KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q77986: How to Use _export Keyword or DEF File EXPORTS Statement

Article: Q77986
Product(s): Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb16bitonly
Last Modified: 30-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0, 3.1 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

In Windows 3.0 and later, the _export keyword should not be used as a general
replacement for exporting functions in the EXPORTS section of a
module-definition (DEF) file.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The _export declarator can sometimes be used to export functions from
Windows-based applications and dynamic-link libraries (DLLs); however, this
method has several limitations.

In the Windows environment, all callback functions must be flagged as exported to
ensure that the prolog code is fixed up at load time. The fixed up prolog code
works with the procedure-instance addresses returned from the MakeProcInstance()
function to bind the proper data segment to the exported function when it is
called.

Examples of callback functions are: window procedures, dialog box procedures, and
enumeration callback procedures (see Section 14.4, "Writing Exported Functions"
in the "Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit Guide to Programming"). A DLL
must also flag as exported any functions called from other modules.

The second edition of "Programming Windows" by Charles Petzold (Microsoft Press)
has a good explanation of the special Windows prolog code and the effects of
listing functions in the EXPORTS section of the module- definition file (pages
280-286 and 895-896).

Usually, functions are flagged as exported by listing them in the EXPORTS section
of the modules' module-definition file. In addition to enabling fixup of the
prolog code, exporting functions from the module-definition file provides
control of the ordinal values of the exported functions. This is especially
important for DLLs because existing applications that call the exported
functions will not need to be relinked when the DLL is modified if the
interface-function prototypes and ordinal values are not changed between
versions. Specifying ordinal values also allows the Windows dynamic-link
mechanism to operate faster and to use less memory.

When compiling Windows-based applications and DLLs using Microsoft C version 6.0
and later, the _export keyword may be used in place of listing the function in
the EXPORTS section of the module-definition file, with the following
limitations:

- This method provides no control over the ordinal values of the exported
  functions (as discussed above).

- The function name is not resident. RESIDENTNAME, required for WEPs (Windows
  exit procedures) in DLLs, can be specified only in a module-definition file.

- Exportname cannot be specified (no alias name).

- The NODATA option cannot be specified.

- The "parameter-option specification" cannot be overridden.

For more information, see pages 10-4 and 10-5 in the "Microsoft Windows Software
Development Kit Reference Volume 2."

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kb16bitonly 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbSDKSearch kbWinSDKSearch kbWinSDK300 kbWinSDK310
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.1
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.