Hey Jeff, 

First, I would STRONGLY recommend using C# rather than C++ for ZOS-API applications.  C# directly uses .NET while C++ has to use COM to communicate with the ZOS-API.  C# is easier to use (especially considering COM) and there are more Zemax users that can help with C#. 

// C#
// Add your custom code here...
// open new POP window
var win = TheSystem.Analyses.New_Analysis_SettingsFirst(ZOSAPI.Analysis.AnalysisIDM.PhysicalOpticsPropagation);

// change POP settings here
var settings = win.GetSettings() as ZOSAPI.Analysis.PhysicalOptics.IAS_PhysicalOpticsPropagation;

// run POP analysis
win.ApplyAndWaitForCompletion();

// get the results
var results = win.GetResults();
foreach(var line in results.HeaderData.Lines)
{
    Console.WriteLine(line);
}

If you remember trying to use Python prior to 2018, it was an absolute nightmare; before 2018 Python used COM to connect to the ZOS-API so I researched and created the current Python template using PythonNET.  Now C#, Mathematica, Matlab and Python all use .NET to directly connect to the ZOS-API and C++ is the only outlier.

If you have to use C++, here is how you can get the header data:

// C++
// Add your custom code here...
// open new POP window
auto win = TheSystem->Analyses->New_Analysis(AnalysisIDM::AnalysisIDM_PhysicalOpticsPropagation);

// change POP settings here
IAS_PhysicalOpticsPropagationPtr settings = win->GetSettings();

// run POP analysis
win->ApplyAndWaitForCompletion();

// get the results
auto results = win->GetResults();
SAFEARRAY* psa = results->HeaderData->Lines;

// Get a pointer to the elements of the array.
BSTR HUGEP* pbstr;
HRESULT hr = SafeArrayAccessData(psa, (void HUGEP**) & pbstr);

// make sure we can actually get data from the safearray
if (SUCCEEDED(hr)) {
	// sizeof is off-by-1 to account for NUL terminater at end of array
	for (long i = 0; i < sizeof(pbstr) - 1; i++)
		wcout << pbstr&i] << endl;
}
SafeArrayUnaccessData(psa);

If you need help writing a compiled C# UDOC, you can DM me and I’d be glad to help.

Hi Michael,

Perfect, thanks so much!  I had a working UDOC written in C++ and just wanted to modify it to include results taken from a header.  With your help it’s all good now.

I appreciate your guidance regarding use of C#.  Generally I try to do as much as I can in Matlab, and venture into C-code only when necessary.  Since I had a little bit of previous experience with C++ I just opted to go that route.  However, I have a newfound appreciation for the simplicity of using .NET for ZOS-API purposes.

In the future, if I start a new user extension/analysis/operand then I will definitely take a look at C#. 

Thanks again!
Jeff