C++/CLI managed VS. unmanaged short - c++-cli

I have an unmanaged library which I want to use from a managed class. The interface of the function is:
GetProgress(short* value);
So I wrote in my managed class:
short val = 0;
GetProgress(&val);
I got the following error:
Error C2664: 'GetProgress' : cannot convert parameter 1 from 'cli::interior_ptr' in 'short *' with [ Type=short ]
I read this topic, so I changed my code into:
short val = 0;
pin_ptr<short*> pVal = &val;
GetProgress(pVal);
And in addition to the previous error I get
Error C2440: 'initialisation' : cannot convert from 'short *' to 'cli::pin_ptr' with [ Type=short * ]
How can I fix this?

That's an interesting one.
The following code produces C2664 because val can only be a managed type:
using namespace System;
void GetProgress(short* value)
{
// unmanaged goodness
}
ref class XYZ : System::Object
{
short val;
void foo()
{
GetProgress(&val);
}
};
but if you declare a local variable first, it all works fine...
using namespace System;
void GetProgress(short* value)
{
// unmanaged goodness
}
ref class XYZ : System::Object
{
short val;
void foo()
{
short x;
GetProgress(&x);
val = x;
}
};
Not exactly the answer you were looking for, but I thought I'd include it since it's a simple fix.

Related

Parallel for loop in c++/cli

Parallel.For(<your starting value >,<End criteria for loop>, delegate(int < your variable Name>)
{
// Your own code
}); 
Here above I am showing some sample code in C#. I want similar functionality in C++/CLI but I don't know how to use this expression: "delegate(int < your variable Name>)".
If you are using c++cli, then you should be able to use the same Parallel.For that you use in C# since System.Threading.Tasks.Parallel is a regular .Net Framework class
Example (untested, not even compiled):
ref class SomeClass
{
public:
static void Func(int index)
{
Console::WriteLine("Test {0}", index);
}
};
delegate void MyCallback(int index);
int main( )
{
MyCallback^ callback = gcnew MyCallback(SomeClass::Func);
Parallel.For(0, 9, callback);
}
Relevant: How to: Define and Use Delegates in C++/CLI

Type casting in C++\CLI project

I have project which I am compiling with /clr. I have a class like below..
ref class A
{
public:
void CheckValue(void * test);
typedef ref struct val
{
std::string *x;
}val_t;
};
in my implementation I ahve to use something like below..
void A::CheckValue(void *test)
{
a::val_t^ allVal = (a::val_t^)test;
}
in my main I have used like..
int main()
{
A^ obj = gcnew A();
a::val_t valObj = new std::string("Test");
obj->CheckValue((void*)valObj);
}
I am getting type cast error and two places -
obj->CheckValue((void*)valObj);
and at
obj->CheckValue((void*)valObj);
error C2440: 'type cast' : cannot convert from 'void*' to 'A::val_t ^'
This snippet is just to show behavior at my end and I ahve to use it this way only. Earlier I was running it using non /clr so it compiled fine.
Now question I have how can I make this type casting work in C++/CLI type project?
Replace void * with Object^. You can also write a generic version of CheckValue but then there is not much point of having a weak-typed parameter when you have the type in the generic parameter.
A reference handle represents an object on the managed heap. Unlike a native pointer, CLR could move the object around during a function call, so the behavior of a pointer and a reference handle is different, and a type cast would fail. You can also pin the object being referenced using pin_ptr if you really need a void* so CLR would not be moving the object during the function call.
Here is how I would get around the limitation you are seeing, just remove the struct from the managed object, since it contains native pointer types.
struct val_t
{
char* x;
};
ref class A
{
public:
void CheckValue(void* test);
};
void A::CheckValue(void* test)
{
val_t* allVal = (val_t*)test;
}
int main()
{
A^ obj = gcnew A();
val_t valObj;
valObj.x = "Test";
obj->CheckValue((void*)&valObj);
}
Now, if you absolutely need the struct to be managed, here is how to do it:
ref class A
{
public:
void CheckValue(void * test);
value struct val_t
{
char* x;
};
};
void A::CheckValue(void *test)
{
a::val_t* allVal = (a::val_t*)test;
}
int main()
{
A^ obj = gcnew A();
a::val_t valObj;
valObj.x = "Test";
pin_ptr<a::val_t> valPin = &valObj;
obj->CheckValue((void*)valPin);
}

