Convert C++ .lib file to .NET C# .dll file

it isn't possible (that I know of) to convert compiled C++ (unmanaged) code to managed DLLs.  Best bet bay be to create a C++.NET app that links in the .LIB files and defines wrapper classes that can be called from C#.

How would I take your approach? Don't know much about C++, all I know is that I have to convert the project to C#. Thanks

I also thought I could convert the .libs to .dll by COM interop, no?

How big and complex is the DLL?  C++ and C# are significantly different--in fact C# is more like VB.NET than C#.

Bob

It's not a .dll, It's a C++ filter library. I would like to convert that filter library into a .net assembly( .dll) that I can reference into my c# application. I found this online http://www.codeproject.com/cs/media/directxcapture.asp, but am looking to convert the filter library( .lib) into a .net .dll assembly. It's a pretty large filter library. Has 5 different filters in the library.

Thanks

No, C++ LIBs are nut runnable.  They can be "linked" into a C++ project to create something that is runnable (an EXE or a DLL).  To interop between C# and raw unmanaged C++, you need to link the LIB into a C++ project, preferebly a managed DLL so that interop with C# is easier.

Cool. Is there any simple tutorials on how to accomplish this? I could email my project, so you can get a better feel if you like. I would really appreciate it.

To link in a LIB to your C++.NET project:

* create a Class Library in C++
* add the header file(s) for the LIB
* Open up Project-->Properties and go to the Configuration Properties-->Linker-->Input section.
* Click the ... button in the Additional Dependencies box and add your LIB
* Resolve any linker errors by adding additional LIBs if necessary (you'll get errors when you build)
* Write the C++ wrapper to expose the LIB classes and functions to .NET (this is NOT done automatically!!!)

Once the C++ DLL is build, it can be added as a reference to your C# project.

Good Luck!

I feel that I should warn you that this is NOT a "wizard" or "flip the switch" type of project...  I have had projects that took WEEKS to build a C++ wrapper to an unmanaged library.  The coding itself isn't that complex, it just takes a lot of time to create each method, which usually is just a pass-through to the unmanaged library.

Bascailly what you need to do is take ALL of the public classes and methods from the header files and generate managed wrappers for them.

Let me give your solution a try and I'll let you know how things go.
Thanks,
T

* Open up Project-->Properties and go to the Configuration Properties-->Linker-->Input section.

 I don't see anything that says linker. Am I missing something? Please help.

Never mind, found it under Project --> New Class Properties :)

Make sure you set that in all configurations (debug & release) or you'll get build errors when building in release mode.

When I build the project, I get a prompt called "Executable for Debugging file to be used" and it gives me a "Please specify the name of the executable file to be used for the debug session". What executable is it referring to?

You can't debug a DLL file directly, you have to have an executable (or web app) to run.  Create a simple C# console app in the same solution, add a project reference to your C++ DLL, and call some methods from it.  thet set the C# EXE as your startup project.

Hi Dstanley,

Sorry for late response. I found this link http://www.codeguru.com/cpp/cpp/cpp_managed/interop/article.php/c6867/ based on the guidance you have provided and i'm hoping that this is my answer. I will give you the points based on your guidance and patience alone. However, I ask you to do one more thing for me, could you confirm that this link is what I need?

Thanks,
T

In a way, yes.  That example is using a C++.NET wrapper to interop with an existing DLL.  My suggestion (since you have LIBs and not DLLs is to link the LIB files into the C++.NET DLL.  So you have one DLL instead of two.

Good Luck!

I'm confused again. Could you be so kind in throwing together a very basic project showing simply just the essence of the logic?

Hey Dstanley,

Could I send you my project so you could at least compile it as a .dll? I'm having difficulties with this initial part. I understand the logic however, build my C++ app as a .dll, reference that .dll in my C# project, then use marshalling to communicate with that .dll through interop. I can't seem to get my project to compile into a .dll. If you could just do that and send it back, that would be awesome.

Or better yet, look what I found. I think this may be it. http://www.thecodeproject.com/csharp/UseCDLLlibinCS.asp

I got this buddy. Thanks for all your help and patience.

T

What compiler or linker errors are you getting?

You can use DllImport as well.  You'd basically create a C++ DLL that exports a bunch of C-style functions.  However it will limit the types of data that yo can pass back and forth.  Creating Managed C++ classes will give you more flexibility.

Is there an article for creating managed C++ classes that you would recommend?

The MSDN library is full of them.  Here are a few examples:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dncscol/html/csharp12192002.asp
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/01/07/vsnet/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/02/02/managedc/

Here's an overview of the Managed Extensions for C++ Programming guide in MSDN:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/vcmex/html/vcconMCOverview.asp

Here are a few non-MS links:
http://www.ondotnet.com/pub/a/dotnet/2004/03/29/mcpp_part3.html
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=29665&rl=1

I've created my .dll file from C++, not when trying to reference it in my C# app, it tells me that my .dll is not  a valid assembly. My hell continues! Any suggestions?

T

Open the project properties, and check the "Use Managed Extensions" setting in the "General Section".  It should be set to "Yes".


To test, add a "Hello World" class:

HelloWorld.cpp:

// This is the main DLL file.

#include "stdafx.h"
#include "HelloWorld.h"

String* TestProject::HelloWorldClass::HelloWorld()
{
      return S"Hello from managed C++!";
}


HelloWorld.h:


#pragma once

using namespace System;

namespace TestProject
{
      public __gc class HelloWorldClass
      {
            // TODO: Add your methods for this class here.
      public:
            String* HelloWorld();
      };
}

Then add a new C# colsole app to the solution and add a reference the C++ project, then add the following code:

static void Main(string[] args)
{
      //
      // TODO: Add code to start application here
      //
      TestProject.HelloWorldClass o = new TestProject.HelloWorldClass();
      Console.WriteLine(o.HelloWorld());
}

Ok I can import now. Thanks.