C#.NET COM interoperability: Arrays of UDT's in COM

[Raj]

Hi,

This is regarding using Arrays of UDT's in COM.

The following is a short description:

- We basically need a structure, struct MAIN_STRUCT which must contain a
dynamic array of another struct, struct SUB_STRUCT. We have a interface
function that is callable by the client, which takes a dynamic array of
MAIN_STRUCT as parameter. So the problem is wrt passing around dynamic
arrays of structs(UDT's) that further contains a dynamic array of another
struct(UDT) in it (from the COM server side).

- We can use SAFEARRAY(struct) but this works only for a simple struct. It
does not appear possible to create SAFEARRAYS(structs) that contain another
struct inside it.

- The other problem is wrt interoperability as we have a (unmanaged)legacy
ATL-COM server whereas a C#.NET client at the other end

Please let me know if you have any suggestions/comments/workarounds for this
problem

Thanks,
Raj

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

Raj,

If you use a safearray for the dynamic array of sub structures, then it
should marshal just fine.

Can you show the definitions of the structures you are using?
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard.caspershouse.com

"Raj" <ra*************@networkgeneral.com> wrote in message
news:e6**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Hi,

This is regarding using Arrays of UDT's in COM.

The following is a short description:

- We basically need a structure, struct MAIN_STRUCT which must contain a
dynamic array of another struct, struct SUB_STRUCT. We have a interface
function that is callable by the client, which takes a dynamic array of
MAIN_STRUCT as parameter. So the problem is wrt passing around dynamic
arrays of structs(UDT's) that further contains a dynamic array of another
struct(UDT) in it (from the COM server side).

- We can use SAFEARRAY(struct) but this works only for a simple struct. It
does not appear possible to create SAFEARRAYS(structs) that contain
another struct inside it.

- The other problem is wrt interoperability as we have a (unmanaged)legacy
ATL-COM server whereas a C#.NET client at the other end

Please let me know if you have any suggestions/comments/workarounds for
this problem

Thanks,
Raj