Using a .Net DLL with Call DLL Function

[JohnBot]

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]

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

[mikKummerfeld]

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

[FrancescoT]

Dear Heiko,

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

Regards