Passing a C# delegate to a C++/CLI wrapper - c#

I was following this example to use a c# delegate as a c++ callback.
My wrapper looks like this:
// GLFWWrapper.h
#pragma once
using namespace System;
namespace GLFWWrapper {
typedef void(__stdcall *KEY_CALLBACK)(int, int, int, int);
public ref class Window {
public:
void setKeyCallback(KEY_CALLBACK fp);
static KEY_CALLBACK csharpKeyCallback;
...
};
}
// GLFWWrapper.cpp
#include "stdafx.h"
#include "GLFWWrapper.h"
namespace GLFWWrapper {
void cppKeyCallback(GLFWwindow * window, int key, int scancode, int action, int mods) {
if (Window::csharpKeyCallback) {
Window::csharpKeyCallback(key, scancode, action, mods);
}
}
void Window::setKeyCallback(KEY_CALLBACK fp) {
csharpKeyCallback = fp;
}
...
}
The cppKeyCallback function is a callback I set in another function (glfwSetKeyCallback(m_ptr, cppKeyCallback);). The csharpKeyCallback is supposed to be the delegate from my C# project. In the example I linked to above it is only explained how I can set a delegate from inside my wrapper. But how can I set the delegate from my C# project? When I try to call setKeyCallback from my C# project I get an error Window.setKeyCallback(?) is not supported by the language.

You seem to be missing the managed part of the instruction:
#pragma managed
public delegate void keyCallback(int, int, int, int);
void Window::setKeyCallback(keyCallback^ fp) {
csharpKeyCallback = fp;
}
In order to pass a reference to a function instance (delegate) from C# to C++\CLI you need to declare it i.e. declare a managed delegate. This can be done either in C# or in C++\CLI.
In your code the KEY_CALLBACK is an unmanaged function declaration. Thus it is "Not supported by the language". C# side cannot use it as a delegate declaration.
In order to avoid such a mess I myself always keep my C++\CLI projects clear of any managed declarations and provide those in an additional C# class library that is referenced from both the C++\CLI wrapper and the C# side.
Edit: Do not forget to put the ^ sign after the managed reference type in the managed method declaration or the compiler is going to bust you with an error 'A delegate type is not allowed here'.

Related

C# delegates vs C function pointers

I have a dll written in C, which I need to use
in my C# application.
But I have a problem,I have an interface which uses the structure from below:
typedef struct {
int (*Func1)(void*, int*);
int (*Func2)(void*, int*);
...
} myStructure;
So, I need to translate it to C#:
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
public unsafe struct myStructure
{
public delegate int Func1(void* l,int* data);
public delegate int Func2(void* l,int* data);
...
}
In C# I need to couple functions of this structure to the actual methods, but I can not do this, because delegate are strong types and I need to make instance of these delegates, so i decided to change this structure a bit in C#,
like this:
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
public unsafe struct myStructure
{
public delegate int func1(void* l,int* data);
public delegate int func2(void* l,int* data);
...
public func1 Func1;
public func2 Func2;
...
}
It compiles, but application crashes and give this debug info:
receive this error:
Managed Debugging Assistant 'PInvokeStackImbalance'
A call to PInvoke function 'myApp!myApp.Somenamespace::MyInterface' has unbalanced the stack. This is likely because the managed PInvoke signature does not match the unmanaged target signature. Check that the calling convention and parameters of the PInvoke signature match the target unmanaged signature.
The program '[7976] myApp.exe' has exited with code -1 (0xffffffff).
Some ideas, how can i solve this issue?

Attempting to read/write protected memory error while pinvoking a c++ function

I have a C++ project X with calling convention set as __stdcall (/Gz) and a C# project Y.
I have defined a class myClass in BOTH these projects.
class myClass
{
private:int mem1;
};
In the C# definition of the class, I have prefixed it with
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
The C++ function is
_declspec (dllexport) void getLen(myClass* str)
{
printf("%s",sizeof(int));
}
In Y, I have defined the function as follows
[DllImport("X.dll")]
private static extern void getLen(ref myClass str);
And I am calling it like this:
getLen(ref str);
where str is an object of type myClass.
Why is this error coming up when I run this solution?
Your problem is in the printf() call: "%s" expects a pointer to a null-terminated string of characters, but you are providing a size_t.

