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Q123870: INFO: Portable DLL Example Using _declspec() and _export

Article: Q123870
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 1.0,2.0,2.1,4.0,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbcode kbLangC kbVC kbVC100 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbDSupport
Last Modified: 11-FEB-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual C++, versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, version 5.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition, version 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

This article shows what you need to do to create portable code for both 16-bit
and 32-bit application.

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

In Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, _declspec(dllexport) is used to export code and
data and _declspec(dllimport) is used to import code and data. This is a change
from Visual C++ for Windows where __export is used to export and import code and
the .DEF file is used to export and import data.

It is not possible to maintain a single source for 16-bit and 32-bit code by
simply replacing __export with _declspec() because _declspec() is a storage
class modifier and __export is a type modifier.

The following sample application shows by example how you can create portable
code for both 16-bit and 32-bit applications. The sample application exports
code and data from a DLL. Both the EXE and DLL can be built by using this
command:

  NMAKE /f declspec.mak [WIN16=1]

By default, the 32-bit version is built. If WIN16 is defined, a 16-bit version is
built. This requires using 16-bit development tools.

The code uses a single header file in both the EXE and DLL. You do not need
_declspec(dllimport) for importing code, but it is required for data. Faster
code is generated when using _declspec(dllimport) with functions.

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q107501 TITLE : __declspec(dllexport) Replaces __export in 32-bit Visual C++

Sample Code
-----------

     #
     # DECLSPEC.MAK
     #
     !IFNDEF WIN16
     # Win32 build commands:

     all: decldll.dll declexe.exe

     decldll.obj: decldll.c

        cl /c /DWIN32 /DDLL decldll.c

     decldll.dll: decldll.obj

        link /DLL /OUT:decldll.dll decldll.obj kernel32.lib user32.lib \ 
        gdi32.lib

     declexe.obj: declexe.c

        cl /c /DWIN32 declexe.c

     declexe.exe : declexe.obj decldll.dll

        link /OUT:declexe.exe declexe.obj decldll.lib kernel32.lib \ 
        user32.lib gdi32.lib

     !ELSE
     # Win16 build commands:

     all: decldll.dll declexe.exe

     decldll.obj: decldll.c

        cl /c /GD /ALw decldll.c

     decldll.dll: decldll.obj

        link decldll.obj, decldll.dll,,ldllcew.lib libw.lib, decldll.def
        implib decldll.lib decldll.dll

     declexe.obj: declexe.c

        cl /c /GA /AL /Gx- declexe.c

     declexe.exe : declexe.obj decldll.dll

        link declexe.obj, declexe.exe,,llibcew.lib libw.lib decldll.lib, \ 
        declexe.def

     !ENDIF

     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     /*

      * DECLDLL.H
      */ 

     #if !defined (_WIN32)
     #   define EXPORT __export
     #   define EXPORT32
     #else
     #   define EXPORT
     #   if defined DLL
     #      define EXPORT32 __declspec(dllexport)
     #   else
     #      define EXPORT32 __declspec(dllimport)
     #   endif
     #endif

     EXPORT32 void EXPORT dll_func(void);
     extern EXPORT32 int EXPORT i;

     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     /*

      * DECLDLL.C
      */ 

     #include <windows.h>
     #include "decldll.h"

     /* Both LibMain(), initialization function for 16-bit DLLs, and
        DllMain(), initialization function for 32-bit DLLs are optional. */ 

     EXPORT32 void EXPORT dll_func(void)
     {

        MessageBox(NULL, "We are in the DLL\n", "declspec() example", MB_OK);

     }

     /* In Win16, data must be exported using .DEF */ 
     EXPORT32 int i = 17;

     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     ;
     ; DECLDLL.DEF - Used only in 16-bit project
     ;
     LIBRARY DECLDLL

     EXPORTS

             WEP @1
             _i

     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     /*

      * DECLEXE.C
      */ 

     #include <windows.h>
     #include "decldll.h"

     int PASCAL WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance,
             LPSTR lpCmdLine, int cCmdShow)
     {
        MessageBox(NULL, "We are in the EXE\n", "declspec() sample", MB_OK);
        dll_func();
        MessageBox(NULL, "We are in the EXE\n", "declspec() sample", MB_OK);
        if (i==17)
           MessageBox(NULL, "Exported Data is OK", "declspec() sample",

  MB_OK);

        else
           MessageBox(NULL, "Exported Data is NOT OK\n",
                            "declspec() sample", MB_OK);
        return 1;

     }

     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     ;
     ; DECLEXE.DEF - Used only in 16-bit version
     ;
     NAME Declexe

     EXETYPE WINDOWS

     STACKSIZE 4096
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------

REFERENCES
==========



Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbcode kbLangC kbVC kbVC100 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbDSupport 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbVC400 kbAudDeveloper kbvc100 kbVC500 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC32bitSearch kbVC500Search
Version           : :1.0,2.0,2.1,4.0,5.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

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