Using a .Net DLL with Call DLL Function

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JohnBot
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2014 7:53 am

Using a .Net DLL with Call DLL Function

Postby JohnBot » Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:03 am

Hi

I am quite new to IA and am struggling with using Call DLL. I decided to try this at first rather than write a plugin however perhaps that will be the route I have to follow?

My DLL is a standard .Net dll and uses Open.Nat to attempt to create a port mapping on a UPNP router.

Firstly, the dll will not exist on the target machine when installing so what would be the path to the dll?

Next, I have 3 functions exported and I need each of them to return a string value. The dialog for Call DLL does not appear to provide for a string return value so what would I use?

Finally, would you think that I should really create a plugin? If so then I have taken a look at the example for a .Net based plugin but I can't find any details of how to actually install the final thing into IA? Can anyone elaborate on that please?

Here is what I am using at present (I have added the DLL to my list of files to install). I am hoping to return the string value in the pre-defined variable DPNATSCAN.

~InstallAware Clipboard Data~
~Call DLL Function~
~{6BBABD71-8039-49ED-96E0-19B017461AC4}~
~$TARGETDIR$\bin\Open.Nat.dll,FindHost,"double word",DPNATSCAN,$~
~mIDEFunc.dll\mEXEFunc.dll~

Many thanks

John

FrancescoT
Site Admin
Posts: 5360
Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:28 am

Re: Using a .Net DLL with Call DLL Function

Postby FrancescoT » Mon Dec 29, 2014 12:31 pm

Dear John,

you can call a NATIVE WIN 32 DLL only with the "Call DLL Function" ... those created using C# .Net are not standard dlls.

As alternative, you can create an EXE that embeds your code or you could develop a Net plug-in.
The .NET plug-in bridge allows you to invoke plug-in assemblies written in .NET from a running InstallAware setup or the InstallAware IDE.
http://www.installaware.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8868

Hope this helps you.

Regards
Francesco Toscano
InstallAware Software

White Papers (HowTos) - http://www.installaware.com/publication ... papers.htm
Publications - http://www.installaware.com/publications-review.htm
InstallAware Help -F1 anywhere in the InstallAware IDE

mikKummerfeld
Posts: 252
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2011 3:07 am
Location: Konstanz, Germany
Contact:

Re: Using a .Net DLL with Call DLL Function

Postby mikKummerfeld » Thu Mar 23, 2017 9:18 am

where can i download .NET plug-in bridge ? The resource has not been found or unavailable
Kind regards

Heiko Kummerfeld
MIK GmbH

Setup developer for .NET BI Software (12 products)
Head of quality assurance
technical consultant

FrancescoT
Site Admin
Posts: 5360
Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:28 am

Re: Using a .Net DLL with Call DLL Function

Postby FrancescoT » Thu Mar 23, 2017 9:48 am

Dear Heiko,

this is now included with InstallAware. From the IA IDE, New Project -> New Project Dialog -> Plug-ins .

Regards
Francesco Toscano
InstallAware Software

White Papers (HowTos) - http://www.installaware.com/publication ... papers.htm
Publications - http://www.installaware.com/publications-review.htm
InstallAware Help -F1 anywhere in the InstallAware IDE


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