I am working on C# for a few mounths. Mainly I am working on C++.
On C++ using the visual studio if I wanted to add a a static library I could add it using the configuration of the project add the header and lib and path.
When using C#, I think it is something like DLL, all those assemblies are complied on late binding ?
In addition using the visual studio for the C# I can add a reference. Is this the equel thing as I wrote in the beginning of the question ? only for something like DLL ?
If your want use a Win32 DLL in C#, you must write a C# wrapper for it.
C# is managed, and everything you reference as an assembly gets linked at runtime, as with DLL's in C++. The compiler will check at compile time that you are using your assemblies properly, but it wont link them yet. You can use http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/people/mbarnett/ILMerge.aspx to merge assemblies together, as a post-build step.
Related
please, I have a question about snap7.dll library. So long time I wanst be working in C#, so maybe I am doing something wrong. But is possible to use snap7 in C# WPF project as library or it was developed only for windows forms? Its stupid I know, but I am asking because I am not able to add snap7.dll into my project references. Thank you.
Downloaded and played around with the examples from http://snap7.sourceforge.net/
Looks like the console application doesn't reference the assembly directly.
This isn't a WPF vs Winforms thing. It is a managed vs unmanaged code thing.
There is a snap7.net.cs .net wrapper class file.
It references "snap7.dll" and exposes its functionality as a C# class. At runtime it will load the assembly using DllImport.
Copy both the snap7.net.cs file and the snap7.dll into your project.
Use the snap7 class methods/attributes in your code. Then update snap7.dll to copy to output directory, or use a post build event to copy the snap7.dll to your output directory.
EDIT: I want to restate you do NOT add reference to the snap7.dll directly using project -> references. The DllImport annotation of the wrapper class file will load it at runtime.
I'm using .Net framework 2.0 and I've been searching on how to include a .dll in my project. I want this dll to be compliled in the final .exe, but I don't know how. When I add it to my project like any file, my classes can't access the functions because they need a [Dll Import]. And when I add it as a reference, it's being pasted in the Release folder.
Is there a way to access my dll without recoding every function or use it as a reference?
What you are searching for is called ILmerge.
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/people/mbarnett/ilmerge.aspx
I've been given a dll to talk to a device, I have little to no experience in C# and I'm supposed to get the device initialized by the end of the week. The dll has methods to open ports and send messages, but I have no idea how to get access to the functions
I know its a bit ridiculous to ask but im running out of time.
Thanks,
Add a Reference to the .dll file in your C# project.
Add a Using namespace at the top of whatever class is going to interact with the .dll methods.
You will now be able to access the methods.
Edit: If your library is unmanaged you'll have to use Pinvoke.
Generally speaking, a feature to call from managed code into unmanaged code (which I assume your DLL is) is called P/Invoke and generally involves annotating required static extern methods with attributes.
Add a reference to the dll in your project (selet browse to find it) and you should be able to access the functions within. As for how to make your device work with it, I think you're on your own :)
If the DLL is a .Net assembly, you can load it into a Visual Studio project by adding it as a reference.
In the absence of documentation, it can also be extremely helpful to load the assembly into .Net Reflector, which lets you inspect the guts of the assembly, even to the point of disassembling the code inside the methods.
1- If it is managed Dll , i.e. Written using .net framework than calling a method from the dll is like you are calling a method from your own class.
just add the reference of the dll in your project and include the namespace reference by 'Using' keyword.
2- If it is not than you need to import your dll dynamically, you can use [DllImport]
I'm trying to use the lame_enc.dll file from LAME in a C# project, but adding the thing seems impossible.
I keep getting an error that says that a reference could not be added and to please check if the is accessible, a valid assembly or COM component.
I have no C++ experience, though I would like to use the functionality. Right now I'm using Process from the .NET framework to call lame.exe and do stuff, but I'd like to know if there's another way.
