arguments, object state, metadata, device information, or provider traces.
Correct handling and recovery
The primary recovery is to use a private writable temporary directory, preserve atomic rename semantics, and retry only after the failed staging file is removed. The result failure report should expose enough type-library generation that stages output before the final file is committed state to understand why the builder cannot create or open the temporary file required for safe serialization without a production debugger.
Retry this result only when evidence shows the state behind “the builder cannot create or open the temporary file required for safe serialization” can change and the operation is repeatable. Reconcile persistent, remote, device, or ownership state before repeating it.
Practical scenario
A service account can write the final deployment directory but has no access to its inherited TEMP path, so type-library generation fails before output begins. Record the decisive state for it and verify recovery on a fresh object or request generation.
Difference from related HRESULTs
TYPE_E_IOERROR can occur after a file is opened; it fails at creation of the staging artifact Tests and telemetry should preserve that boundary for it.
Developer and administrator guidance
Developers handling it should make object lifetime and state transitions explicit, preserve the native HRESULT, and keep cleanup paths safe when initialization or output is partial. Use a minimal IDL or metadata fixture that reproduces the exact graph, then validate both 32-bit and 64-bit generated artifacts.
Administrators should repair the component owning type-library generation that stages output before the final file is committed as a versioned unit instead of copying arbitrary DLLs. Repair for it should target only the evidence-backed component, provider, document, device, or configuration.
References
- Microsoft: COM error codes for TYPE_E and OLE
- Microsoft: LoadTypeLib
- Microsoft: CreateTypeLib2
- Microsoft: ITypeInfo
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