I have an interface defined in an IDL file that I would like to use in C#. Is there a way to convert the IDL to something usable in C#?
One way is to run MIDL on the IDL to create a type library (.tlb). This requires a library block in the IDL. Once you have the .tlb, you can run tlbimp.exe on it to get a C# definition/Interop DLL.
What datatypes/structures are used in the IDL? You should first define the datatypes in C# first if there is no inbuild type already.
You can use the following tool to convert the structures, but you need to verify the ouput manually.
Download: http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/2/7/f279e71e-efb0-4155-873d-5554a0608523/CLRInsideOut2008_01.exe
This utility is described at Accessing Windows API Constants and Structs for P/Invoke.
The original January 2008 article is now only available as a .CHM help file download, linked at the bottom of https://msdn.microsoft.com/magazine/msdn-magazine-issues. For the time being, the source code can be found at http://clrinterop.codeplex.com/.
For example, I've recently used the XPS Print API and needed the xpsobjectmodel.h interfaces. The Windows SDK comes with xpsobjectmodel.idl fortunately.
I generated the TLB file with MIDL first and used TLBIMP to generate a proper DLL assembly ready to be added in the 'References...' section in my C# project.
Be sure to use the tools with the correct version for your project framework. e.g, if your project framework is 3.5-based, using tlbimp from the 4.0 toolset won't work.
Related
How do I reference a DLL in a C# script? I'm not using Visual Studio, I'm just using NPP with a C# plugin to write a quick one file script. That script needs to reference a third party DLL. Is there a code snippet that I can include to accomplish this?
The DLL I want to reference is for iTextSharp
Now we know the plugin you're using, it's easy. Just read the documentation on "Using .NET assemblies". In particular, it sounds like you want:
//css_reference iTextSharp.dll;
That's assuming the library is one of the locations CSScript can find automatically - read the linked documentation for more information and options.
You can load the assembly dynamically from a file
Assembly.LoadFrom("iTextSharp.dll");
I am doing mine FYP by using the
Visual C#
Agilent VEE
I am try to import the DLL file which created from C# into Agilent VEE but VEE required the header file and library file for the importing.
Please kindly help me.
In C#, there is no header file, this is different from C++! To use old C/C++ code, use PInvoke.
You cannot consume a c# dll in your C++ project and vice versa (normally). You should either create a com aware dll in C# to consume it in C++ or on the other hand, you need to declare all the functions in C# to use from a c++ dll.
Here I am talking about standard dlls (not activex or com all). They require a different methodology to work with.
Perhaps you can avoid the "Import Library" primitive in VEE, and not need a header file.
Use Device --> .NET Assembly References... and browse to your DLL files. Then you have to import or select a namespace. Finally, functions of the DLL appear in the function browser of VEE.
Not all DLL files can be used. I have two similar from a hardware vendor. The one named somename_net.dll works.
If you find an answer to your original question, I'd like to know. My method
I can't find any good resources online about what this is. It's required in one of the steps for deploying a .NET assembly for use by COM, but there is no detail what it is or what it means.
As an example, here is something from the book I'm reading on Interop:
Next you need to create a resource script MyExampleAssembly.res with the following statement:
(This gets run at the VS command prompt in the directory where you just exported your .NET component using the Type Library Exporter Utility)
IDR_TYPELIB1 typelib "MyExampleAssembly.tlb"
What is IDR_TYPELIB1?
Also, it's not working for me. I have tried running this and it doesn't compile. I get a message "'IDR_TYPELIB1' is not recognized as an internal or external command".
It is a macro that's normally auto-generated when you use the unmanaged resource editor. Just use a constant, 1 is fine. You are also using the wrong tool to compile the resource script by the sound of it, you must run rc.exe. It translates your .rc file to a .res file that the C# compiler can use.
Embedding the type library is optional btw, it is not something that COM Automation requires. It is not a very good idea to do this in a managed project since the .tlb is generated after building the project. Instead of before, as happens in a native COM project. You create it with regasm.exe, /tlb option or the tlbexp.exe utility. Your client can do this too.
I am trying to read GUID attribute of a C#.net assembly from c++ (VC++ 10).
I should mention that, I don't want to use .net or .net reflection. looking for a pure c++ way.
what is the solution ?
Thanks in advance.
You need to use the Unamanaged Metadata API
and especially the IMetaDataImport::EnumCustomAttributes Method
That's going to be quite a work... Here is a link that gives a good starting point on this (it's C#, but the ideas are exactly the same, and is in fact easier to program in C++): Reading types from assembly
Check out the The .NET File Format MetaSection over at CodeProject.
i understand you don't want to use reflection or .net.
You do however want to get the GUID from a C# dll you have, that was built with .NET.
The common way C# developers make their class libraries available to COM-based developers is to use the tlbexp.exe (type library export) tool to export a type library file.
The COM-developer can then use the .tlb file in their COM code.
When the C# developer builds the dll they either put the Guid manually in the AssemblyInfo level (in .NET) or the compiler will generate the Guid automatically when building the dll.
show how the COM client (C++) is built to use the COM server (C#)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa645738%28v=vs.71%29.aspx
note that in this article refers to another tool regasm.exe which registers the dll and can export the tlb at the same time but it is not necessary to register the dll on your system
as a developer you can just use the tlb file
So I have some .lib file (generated like this one) How to use it from my C# WPF application?
When you want to use native libraries from C# you won't need a .lib file. The way this is handled in .NET is by using Platform Invoke (P/Invoke). I suggest you follow the tutorial on MSDN, it will get you started:
Platform Invoke Tutorial
If you want to generate a wrapper you might want to have a look at the P/Invoke Interop Assistant on CodePlex. Please note that this tool works on the original C/C++ code. Using a .dll file to create a wrapper is not feasible because native DLLs don't store the signature of the exported functions (as described in this thread) and a lib file will store the signature in a compiler specific way.