Calling other .net Dlls...

[Tex8503]

This may be a stupid question - so please forgive me in advance. But I'm wondering if its possible to include / call / reference a non-basc4PPC dll library that was built in .NET

The mobile computer we're using has a .NET API for using the barcode scanner and I'm wondering if it's possible for us to call that API directly from basic4PPC or not - this has implications in how we can not only use Basic4PPC but how far we can extend it.

I asked a question in the 'Wishlist forum' about reporting and PDFs and think that being able to call outside .NET APIs might also fix my problem there too - but I don't know if I can do it or even how.

Anyone have any thoughts/ideas on this?

 

[Cableguy]

As I understand it, any .Net API or DLL can be called from b4PPc, but not directly, you would need a wrapper to expose the methods, props and events from that API or Dll, to Basic4PPc, as it cannot do it from it's own code.

 

[Tex8503]

Good to know...
I've been looking through the source code that dzt posted here: http://www.b4x.com/forum/code-samples-tips/35-how-create-basic4ppc-library-2.html
and
http://www.b4x.com/forum/additional-libraries/331-zip-unzip-library-source.html

and I have a vague idea of what I need to do - so I went and downloaded SharpDevelop - which seems to be pretty cool.

Upon further looking at the SDK I'm trying to utilize - It seems they support either C++ or C# - neither of which I'm really versed in.

The C++ method seems to somewhat code heavy. But the C# method uses a component. Any suggestions in what the best way to do this might be ? Can I even use the C# component?

Thanks!

 

[agraham]

C++ is of no use to you as that produces native x86 code. Because Basic4ppc is based on .NET, which uses managed code, you will need to use C# or VB.Net to produce a wrapper library.

Your reference to an SDK appears to imply that there is some support for developing to this API - do you have a link to it? I need some more clarification as to what a "component" is in the context of this SDK before commenting on that. I guess it might be a native code COM component which might or might not make things more difficult.

If you can post the SDK details I might be able give you a compilable outline for a library. I use Visual Studio 2005 Standard but I believe that SharpDevelop can open VS solutions - if not then the C# code would at least be usable.

 

[Tex8503]

agraham - Thanks for the insight. I'm a web programmer by trade so I'm trying to wrap my head around quite a bit of this.

Dolphin® 9700 Mobile Computer Product Support Is where you can get the SDK. I'm looking at trying to add native support for the barcode scanner in the Honeywell Dolphin 9700.

Through this learning experience I'd like to add support for more native functions of this device and others - as well as look at open source solutions for PDF reporting, but getting started is key and that's where I'm running into some issues.

I appreciate the help!

 

[agraham]

I've looked at the SDK, and apart from not installing properly on my machine - I couldn't find any API documentation (and not uninstalling properly as well ) it obviously covers a lot more that just the barcode scanner. I'm afraid that I haven't the got the time to pick apart a broken installation to see what is relevent so I am afraid you are on your own with this one.

 

[Tex8503]

agraham - Werid. It installed for me ok, but I understand. Honeywell is using Microsoft's help 2.x file format for their documentation - it took me jumping through hoops to be able to read it.

Does anyone have any other advice or suggestions?