C# dll can be used in C++/CLI project easily? - c#

I have one C++/CLI project, a GUI application, which is compiled in mixed mode (managed+unmanaged).
Now I want to write a custom user control using C# and compile it to become CSharpA.dll.
my question is: Can this dll be used by my C++/CLI project easily? How would I do that?

Yes. Just add a reference to it. You may find yourself wanting using namespace directives, which, like the C# using directive, will add classes in other namespaces into the search space.

You only have to compile your C# code into an assembly, and this assembly can be referenced from your C++/CLI App as any other assembly.

Related

Using c# interface in a c++ project with VS express 1013

I am trying to include a c# interface into a c++ header file which belongs to a clr library.
I add the additional directory and as soon as I include the interface and try to build the c++ project, I get loads of errors leading to the cs file, like:
Do I mess up some VS settings?
It is impossible to #include "IImagesToVideoConverter.cs". The C++ compiler cannot understand c# code. You need to put a c# project and a c++ project in the same solution, reference the c# project from the c++ project, and (i think) #using <the.dll>
including a C# source in a C++ compile makes no sense. They are different languages, why would you ever expect this to work?
Perhaps you want to make a COM interface between them, in which case you use a #import directive.

Importing C# dll to C++ managed code (.NET)

I'm using Visual Studio 2010. I've written a dll in C#, managed dll then.
Now for some reason, I need to write a software in C++ (.NET then also managed).
I need to import the C# dll into my C++ .NET code.
I can't figure out to do this, I've made several search but this problem seems to not be covered. For example, in C# I don't have include file, then how my C++ (.NET) projet knows about classes and functions inside the dll?
Thanks,
In Visual Studio, bring up the properties of the C++/CLI project, go to "Common Properties/Framework and References" in the tree at the left, and click the "Add New Reference" button. This will bring up the standard "Add Reference" dialog you can get from a C# project, just select your C# DLL or reference a C# project in the same solution.
You need to add a reference into your project. In Visual Studio, right-click your project, then select "References".
You add reference to you assembly, Set ComVisible attribute to your assembly
Edit your AssemblyInfo.cs
[assembly: ComVisible(true)]
.Net Framework have MSIL langage in order to manage interoperability betwwen different langages
Link : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/828736
You just need to add only reference of that dll in your project, as George has replied.
then use that namespace or name of classes in your code...
It is possible. Google search would gave you answers. Few links from Stackoverflow
How to use c# Dll in vc++?
using c# dll in project c++
and you get many more links https://www.google.co.in/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=using+c%23+dll+in+vc%2B%2B&oq=using+C%23+dll+&gs_l=hp.3.2.0l4.1601.6409.0.9065.18.13.2.3.3.2.468.2716.0j9j1j2j1.13.0...0.0...1c.1.ixoWIPWicqo&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=64f4e49ac7d1c408&biw=936&bih=595
Hope this helps

Using tlbimp without needing a second assembly?

I am trying to implement a COM interface in my C# dll for others to consume. I have defined an interface in foo.idl.
I've run foo.idl through tlbimp to produce foo.dll, a .Net assembly. Now to implement my interface, I can reference foo.dll in my dll to implement the interface.
This works perfectly as it stands with one exception: I now have to distribute two dlls instead of one. This actually goes against the requirements of the project I'm working on: deliver one DLL.
Is there a way to merge the tlbimp dll into mine, or any other way to do this (implement a COM interface in C# without the second dll)?
A good disassembler gets the job done, like Reflector. You can simply disassemble the interop assembly and copy the generated C# interface declarations into your source code. Of course you should only do this if the interface declarations and IIDs are stable.
And definitely consider upgrading to VS2010. Its "embed interop types" feature allows you to ship your assembly without the interop assembly.
You could probably cheat by using a .tlb instead of the 'glue' dll.
I'd suggest you create a mixed-mode assembly using MSVC++/CLR
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/k8d11d4s(v=vs.100).aspx
Interop (How Do I in Visual C++)
This might have the drawback that you can't use C# in the same assembly. Should you want to add C# code to the mix, you might be able to squeeze out of your tough situation using
IlMerge
For other, possibly interesting, thoughts see my earlier answer:
Is it possible to compile a console application into a single .dll file?

Can't access C++ class/namespace from C# in VS 2010 SP1

This is with Visual Studio 2010, SP1. I have a C++ class in a separate C++ project that I want to access and use in C# from another project (both living under the same solution). I have referenced my C++ project from C#. I build my C++ project using the /clr option. I have built a Managed version of the C++ class that calls the corresponding native C++ class.
When I right-click on my C++ project reference from my "References" of my C# project, and click "View in Object Browser", my C++ project exists as part of the list of objects, and I can open it and see my class, namespace, etc. that I am trying to use.
However, from C# code, when I try to do "using " it's not part of the autocomplete list of namespaces, and in fact it gives a compilation error if I type the C++ namespace. "Error 1 The type or namespace name 'MyCppClass' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)"
And the answer to that question is no, I'm not missing a using directive or assembly reference, as explained above. Additionally, my C++ classes don't exist in the default namespace, they simply don't exist in my C# project's universe.
So... what am I doing wrong?
This may be too late, but I just had this same issue as you and came back to see if you got an answer.
Eventually I figured out that you need to actually add your COM class as a reference to your .net project along with the .net wrapper class.
I created a c++ COM dll and used the tlbimp to generate a .net wrapper. I then added the wrapper to my project, and went to add references under the COM tab it had my COM assembly there, so I added that too and my project compiled and worked fine.

Using a DLL in Visual Studio C++

I have a DLL that I've been using with no problem in Visual C# (simply adding the reference and using the namespace). Now I'm trying to learn C++, and I don't understand how you reference a namespace from a DLL. I can right-click on a project and select 'references' and from there click 'add new reference', but that just provides me with an empty 'projects' window. What am I missing?
C++ is a lot different from C#/VB.Net when it comes to processing DLL references. In C# all that is needed to do a reference is a DLL because it contains metadata describing the structures that lay inside. The compiler can read this information such that they can be used from another project.
C++ does not have the concept of metadata in the DLL in the sense that C# does. Instead you must explicitly provide the metadata in the form of a header file. These files are included in your C++ project and then the DLL is delay loaded at runtime. You don't actually "add a reference" so to speak in C++ but include a header file instead.
Once the header file is included, you can then access the namespace by including it in your CPP files
using namespace SomeNamespace;
First of all, if you are trying to use the same DLL you used in your C# application, if you are using pure native C++, it is not straightforward to make calls into that DLL. The problem is the DLL you are referencing in C# relies on the .NET framework in order to execute (it is a "Managed" DLL, as all C#, VB.NET and C++/CLI assemblies are). There is an easy way to reference "managed" code from C++ and that is by making a managed C++ project (AKA C++/CLI) (choosing from "CLR" section in the C++ project wizard in Visual Studio). Otherwise the only way to access the managed DLL is by exposing it to COM and using COM to access the object.
EDIT: The previous answer will be more helpful if you're using unmanaged c++; I assumed because of the C# reference that you were targeting managed C++.
The 'Add Reference' dialog should have a series of tabs - 'Projects' lists projects in the current solution; .NET lists the libraries installed in the GAC and 'Browse' lets you find a DLL yourself.
If you just want to add a reference to the DLL you should be able to do it with 'Browse'. If it's the output of a project you have the source to, add the project to the solution and it'll appear under the 'Projects' tab.
If this doesn't help, which version of Visual Studio are you using, and where/what is the DLL you want to use?

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