Question

C# DLL import in WIN32 Console application

Asked by: mabzy

Hi

I'm trying to import a DLL created in C# in my Win32 application, I have found some solutions for it - but one thing which are annoying me is that you have to generate a tlb file which are going to be registered in the registry.

Is it possible to import a C# DLL into a C++ (Win32 console) application without putting it into the registry?

I have read a lot about the issue on several forums and also MSDN, but right now I'm stuck maybe because I'm not that fluent in Windows programming since I'm an embedded programmer.

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Asked On
2009-11-04 at 01:10:05ID24870156
Tags

C++

,

Win32

,

C#

,

DLL

Topics

C Programming Language

,

Microsoft Visual C++

,

C# Programming Language

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: Dan7elPosted on 2009-11-04 at 05:21:18ID: 25738983

I think these techniques you're looking at are saying that a win32 application can access a .net assmebly via com interop.  However, it's possible to do this without COM.

http://www.blong.com/Conferences/BorConUK2002/Interop1/Win32AndDotNetInterop.htm#InversePInvoke

 

by: jhshuklaPosted on 2009-11-05 at 12:14:54ID: 25753447

The best way I found so far is to create a wrapper in managed C++, export wrapper functions from C++ dll and use in unmanaged environment.
a diluted example. 

//C#
class csClass {
  public: int fn() { return 39; }
} 
//managed c++ header
class __declspec( dllexport/import ) cppClass {
  public: int fn() { return csMember->fn(); }
  private: csClass^ cs_member;
} 
// Console cpp
int main() {
  cppClass cpp_instance;
  cout << cpp_instance.fn() << endl;
}

                                              
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by: mabzyPosted on 2009-11-08 at 23:31:14ID: 25773956

Hi jhshukla

I have been looking at your example, is it possible for you to create a small example project?

Have tried a something which looks like your example but it didnt work there was some problems with the managed class.

 

by: jhshuklaPosted on 2009-11-09 at 05:24:11ID: 25775644

The code I posted is not complete. It was just meant as a hint/pointer in the right direction. I will post a working example project once I get home. Although I would like to mention that including this managed cpp header in console app will not work because of managed pointer (csClass^) syntax. You will have to hide it from unmanaged code. I ended up using a void* instead with lots of casts in cpp.

 

by: mabzyPosted on 2009-11-09 at 05:30:22ID: 25775700

ok

Will it then be possible to have the class instance outside the function scope?

//C#
class csClass {
  public: int fn() { return 39; }
} 
//managed c++ header
class __declspec( dllexport/import ) cppClass {
  public: int fn() { return csMember->fn(); }
  private: csClass^ cs_member;
} 
// Console cpp
cppClass cpp_instance;
 
int main() {
//  cppClass cpp_instance;
  cout << cpp_instance.fn() << endl;
}
                                              
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by: jhshuklaPosted on 2009-11-09 at 13:00:47ID: 25780013

I don't see any reason that would prevent that. how is it different from using in main (excluding scope and visibility)? Although be careful with that kind of initialization; since the class is defined in a separate module, it might not have been loaded and cause initialization issues. I am not sure what the ISO C++ spec says regarding this. Perhaps a more experienced expert could clear the doubts. or you could experiment.

 

by: jhshuklaPosted on 2009-11-10 at 17:33:25ID: 25791700

Sorry for late reply, was busy yesterday.

EE does not let me upload files with any extension, so i ended up changing extensions of all files. Remove .txt extension from all files in the zip archive; open the solution; build & run unmanaged project.

I copied some stuff from gcroot.h (because some definitions were not being imported via #include). Look there for useful tricks. other useful file is vcclr.h.

  • MixedSolution.zip
    • 9 KB

    Sample solution with native C++ console app using managed dll

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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