Cpp / Cli Fire an Event

I have a cpp project, a cpp cli project and a c# win forms project. I want to fire a method from my native cpp code and catch it in c# project. How can i do this?
There can be multiple approaches to answer this question, because the dependency requirement between those projects is important. I will try to answer for the most common (i guess) case: in which you already have a native C++ library and you want to use that library in a C# application. In that scenario the C# project depends on the native library project. In such a case you can utilize a gateway cli/c++ library to transform native c++ events to .NET events.
Here is a complete code sample, but before that, please note:
It may not be the shortest solution, but it works fine. Also it can provide more control on transforming native data to .net types.
I used this approach in VS 2005. I dont know if there is a better instrument in newer versions of VS for that specific interoperability purpose.
If your native event is triggered from a thread other than the GUI thread, then beware of that.
The Native Library:
#ifndef _NATIVE_CODE_H_
#define _NATIVE_CODE_H_
//NativeCode.h
//A simple native library which emits only one event.
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
#define NATIVELIBRARY_API __declspec(dllexport)
//An argument class to wrap event parameters
class NativeEventArgs{
public:
//a 32bit integer argument
//any other primitives can be here, just be careful about the byte size
int argInt32;
//null terminated ascii string
const char* argString;
//null terminated wide/unicode string
const wchar_t* argWString;
};
//A simple mechanism to fire an event from native code.
//Your library may have a DIFFERENT triggering mechanism (e.g. function pointers)
class INativeListener
{
public:
virtual void OnEvent(const NativeEventArgs& args)=0;
};
//The actual native library code, source of native events
class NATIVELIBRARY_API NativeCode
{
public:
NativeCode()
:theListener_(NULL)
{}
//Listener registration method
void registerListener(INativeListener* listener) {
theListener_ = listener;
}
//this is the very first source of the event
//native code emits the event via the listener mechanism
void eventSourceMethod() {
//... other stuff
//fire the native event to be catched
if(theListener_){
//prepare event parameters
NativeEventArgs args;
wstring wstr(L"A wide string");
string str("A regular string");
//build-up the argument object
args.argInt32 = 15;
args.argString = str.c_str();
args.argWString = wstr.c_str();
//fire the event using argument
theListener_->OnEvent( args );
}
}
private:
//native code uses a listener object to emit events
INativeListener* theListener_;
};
#endif
Gateway Library Sample:
//GatewayCode.h
//GatewayLibrary is the tricky part,
//Here we listen events from the native library
//and propagate them to .net/clr world
#ifndef _GATEWAY_CODE_H_
#define _GATEWAY_CODE_H_
#include "../NativeLibrary/NativeCode.h" //include native library
#include <vcclr.h> //required for gcroot
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices;
namespace GatewayLibrary{
//.net equvelant of the argument class
public ref class DotNetEventArg{
internal:
//contructor takes native version of argument to transform
DotNetEventArg(const NativeEventArgs& args) {
//assign primitives naturally
argInt32 = args.argInt32;
//convert wide string to CLR string
argWString = Marshal::PtrToStringUni( IntPtr((void*)args.argWString) );
//convert 8-bit native string to CLR string
argString = Marshal::PtrToStringAnsi( IntPtr( (void*)args.argString) );
//see Marshal class for rich set of conversion methods (e.g. buffers)
}
private:
String^ argString;
String^ argWString;
Int32 argInt32;
public:
//define properties
property String^ ArgString {
String^ get() {
return argString;
}
}
property String^ ArgWString {
String^ get() {
return argWString;
}
}
property Int32 ArgInt32 {
Int32 get() {
return argInt32;
}
}
};
//EventGateway fires .net event when a native event happens.
//It is the actual gateway class between Native C++ and .NET world.
//In other words, It RECEIVES NATIVE events, TRANSFORMS/SENDS them into CLR.
public ref class EventGateway {
public:
//ctor, its implementation placed below
EventGateway();
//required to clean native objects
~EventGateway();
!EventGateway();
//the SENDER part
//.net event stuff defined here
delegate void DotNetEventHandler(DotNetEventArg^ arg);
event DotNetEventHandler^ OnEvent;
private:
//our native library code
//notice you can have pointers to native objects in ref classes.
NativeCode* nativeCode_;
//the required device to listen events from the native library
INativeListener* nativeListener_;
internal: //hide from .net assembly
//the RECEIVER part, called when a native event received
void OnNativeEvent(const NativeEventArgs& args){
//you can make necessary transformation between native types and .net types
//create .net argument using native argument
//required conversion is done by DotNetEventArg class
DotNetEventArg^ dotNetArgs = gcnew DotNetEventArg(args);
//fire .net event
OnEvent( dotNetArgs );
}
};
}
//A concrete listener class. we need this class to register native library events.
//Its our second gateway class which connects Native C++ and CLI/C++
//It basically gets events from NativeLibary and sends them to EventGateway
class NativeListenerImp : public INativeListener {
public:
NativeListenerImp(gcroot<GatewayLibrary::EventGateway^> gatewayObj ){
dotNetGateway_ = gatewayObj;
}
//this is the first place we know that a native event has happened
virtual void OnEvent(const NativeEventArgs& args) {
//inform the .net gateway which is responsible of transforming native event to .net event
dotNetGateway_->OnNativeEvent(args);
}
private:
//class member to trigger .net gateway.
//gcroot is required to declare a CLR type as a member of native class.
gcroot<GatewayLibrary::EventGateway^> dotNetGateway_;
};
////ctor and dtors of EventGateway class
GatewayLibrary::EventGateway::EventGateway()
{
nativeCode_ = new NativeCode();
//note; using 'this' in ctor is not a good practice
nativeListener_ = new NativeListenerImp(this);
//register native listener
nativeCode_->registerListener(nativeListener_);
}
GatewayLibrary::EventGateway::~EventGateway()
{
//call the non-deterministic destructor
this->!EventGateway();
}
GatewayLibrary::EventGateway::!EventGateway()
{
//clean up native objects
delete nativeCode_;
delete nativeListener_;
}
#endif
And the final application in C# (or in any other .net language):
//Program.cs
//C# the final evet consumer application
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using GatewayLibrary;
namespace SharpClient
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
//create the gateway
EventGateway gateway = new EventGateway();
//listen on .net events using the gateway
gateway.OnEvent += new EventGateway.DotNetEventHandler(gateway_OnEvent);
}
static void gateway_OnEvent( DotNetEventArg args )
{
//use the argument class
Console.WriteLine("On Native Event");
Console.WriteLine(args.ArgInt32);
Console.WriteLine(args.ArgString);
Console.WriteLine(args.ArgWString);
}
}
}

