NETLink Symbol

DefineDLLFunction

DefineDLLFunction["func", "dll", rtype, atypes]
returns a Mathematica function that calls the specified function func with argument types atypes and return type rtype in the specified unmanaged DLL dll.

DefineDLLFunction["declaration"]
lets you write a full C#-syntax 'extern' function declaration. Use this form when you need to write a complex function declaration that requires features not available using options to DefineDLLFunction, such as specific "MarshalAs" attributes on each of the parameters.

MORE INFORMATION

To use DefineDLLFunction, you first need to load .NET/Link using Needs["NETLink`"].

The following options can be given:

CallingConvention	Automatic	the calling convention expected by the DLL function (possible values are "StdCall", "CDecl", "ThisCall", and Automatic.)
MarshalStringsAs	"ANSI"	how string arguments (char*, string, String) should be marshaled to and from the DLL function (possible values are "ANSI", "Unicode", and Automatic)
ReferencedAssemblies	Automatic	a list of the names of assemblies referenced by your declaration

The atypes argument is a list of type specifications for the arguments, and can be omitted if the function takes no arguments.

The argument type and return type specifications are strings or, less commonly, NETType expressions.

Strings can be given in C-style syntax (such as "char*"), C#-syntax ("string"), Visual Basic .NET syntax ("ByVal As String"), or by using many Windows API types (such as "HWND", "DWORD", "BOOL", and so on).

Priority is given to the C interpretation of type names, so char and long have their meanings in C (1 and 4 bytes, respectively), not C#.

You need to give the full pathname to the DLL if it is not located in a standard location (standard locations are a directory on your system PATH or a DLL subdirectory in a Mathematica application directory, such as $InstallationDirectory\AddOns\Applications\SomeApp\DLL).

TUTORIALS

.NET/Link User Guide

Calling DLLs from Mathematica in .NET/Link User Guide