Creating simple c++.net wrapper. Step-by-step

c# .net c++ dll wrapper
Evgeny007 picture Evgeny007 · Apr 14, 2010 · Viewed 86.1k times · Source

I've a c++ project. I admit that I'm a complete ZERO in c++. But still I need to write a c++.net wrapper so I could work with an unmanaged c++ library using it. So what I have: 1) unmanaged project's header files. 2) unmanaged project's libraries (.dll's and .lib's) 3) an empty C++.NET project which I plan to use as a wrapper for my c# application

How can I start? I don't even know how to set a reference to an unmanaged library.

S.O.S.

Answer

Alex F picture Alex F · Apr 14, 2010

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/mcpp/quickcppcli.aspx#A8

This is general direction. You need to create C++/CLI Class Library project, add .NET class to it (StudentWrapper in this sample), create unmanaged class instance as managed class member, and wrap every unmanaged class function. Unmanaged library is added to C++/CLI project using linker dependencies list, and not as reference. In the Project - Properties - Linker open Additional Dependencies and add .lib name there.

Note: since we are talking about C++/CLI wrapper, no PInvoke! PInvoke is used to call exported functions (API), and not classes.

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