Variant to String. VideoCodec - Friendly name in DirectShow

[michael mazanek]

Hi all!
I'm trying to write a console application which allows me to write out
all installed video-codecs.

I tried this one:
http://windowssdk.msdn.microsoft.com.../ms787871.aspx
The code is at the end of this post.

My question is how do i get the friendly name (human readable) to the
console. VarName only delivers some codes.

following headers are used:
#include <iostream>
#include <tchar.h>
#include <dshow.h>
#include <cstring>

using namespace std;

#pragma comment(lib,"strmiids.lib")

-------------------------------------
THNX 4 any advice. MM

-------------------------------------

This is the code:
// Create the System Device Enumerator.
HRESULT hr;
ICreateDevEnum *pSysDevEnum = NULL;
hr = CoCreateInstance(CLSID_SystemDeviceEnum, NULL, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER,
IID_ICreateDevEnum, (void **)&pSysDevEnum);
if (FAILED(hr))
{
return hr;
}

// Obtain a class enumerator for the video compressor category.
IEnumMoniker *pEnumCat = NULL;
hr = pSysDevEnum->CreateClassEnumerator(CLSID_VideoCompressorCatego ry,
&pEnumCat, 0);

if (hr == S_OK)
{
// Enumerate the monikers.
IMoniker *pMoniker = NULL;
ULONG cFetched;
while(pEnumCat->Next(1, &pMoniker, &cFetched) == S_OK)
{
IPropertyBag *pPropBag;
hr = pMoniker->BindToStorage(0, 0, IID_IPropertyBag,
(void **)&pPropBag);
if (SUCCEEDED(hr))
{
// To retrieve the filter's friendly name, do the following:
VARIANT varName;
VariantInit(&varName);
hr = pPropBag->Read(L"FriendlyName", &varName, 0);
if (SUCCEEDED(hr))
{
// Display the name in your UI somehow.
}
VariantClear(&varName);

// To create an instance of the filter, do the following:
IBaseFilter *pFilter;
hr = pMoniker->BindToObject(NULL, NULL, IID_IBaseFilter,
(void**)&pFilter);
// Now add the filter to the graph.
//Remember to release pFilter later.
pPropBag->Release();
}
pMoniker->Release();
}
pEnumCat->Release();
}
pSysDevEnum->Release();