C source code to DLL for use in a C# application

Question

I have a C source code written in VC++6.0 and I need that code to be used in a C# application which I am coding.

I have done few things to make that happen, I have run that C source file in release mode and have generated the intermediate.manifest file and the other files there, can I use any of these file to make my problem solved.

it's thousands of answers on SO. just look at related section. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4941736/using-c-dll-in-c — Vasiliy Ermolovich, Apr 23 '11 at 20:39
The fact that you've posted a question here tells us that you'd like our help already, no need to say it again `;-)` — Matt Ball, Apr 23 '11 at 20:41
is it one C source file ? Is it not feasible to convert it to C#, or is there a specific reason that it must be C? — jeroenh, Apr 23 '11 at 20:50
yeah it is just one C source file and including lots of header files, but i have them all — rahul sharma, Apr 23 '11 at 20:54

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 23 '11 at 20:39

3

What you want to do is import the dll like this:

 [DllImport("user32.dll")]//This is where you identify your dll...
   public static extern int MessageBoxA(  //This would be an object from your dll
      int h, string m, string c, int type);

   public static int Main() 
   {
      return MessageBoxA(0, "Hello World!", "My Message Box", 0);
   }

The keywords that you need to search on to learn about this are "running unmanaged code" and "PInvoke".

answered Apr 23 '11 at 20:39

Cos Callis

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yeah i want to call the dll like that but how can i convert the c source file to a dll? – rahul sharma Apr 23 '11 at 20:44
For that SO may not be right place. Please search the internet for how to make a c dll in VS. – Muhammad Hasan Khan Apr 23 '11 at 20:46

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 16 '13 at 12:48

If you are comfortable enough wrapping up c code in c++ you could easily make a dll by following this microsoft guide. It details how to go about creating a dll in C++. If you need a more in-depth explanation though feel free to get back to me, and I will try and knock up a quick how-to.

Also let me know if you use a different IDE or environment and I can taylor the answer to suit your needs more precisely.

Might be later on today though as am pressed for time at the moment.

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 23 '11 at 20:47

Another alternative is to wrap the C code in managed C++. Microsoft calls it C++/CLI. Anyways, you then compile an 'assembly' from that wrapper. An assembly is just a DLL that contains managed code. Then you can 'reference' (the managed equivalent of linking) that 'wrapper' from a fully managed C# application. So the dependency could look like this:

C -> Managed C++ -> C#

C source code to DLL for use in a C# application

3 Answers3

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