How to call a C++ library in WPF?

1 year ago
Liam
2 minutes

To call a C++ library in WPF, you can utilize the following approach:

  1. Develop a C++/CLI wrapper.
  2. Create a new class in a C++ project that will serve as a wrapper for a C++ library.
  3. Reference the C++ library in the wrapper class and encapsulate the library functions as public methods.
  4. Compile the wrapper class into a .dll file.
  5. Referencing wrapper in WPF project.
  6. Add the Wrapper.dll file to the references of the WPF project.
  7. In the code of a WPF project, import the namespace of the wrapper using the using keyword.
  8. Instantiate a wrapper class and call its methods to utilize the functionality of a C++ library.

Here is a simple example:

Wrapper code in C++/CLI (MyWrapper.h):

#pragma once

#include "myCppLibrary.h"

using namespace System;

namespace MyWrapper {
    public ref class MyWrapperClass
    {
    private:
        MyCppLibrary::MyCppClass* myCppObj;

    public:
        MyWrapperClass();
        ~MyWrapperClass();

        int Add(int a, int b);
    };
}

Wrapper code in C++/CLI (MyWrapper.cpp):

#include "MyWrapper.h"

MyWrapper::MyWrapperClass::MyWrapperClass()
{
    myCppObj = new MyCppLibrary::MyCppClass();
}

MyWrapper::MyWrapperClass::~MyWrapperClass()
{
    delete myCppObj;
}

int MyWrapper::MyWrapperClass::Add(int a, int b)
{
    return myCppObj->Add(a, b);
}

WPF code in MainWindow.xaml.cs:

using System.Windows;

using MyWrapper;

namespace WpfApp
{
    public partial class MainWindow : Window
    {
        MyWrapperClass myWrapperObj;

        public MainWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();

            myWrapperObj = new MyWrapperClass();
        }

        private void Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            int result = myWrapperObj.Add(5, 3);
            MessageBox.Show(result.ToString());
        }
    }
}

Please note that the above example assumes the existence of a C++ library named myCppLibrary and the correct configuration of project references and include paths.

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