Q131313: HOWTO: Create 32-bit Import Libraries Without .OBJs or Source
Article: Q131313
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): 2.0,2.1,4.0,5.0
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s): kb3rdparty kbcode kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600
Last Modified: 26-JUL-2002
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The information in this article applies to:
- The Microsoft Library Manager (LIB.EXE), used with:
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 2.0, 2.1, 4.0, 5.0, used with:
- the hardware: Intel x86
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SUMMARY
=======
This article explains how to create an import library given a .DLL for which you
have no source code or object modules. There is no 32-bit utility that can
create an import library from a .DLL, as there was with 16-bit versions of
Visual C++.
NOTE: This method may not work with DLLs generated with non-Microsoft development
tools.
MORE INFORMATION
================
Normally, when building a .DLL or any target that exports functions or data
items, an import library (and exports file) is generated as part of the linking
process. But in the case of a third-party .DLL that does not ship with an import
library, you may need to generate an import library in order to use the .DLL
successfully using load-time dynamic linking. An import library is not needed
for run-time dynamic linking.
There are two ways to create an import library given a .DLL:
- Create a .DEF file for use with the LIB /DEF: command.
- Stub out functions, and use the .OBJ files created to mimic the import/export
relationships. Then use the LIB /DEF: command to create the import library.
Creating a .DEF file
--------------------
The only time you can use a .DEF file to create an import library from a .DLL for
which you do not have the source code or object modules is if the .DLL exports
functions via a C interface. Specifically, the functions need to have been
declared to use the C calling convention. This is specified by the _cdecl
attribute, normally used in the prototype for the function. Note that if no
attribute is specified, _cdecl is the default when /Gz (_stdcall is the default)
or /Gr (_fastcall is the default) is not specified on the CL command line. The
reason for this limitation is based on an assumption made by the LIB utility
that all names are automatically exported without a leading underscore. This is
only true for _cdecl function names.
Given a .DLL with functions exported via a C interface, you can create an import
library by following these steps:
1. Use DUMPBIN /EXPORTS <.DLL file name> to obtain the list of exported
symbols for the .DLL in question. The symbols appear in the "name" column of
the table whose headings are "ordinal hint name."
2. Create a .DEF file that contains an EXPORTS section with the names of the
functions listed in the "name" column of the DUMPBIN output.
3. For _cdecl functions, the symbol appears just as it would when used in the
calling program. Just place this symbol in the EXPORTS section of the .DEF
file.
4. Use LIB /DEF:<.DEF file name> to generate the import library and
exports file. The base name of the import library will be the base name of
the .DEF file. Use /OUT: to control the output library name.
Stubbing Out Functions
----------------------
For exported functions that use calling conventions other than C, the situation
is a little more complex. This is especially true when you consider C++
functions and the more complex name decoration schemes involved. To use this
method, you must at least have the header file that describes the .DLL's
interface.
To create stubbed functions from prototypes in a header file:
1. When "__declspec(dllimport)" is used in a prototype or declaration, change it
to "__declspec(dllexport)."
2. For functions that do not return a value, for C functions in C source, and
for C functions in C++ source code (used with the 'extern "C"' construct),
replace the semicolon that terminates the function prototype with a matched
pair of curly braces ("{}").
3. For C++ functions (global or member) that return a value, you must create a
dummy body for the function, and return a dummy value of the proper type.
(Not having a return statement in the function is illegal.) This goes for
class member functions, as well. Keep in mind that the purpose of this
procedure is to trick the LIB utility into generating the correct import
library, so these dummy bodies have no effect.
4. For C++ classes, you can stub out the member functions by using the
prototypes in the class declaration, as long as you disable function inlining
when you compile.
5. Function arguments are usually just specified by type in a header file. For
example, Geta(int). A dummy argument identifier must be specified when adding
the dummy function body Geta(int x). Otherwise the error C2055 is generated.
Example
-------
If the header file that describes MYDLL.DLL looks like:
// mydll.H
extern "C" __declspec(dllimport) void _stdcall Function(void);
class __declspec(dllimport) CMyClass {
int a;
long b;
public:
int Geta(int);
long Getb();
CMyClass();
};
The dummy source file you use to build the import library should look like:
// mydll.CPP
extern "C" __declspec(dllexport) void _stdcall Function(void) {}
class __declspec(dllexport) CMyClass {
int a;
long b;
public:
int Geta(int x) {return 111;}
long Getb() {return 111;}
CMyClass() {}
};
Once the functions are stubbed out, all you need to do is compile the source file
into an .OBJ file:
CL /c /Ob0 mydll.CPP
NOTE: Disabling function inlining is required to force generation of symbols for
the functions defined in CMyClass. If function inlining were enabled, the
compiler would notice that there are no references to the member functions in
the translation unit, so it would discard the function bodies. See the
discussion on inline function expansion under Optimizations in the Visual C++ CL
Command line reference.
Once you have .OBJ files, you can use LIB /DEF: to create the import library
(.LIB) and exports file (.EXP):
LIB /DEF: mydll.OBJ
For more information on the LIB command, consult the "LIB Reference" in the
Visual C++ Books Online.
Also, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q140485 Exporting PASCAL-Like Symbols in 32-bit DLLs
Additional query words: 2.50 2.55 LINK /LIB
======================================================================
Keywords : kb3rdparty kbcode kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC400 kbVC500 kbVC600
Technology : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbLibSearch
Version : :2.0,2.1,4.0,5.0
Hardware : x86
Issue type : kbhowto
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