InvalidCastException implementing .net events in native c++ with managed wrapper

I am attempting to invoke managed events from native c++, by using a managed wrapper for a native class, and then using the managed wrapper via dll from C#. However, I receive a InvalidCastException runtime error that I don't know how to resolve, or even what it means. My implementation is as follows:
The header for ManagedClass is
#pragma once
#include "NativeClass.h"
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices;
namespace NativeLibrary
{
public delegate void ReportProgressDelegate(Double ^completionPercentage);
public ref class ManagedClass
{
public:
ManagedClass();
event ReportProgressDelegate ^OnReportProgress;
void RaiseReportProgress(Double ^completionPercentage);
void CallTestFunction();
private:
NativeClass *_NativeClass;
ReportProgressDelegate ^ReportProgress;
};
}
while ManagedClass source file is
#include "stdafx.h"
#include "ManagedClass.h"
#include "TestFunction.h"
using namespace NativeLibrary;
ManagedClass::ManagedClass()
{
_NativeClass = new NativeClass();
ReportProgress = gcnew ReportProgressDelegate(this, &ManagedClass::RaiseReportProgress);
_NativeClass->ProgressFunction = (void (*)(double))Marshal::GetFunctionPointerForDelegate(ReportProgress).ToPointer();
void ManagedClass::RaiseReportProgress(System::Double ^completionPercentage)
{
OnReportProgress(completionPercentage);
}
void ManagedClass::CallTestFunction()
{
TestFunction(*_NativeClass);
}
}
Here NativeClass is defined in its own header file
#pragma once
class NativeClass
{
public:
NativeClass() {};
void (*ProgressFunction)(double);
};
as is TestFunction
#pragma once
#include "NativeClass.h"
void TestFunction(NativeClass& nativeClass)
{
nativeClass.ProgressFunction(50.0);
return;
}
I set up a C# program to test the event. My C# program consists of
NativeLibrary.ManagedClass managedClass = new NativeLibrary.ManagedClass();
managedClass.OnReportProgress += new NativeLibrary.ReportProgressDelegate(managedClass_OnReportProgress);
managedClass.CallTestFunction();
where the managedClass_OnReportProgress event is defined as
void managedClass_OnReportProgress(ValueType completionPercentage)
{
MessageBox.Show("report progress event triggered");
}
The problem occurs when I call the function CallTestFunction. When I step through using the debugger, it successfully makes it inside the native TestFunction. However, when it reaches the closing brace of TestFunction, I get the runtime error:
"InvalidCastException was unhandled. No such interface supported (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80004002 (E_NOINTERFACE))"
I'm really clueless as to how to resolve this problem, or what the source of it is. Suggestions?
public delegate void ReportProgressDelegate(Double ^completionPercentage);
Double is a value type. You should only use the ^ for reference types. I'm guessing it bombs when it tries to convert a boxed Double (an Object) to a native double. Delete the ^

