Methods, systems and data structure are described for implementing local
isolated DLL and/or COM components. A version of a shared component is
stored in a local directory with an application that uses that particular
version. Another version of the shared component exists on the system and
is useable by any number of other computer programs. A local file is
created in the local directory that indicates the presence of an isolated
version of the shared component. When the application calls the shared
component, the system uses the isolated version of the shared component
stored locally with the application program. Thus, specific versions of
components may be provided to a calling application without making any
code changes to the calling application or to the component to which the
calling application is bound.