You can only add managed assemblies as a reference to a managed project. What I normally do in this situation is to add it as ressource instead with "copy local" settings. That way the DLL is tied to and deployed with your project. I then use DllImport to manually get the APIs I need from that DLL.
You have to use P/Invoke to call unmanaged APIs from managed code.
To use an unmanaged dll (native C++) in C#, you have to use DllImport, not adding a reference to the project in visual studio (and that is why you get an error).
Here is the documentation of DllImport from the MSDN.
You will need to use PInvoke to call functions in your native lame dll. However, you will only be able to call functions that have been exported as "C" style.
You can use a tool like "PInvoke Interop Assistant" that will help you when working out the PInvoke call signatures to make calls from C# to your native dll:
http://clrinterop.codeplex.com/releases/view/14120
I am developing a GUI based application in MS Visual Studio 2005, I just want to
know if it is possible to use both VB.NET and C# in the same project. Or can I include a module written in C# in my VB.NET project?
I have a class written in C# which I want to use in my VB.NET based project, so if I can include and call functions from that project than I won't have to write the class again in VB.NET.
So please help me as I am new to .NET programming.
I just want to know that is it possible to use both VB and C# in the same project.
No, not in the same project. On the other hand, you can use them in the same solution.
Or can i include a module written in C# in my VB.net project.
I propose that you create a solution containing two projects: one in C# which forms a library that you use from your VB project. This is straightforward, easy to maintain and easy to extend.
I've never done it myself, but I know you can compile the C# code into a dll and then load and reference the dll in your VB project.
From "Calling C# class in VB.net":
I think the C# code that you want to
use must be compiled as a DLL. Once
that is done, simple add a reference
to that project to your VB.Net
project, import the namespace you
need, and then you can use the C#
code.
Also see How To: Create and Use C# DLLs (from MSDN, for VS2005)
You also want to ensure that you C# code is CLS compliant. This means that it won't publicly expose any functionality which other .NET languages won't understand (for example unsigned ints - which don't exist in VB, or differing classes only by case - since VB is not case-sensitive). To do this you need to add an attribute so that the compiler will raise errors if you have broken any of the guidelines. This article shows you how to do this:
The CLSCompliantAttribute can be applied to assemblies, modules,
types, and members.
For marking an entire assembly as CLS compliant the following syntax
is used
using System;
[assembly:CLSCompliant(true)]
For marking a particular method as CLS compliant the following syntax
is used
[CLSCompliant(true)]
public void MyMethod()`
Put VB.NET and C# code in separate projects. (I am using both VB.NET and C# in my open source project, http://msquant.sourceforge.net/, and it works great).
You don't need to worry about DLLs, just reference the project (use tab "Project" in the "Add Reference" dialog box). E.g. if you need to use a function in the C# code/project add a reference in the VB.NET project to the C# project.
You can't use a C# file and VB file in the same project. You can, however, have VB and C# projects in the same solution and reference them.
In your code you can use:
Imports namespace
or
using namespace
Once the reference has been added to the appropriate project build the solution and you are good to go.
You can also create a VB.NET Library in a separate solution, compile it and import the DLL into the C# Project or vice versa.
You must also know that if you have a VB.NET project with a C# project in the same solution with one of them having a reference to the other, changes apply in the referencing project will just be available to the other after rebuilding the solution. It's like having binary reference, but with the capability to change code on the same solution.
Personally, I don't like this, but I'm always in the situation where I modify the code in the referencing project and don't know why my changes are not in the code where I use it and I figure it out, oohhhh, I must rebuild.
For temporary help, it could be acceptable but not for programming every day.
If you were only planning on using the module in Visual Basic projects, then you should consider just converting the code to Visual Basic. If you need to use the module in both C# and VB.NET programs I would use one of the solutions posted above
You might try something like *Convert C# to VB.NET. It converts C# to VB.NET code. I use this page exclusively when I have to convert something I find on the net that was written in C#.