Create unmanaged c++ object in c#

I have an unmanaged dll with a class "MyClass" in it.
Now is there a way to create an instance of this class in C# code? To call its constructor? I tried but the visual studio reports an error with a message that this memory area is corrupted or something.
Thanks in advance
C# cannot create class instance exported from native Dll. You have two options:
Create C++/CLI wrapper. This is .NET Class Library which can be added as Reference to any other .NET project. Internally, C++/CLI class works with unmanaged class, linking to native Dll by standard C++ rules. For .NET client, this C++/CLI class looks like .NET class.
Write C wrapper for C++ class, which can be used by .NET client with PInvoke. For example, over-simplified C++ class:
class MyClass()
{
public:
MyClass(int n){data=n;}
~MyClass(){}
int GetData(){return data;}
private:
int data;
};
C API wrapper for this class:
void* CreateInstance()
{
MyClass* p = new MyClass();
return p;
}
void ReleaseInstance(void* pInstance)
{
MyClass* p = (MyClass*)pInstance;
delete p;
}
int GetData(void* pInstance)
{
MyClass* p = (MyClass*)pInstance;
return p->GetData();
}
// Write wrapper function for every MyClass public method.
// First parameter of every wrapper function should be class instance.
CreateInstance, ReleaseInstance and GetData may be declared in C# client using PInvoke, and called directly. void* parameter should be declared as IntPtr in PInvoke declaration.
The solution is create C++/CLI wrapper like:
#include "DllExportClass.h"
public ref class ManagedOperationHelper
{
public:
double Sum(double add1, double add2)
{
CDllExportClass obj;
double ret=obj.Sum(add1, add2);
return ret;
}
double Mult(double mult1, double mult2)
{
CDllExportClass obj;
double ret=obj.Mult(mult1, mult2);
return ret;
}
};
where CDllExportClass is the class exported from native code. Above is the .h of the C++/CLI. Take care to let find the lib to this dll. Put the dll and the lib in the same directory and compile the C++/CLI code.In the managed code directory put the native dll and the C++/CLI dll. In the managed project put the reference of the C++/CLI project. Instanciate in the maged code the C++/CLI class like:
ManagedOperationHelper obj = new ManagedOperationHelper();
double ret=obj.Sum(10, 20);
It's all.
You can not use unmanged C++ code directly in C#. The interoperability can be done using PInvoke. There are a lot of issues related to this topic, especially when calling functions which have pointers as arguments.
The basic procedure goes like this:
C# part
namespace MyNamespace {
public class Test {
[DllImport("TheNameOfThe.dll")]
public static extern void CreateMyClassInstance();
public void CallIt() {
CreateMyClassInstance(); // calls the unmanged function via PInvoke
}
}
}
C++ part
class MyClass {
public: MyClass() { /** Constructor */ }
};
MyClass* staticObject;
extern "C" void CreateMyObjectInstance() {
staticObject = new MyClass(); // constructor is called
}

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