Calling Unmanaged code from a .net application

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Guest

I need to write a .net windows service that calls and receives callbacks from
a API for specialized hardware through a conventional unmanaged dll. The
manufacturer for this hardware provides a standard c .h header file and a
..lib file to be linked with my code. From all I can gather no matter what
..net language I use basic, c#, or c++ I cant use the supplied .h file, I
would need to define all functions and structures for the API in my own code
using marshaling attributes. Unfortunately this means that every time the
manufacturer sends me a new software release, its not just a simple recompile
on my part, I would have to go through all my definitions for their API and
make sure the marshaling attributes still matched there .h file.

Is there another way I could do this and use the manufacturers supplied .h
file?
 
IMO no. If they do this it would break all exisitng code. Generally the
exisitng signature are left unchangeg en if the singature needs a change
they introduce a new function su as <FunctionName>Ex...

Talk with them but you'll likely have to do this one time...

Patrice
 
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