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Passing an array from VC++ DLL to VB

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24 Apr 2002 1  
This article shows how to pass an array from a VC++ DLL to VB

Introduction

This article shows how to pass an array from a VC++ DLL to a VB application

The steps

  • Create an ATL project named ArrayTry; Select DLL; Click Finish.
  • Use ATL Object Wizard to add a simple object.
  • Give the short name as myarray, click OK.
  • The next step is to add a method which takes an array as well as returns it after filling it. You can always add a method using the wizard but VC6 throws an error in this case as we are using SAFEARRAY. So we will do it manually which I think is more logical.
  • So go to your .idl file and add the following below the UUID declaration of your interface
  • interface Imyarray : IDispatch
    {
        [id(1), helpstring("method LongArray")] 
            HRESULT LongArray([in,out] SAFEARRAY(long)* pLarr);
    };
    
    
  • Go to your class's .h file and add the following at the very end,
  • // Imyarray
    public:
        STDMETHOD(LongArray)(/*[in,out]*/ SAFEARRAY** pLarr);
    
  • Go to your class' .cpp file and add the following
  • STDMETHODIMP Cmyarray::LongArray(SAFEARRAY** pLarr)
    {
        
        long lElements; // number of elements in the array
        long iCount;
        HRESULT lResult; // return code for OLE functions
    
        // pointer to the elements of the array
        long *pArrayElements; 
    
        long Larray[3] = {4,2,3};//existing array
    
        //checking if it is an one-dimensional array
        if ( (*pLarr)->cDims != 1 ) return(1);
    
        // checking if it is an array of longs
        if ( (*pLarr)->cbElements != 4 ) return(2);
    
    
        //Getting the number of elements of the array
        lElements = (*pLarr)->rgsabound[0].cElements;
    
        // locking the array before using its elements
        lResult=SafeArrayLock(*pLarr);
        if(lResult)return(lResult);
    
        // using the array
        pArrayElements=(long*) (*pLarr)->pvData;
        for (iCount=0; iCount<lElements; iCount++)
            pArrayElements[iCount] = Larray[iCount];
    
        // releasing the array
        lResult=SafeArrayUnlock(*pLarr);
        if (lResult) return(lResult);
    
    
        return S_OK;
    }
  • In the above function we take an array , which will be passed ( by a VB application ) & fill it with the values from an existing array.
  • Press F7 to build the DLL , go to Tools and register your DLL. Your DLL is now ready for use.
  • Now Create a VB application as an EXE; Add a command button, double click to add the following code
  • Private Sub Command1_Click()
    Dim x As New TRYARRLib.larray
    
        Dim ArrayOfLongs(3) As Long 'Declare the array
          
        x.LongArray ArrayOfLongs  'Get the array
          
        For Counter = 0 To 2
            'print the array contents
            Debug.Print ArrayOfLongs(Counter) 
        Next
          
    End Sub
    
    
  • Don't forget to add a reference to your DLL ( Go to projects/references and point to your .tlb file )

That's It

Watch the results in the immediate window. Please write to me for any explanations/doubts , better way to do the same thing.

License

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