title: Can I make my private DirectShow filter discoverable by Moniker by external programs?
body: <p>This is a long shot but if I could do this it would save me time and a hassle.  I have a DirectShow video filter that is a typical external DLL (AX file) that feeds video to Skype.  I already know how to use a filter privately.  However, I don't know if it's possible to make a private filter, one that is embedded in an EXE and is not an external DLL, discoverable by external programs.  As far as I know, the main way DirectShow filters are made visible is via registering them in the Registry as an ActiveX/COM control and with a private filter, I would think that can't be done since there is no external DLL for the external program to load.</p>
  
  <p>So, is there a clever way to finesse the DirectShow discovery system so that an external program, that only knows how to access DirectShow filter's via their "friendly name" through enumeration, can use it?  If not I'll just keep sending data back and forth between my main app and an external version of my video filter, but I'd <em>really</em> prefer not to have to do that.</p>