Unmanaged DLL -- How can I create one in .NET 2003?

[Dave Griffin]

I have what I think is an "unmanaged DLL" that I access from within C#
using the construction:

[DllImport("sbslib32.dll")]
public static extern ushort sbs_init_device(ushort DevNum,
ushort queue_length, ushort bsm_length,
SBS1553Classes.SBS_FIRMWARE_SOURCE firmware_source);

There are no object oriented constructions here and the code is
actually C (not C++). I would like to create a "phony" version of this
DLL for use on our desktop machines (where the hardware this DLL uses
is not present) but I don't know how to do it in .NET or if it's even
possible. I would like to install it on the desktop and then use my
own implementation (my phony DLL) to pretend to feed data to my
program in order to construct non-trivial tests of throughput.

Is there a way to do this, and if so, can you point me to an example?
Thanks.

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Dave,

Well, you wouldn't do it in .NET per se, but you can create it in Visual
Studio .NET.

Basically, you want a win32 project. When creating a new project, check
the project templates for one with that name. It will then lead you through
the steps of creating a dll.

Hope this helps.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard.caspershouse.com

"Dave Griffin" <ca***********@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:45*************************@posting.google.co m...

I have what I think is an "unmanaged DLL" that I access from within C#
using the construction:

[DllImport("sbslib32.dll")]
public static extern ushort sbs_init_device(ushort DevNum,
ushort queue_length, ushort bsm_length,
SBS1553Classes.SBS_FIRMWARE_SOURCE firmware_source);

There are no object oriented constructions here and the code is
actually C (not C++). I would like to create a "phony" version of this
DLL for use on our desktop machines (where the hardware this DLL uses
is not present) but I don't know how to do it in .NET or if it's even
possible. I would like to install it on the desktop and then use my
own implementation (my phony DLL) to pretend to feed data to my
program in order to construct non-trivial tests of throughput.

Is there a way to do this, and if so, can you point me to an example?
Thanks.

[David Browne]

"Dave Griffin" <ca***********@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:45*************************@posting.google.co m...

I have what I think is an "unmanaged DLL" that I access from within C#
using the construction:

[DllImport("sbslib32.dll")]
public static extern ushort sbs_init_device(ushort DevNum,
ushort queue_length, ushort bsm_length,
SBS1553Classes.SBS_FIRMWARE_SOURCE firmware_source);

There are no object oriented constructions here and the code is
actually C (not C++). I would like to create a "phony" version of this
DLL for use on our desktop machines (where the hardware this DLL uses
is not present) but I don't know how to do it in .NET or if it's even
possible. I would like to install it on the desktop and then use my
own implementation (my phony DLL) to pretend to feed data to my
program in order to construct non-trivial tests of throughput.

Is there a way to do this, and if so, can you point me to an example?

Sure

Visual Studio > New Project > Visual C++ Projects > Win32 Projects > Win32
Project
Brings up the "Win32 Application Wizard"
Change Application Settings > Application Type
Choose ApplicationType: DLL and Additional Options: Export Symbols

That will create a skeleton of an unmanaged DLL. In the [appname].h file
are the exports for the application, with examples of exporting a class,
variable and a function.

See generally

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...from_a_dll.asp

Something like this:

struct SBS_FIRMWARE_SOURCE
{
int i;
};
extern "C" __declspec(dllexport)
unsigned short sbs_init_device(
unsigned short DevNum,
unsigned short queue_length,
unsigned short bsm_length,
SBS_FIRMWARE_SOURCE firmware_source);

If the function in uses the cdecl calling convention. For stdcall use
extern "C" __declspec(dllexport)
unsigned short __stdcall sbs_init_device(
unsigned short DevNum,
unsigned short queue_length,
unsigned short bsm_length,
SBS_FIRMWARE_SOURCE firmware_source);

But in the case of stdcall, you'll also need to use a .def file to name the
export because the compiler will name the exported function
"_sbs_init_device".

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de....def_files.asp

David

[Dave Griffin]

"David Browne" <davidbaxterbrowne no potted me**@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<Og**************@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl>...

"Dave Griffin" <ca***********@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:45*************************@posting.google.co m...

I have what I think is an "unmanaged DLL" that I access from within C#
using the construction:

[DllImport("sbslib32.dll")]
public static extern ushort sbs_init_device(ushort DevNum,
ushort queue_length, ushort bsm_length,
SBS1553Classes.SBS_FIRMWARE_SOURCE firmware_source);

There are no object oriented constructions here and the code is
actually C (not C++). I would like to create a "phony" version of this
DLL for use on our desktop machines (where the hardware this DLL uses
is not present) but I don't know how to do it in .NET or if it's even
possible. I would like to install it on the desktop and then use my
own implementation (my phony DLL) to pretend to feed data to my
program in order to construct non-trivial tests of throughput.

Is there a way to do this, and if so, can you point me to an example?

Sure

Visual Studio > New Project > Visual C++ Projects > Win32 Projects > Win32
Project
Brings up the "Win32 Application Wizard"
Change Application Settings > Application Type
Choose ApplicationType: DLL and Additional Options: Export Symbols

That will create a skeleton of an unmanaged DLL. In the [appname].h file
are the exports for the application, with examples of exporting a class,
variable and a function.

See generally

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...from_a_dll.asp

Something like this:

struct SBS_FIRMWARE_SOURCE
{
int i;
};
extern "C" __declspec(dllexport)
unsigned short sbs_init_device(
unsigned short DevNum,
unsigned short queue_length,
unsigned short bsm_length,
SBS_FIRMWARE_SOURCE firmware_source);

If the function in uses the cdecl calling convention. For stdcall use
extern "C" __declspec(dllexport)
unsigned short __stdcall sbs_init_device(
unsigned short DevNum,
unsigned short queue_length,
unsigned short bsm_length,
SBS_FIRMWARE_SOURCE firmware_source);

But in the case of stdcall, you'll also need to use a .def file to name the
export because the compiler will name the exported function
"_sbs_init_device".

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de....def_files.asp

David

Thanks, I'll try this. So far so good.