What type of project needs to be created for C++/CLI?

Question

I am writing a wrapper for my native C++ methods in C++/CLI which will expose them to C#. Now I am using Visual Studio 2008. Can any one tell me what type of project I need to create so that my wrapper will be exposed to C#. I see in Visual Studio 2008 there are different types of projects under Visual C++--->CLR---->

class library,
CLR Empty Project,
Windows form control library,
CLR Console Application,
Windows Forms Application,
Windows Service

Which one should I use?

Answer 1

You have to create the project of type Class Library. The most important thing is to specify the "Common Language Runtime Support" option (set to "Common Language Runtime Support (/clr)") in the Project Properties -> Configuration Properties -> General

This will allow you to use the

#pragma managed
... use your native stuff here
#pragma unmanaged

pragmas and link with the native .lib files.

See this link for subtle details

http://www.codeguru.com/cpp/cpp/cpp_managed/interop/article.php/c6867/Consuming-Unmanaged-C-Class-Libraries-from-NET-Clients.htm

There is a catch (not mentioned in this article) for 64-bit builds. The "Linker->Input->Force Symbol References" must be set to "_ DllMainCRTStartup" for 64-bit and to " _DllMainCRTStartup@12" for 32-bit.