"Public Overrides Declare Function" possible in any other way?

[Benjamin Lukner]

Hi!

I'd like to dynamically call API functions from different DLLs,
depending on what platform the program runs. Now I'm wondering what the
most simple way may be (without meta code and compiler switches!).

I'd like to call it like that:
Public Sub xyz()
Dim xx As Class1
If _Platform = _yy Then
xx = New Class2
End If
End Sub
The following code is not possible:
Public MustInherit Class Class1
Public MustOverride Function htons( _
ByVal hostshort As Int16 _
) As Int16
End Class

Public Class Class2
Inherits Class1
Public Overrides Declare Function htons Lib "winsock.dll" ( _
ByVal hostshort As Int16 _
) As Int16
End Class
At the moment I'm wrapping the code in Class2:
Public Class Class2
Inherits Class1
Private Declare Function htons_API Lib "winsock.dll" Alias "htons" ( _
ByRef hostshort As Int16 _
) As Int16

Public Overrides Function htons(ByVal hostshort As Short) As Short
Return htons_API(hostshort)
End Function
End Class
But that means that there is exactly the same "Overrides" code in every
class I derive from Class1. This is pretty much overhead, I think.

Does someone know a better way?
Kind regards,

Benjamin Lukner