Question

Using native MFC DLL from .Net application using VB.Net or C#.Net

Asked by: m_kristofer

Hi guys.. I've been googling the solution for my problem all day but I could not find the answer may be you could help me.

How can I access the classes and methods on my native MFC DLL from my .Net application?
I already tried the LoadLibrary, GetProcAddress, Marshal and DynamicInvoke() but I could not make it work. Even using the Alias it didn't work either. When I tried using SetWindowTextA in alias it worked but when I changed it with my dll something is wrong.

What could be the best way to access my native dll from .Net application?

my native MFC DLL is a Regular DLL with MFC statically linked dll type.

The code below didn't work with my dll and even in kernel32.dll but works with user32.dll

Declare Function SetWindowText Lib "user32" Alias "SetWindowTextA" (ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, ByVal lpString As String) As Long
 
method(){       
 ret = Marshal.GetDelegateForFunctionPointer( _
                      MethodPointer, DelegateFunctionType _
                      ).DynamicInvoke(arg)
}

                                  
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Asked On
2009-10-07 at 02:02:41ID24791653
Tags

.Net

,

native Dll

Topics

.Net Compact Framework

,

Microsoft Visual C++.Net

,

Microsoft Visual C#.Net

Participating Experts
2
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: m_KristianPosted on 2009-10-07 at 03:57:44ID: 25513929

Use the DllImportAttribute from System.Runtime.InteropServices. See snippet with example (C#).

[DllImport("kernel32.dll", EntryPoint = "SetProcessWorkingSetSize")]
public extern static int SetProcessWorkingSetSize(
    IntPtr hProcess,
    int dwMinimumWorkingSetSize,
    int dwMaximumWorkingSetSize
    );

                                              
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by: anugrahPosted on 2009-10-20 at 05:31:02ID: 25613300

Are you not able to browse and add reference to the native dll.

I believe, doing this will automatically generate an Interop dll which will be copied to your local project bin folder and then you should be good to use the native dll.

 

by: anugrahPosted on 2009-10-20 at 05:40:32ID: 25613374

Are you not able to browse and add reference to the native dll.

I believe, doing this will automatically generate an Interop dll which will be copied to your local project bin folder and then you should be good to use the native dll.

 

by: m_kristoferPosted on 2009-10-20 at 18:10:51ID: 25620057

Hi anugrah, nope I cannot add as reference the native dll.
it says:
Could not add a reference to file 'D:\sample.dll' because it is neither a .NET assembly or registered ActiveX control.

 

by: anugrahPosted on 2009-10-20 at 22:33:11ID: 25620998

Thanks kristofer,

We all know its not a .NET assembly so the second part is interesting that 'or registered ActiveX control' .

Looks like it means that Interop could only be generated only for those native/unmanaged dlls which are Registered COM components.

Hence the actual question is still open.

Thanks and Regards
Anugrah

 

by: m_kristoferPosted on 2009-11-05 at 00:12:42ID: 25747527

I got the solution to this problem.

The dll did not exposed any methods on the project itself.
That is why I could not find the entry point of the dll.

The dll is actually created from MFC.

It should have used the "EXPORTS" on the definision of the project and used "EXTERN_C" to be able to link it from outside.

Thanks anyway guys...

God Speed!!..Happy coding..!=)

 

by: anugrahPosted on 2009-11-06 at 03:50:56ID: 25758315

So after using EXPORTS and EXTERN_C in the way you told; are you able to add reference to this dll directly from your Visual Studio ?

i.e. are you able add reference from .NET project even though your dll is not a COM dll ?

 

by: m_kristoferPosted on 2009-11-10 at 20:57:41ID: 25792408

Yes. I can add the dll as reference.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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