C++/CLI: Passing C++ class ptr to unmanaged method

I've been given a third party C/C++ library (.dll, .lib, .exp and .h) that I need to use in our C# app.
ThirdPartyLibrary.h contains...
class AClass {
public:
typedef enum {
green = 7,
blue = 16
} Color;
virtual int GetData()=0;
virtual int DoWork(Color, char *)=0;
};
void * Func1(int, AClass **aClass);
In my C++/CLI code I have done this...
#include "ThirdPartyLibrary.h"
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices;
namespace Wrapper {
public ref class MyBridgeClass
{
private:
AClass* pAClass;
public:
// C# code will call this method
void AMethod (int x)
{
int y = x+10;
Func1 (y, &(this->pAClass)); // <-- error!
}
}
}
I get a build error that reads...
cannot convert parameter 2 from 'cli::interior_ptr<Type>' to 'AClass **'
with
[
Type=AClass *
]
Cannot convert a managed type to an unmanaged type
Any ideas? Maybe I need #pragma manage/unmanged tags in my C++/CLI?
The reason you're getting that error is because of how managed memory works.
In your managed class, you've got a pointer defined. The address of that pointer is part of the managed object, and can change when the garbage collector runs. That's why you can't just pass &pAClass to the method, the GC can change what that address actually is.
There's a couple things you can do to fix this:
You could create an unmanaged helper class to hold the AClass* member. I'd do this if that pointer needs to stay valid beyond the invocation of this method, or if you have a lot of unmanaged pointers to hold.
struct UnmanagedHolder
{
AClass* pAClass;
};
public ref class MyBridgeClass
{
private:
// must create in constructor, delete in destructor and finalizer.
UnmanagedHolder* unmanaged;
public:
// C# code will call this method
void AMethod (int x)
{
int y = x+10;
Func1 (y, &(this->unmanaged->pAClass));
}
};
If you only need the pointer to be valid within AMethod, and the pointer doesn't need to remain valid after the call to Func1, then you can use a pin_ptr.
void AMethod (int x)
{
int y = x+10;
pin_ptr<AClass*> pin = &(this->pAClass);
Func1 (y, pin);
}

Why does C++ CLI force classes to have variables in constructor method?

public ref class masterWeapon{
public :
property int Slot {
int get(){
return 0;
}
}
masterWeapon(){
}
};
OSamp::masterWeapon mw();
int v = mw.Slot; //ERROR error C2228: left of '.Slot' must have class/struct/union
However following code ran fine :
public ref class masterWeapon{
public :
property int Slot {
int get(){
return 0;
}
}
masterWeapon(int useless){
}
};
OSamp::masterWeapon mw(231312);
int v = mw.Slot; //works fine
Why does C++ CLI force classes to have variables in constructor method?
It doesn't, you just have an error in your code.
OSamp::masterWeapon mw();
The error message is slightly misleading; it is the line above that is causing the issue. The compiler is telling you that mw is not an instance of an object. mw is interpreted as a prototype for a function which takes no arguments and returns an OSamp::masterWeapon.
The line should be rewritten as:
OSamp::masterWeapon mw;

Pass an argument to task in C++/CLI?

I have this code for the C# in Visual Studio 2012.
public Task SwitchLaserAsync(bool on)
{
return Task.Run(new Action(() => SwitchLaser(on)));
}
This will execute SwitchLaser method (public nonstatic member of a class MyClass) as a task with argument bool on.
I would like to do something similar in managed C++/CLI. But I am not able to find out any way how to run a task, which will execute a member method taking one parameter.
Current solution is like this:
Task^ MyClass::SwitchLaserAsync( bool on )
{
laserOn = on; //member bool
return Task::Run(gcnew Action(this, &MyClass::SwitchLaserHelper));
}
Implementation of SwitchLaserHelper function:
void MyClass::SwitchLaserHelper()
{
SwitchLaser(laserOn);
}
There must be some solution like in C# and not to create helper functions and members (this is not threadsafe).
There isn't yet any way to do this.
In C# you have a closure. When your C++/CLI compiler was written, the standardized syntax for closures in C++ was still being discussed. Thankfully, Microsoft chose to wait and use the standard lambda syntax instead of introducing yet another unique syntax. Unfortunately, it means the feature isn't yet available. When it is, it will look something like:
gcnew Action([this, on](){ SwitchLaser(on) });
The current threadsafe solution is to do what the C# compiler does -- put the helper function and data members not into the current class, but into a nested subtype. Of course you'll need to save the this pointer in addition to your local variable.
ref class MyClass::SwitchLaserHelper
{
bool laserOn;
MyClass^ owner;
public:
SwitchLaserHelper(MyClass^ realThis, bool on) : owner(realThis), laserOn(on) {}
void DoIt() { owner->SwitchLaser(laserOn); }
};
Task^ MyClass::SwitchLaserAsync( bool on )
{
return Task::Run(gcnew Action(gcnew SwitchLaserHelper(this, on), &MyClass::SwitchLaserHelper::DoIt));
}
The C++ lamdba syntax will simply create that helper class for you (currently it works for native lambdas, but not yet for managed ones).
Here's generic code I wrote this afternoon which might help (although it's not an exact match for this question). Maybe this will help the next person who stumbles onto this question.
generic<typename T, typename TResult>
ref class Bind1
{
initonly T arg;
Func<T, TResult>^ const f;
TResult _() { return f(arg); }
public:
initonly Func<TResult>^ binder;
Bind1(Func<T, TResult>^ f, T arg) : f(f), arg(arg) {
binder = gcnew Func<TResult>(this, &Bind1::_);
}
};
ref class Binder abstract sealed // static
{
public:
generic<typename T, typename TResult>
static Func<TResult>^ Create(Func<T, TResult>^ f, T arg) {
return (gcnew Bind1<T, TResult>(f, arg))->binder;
}
};
Usage is
const auto f = gcnew Func<T, TResult>(this, &MyClass::MyMethod);
return Task::Run(Binder::Create(f, arg));
Here's the working answer.. Have tested it.. Passing an argument (int) to the action sampleFunction.
#include "stdafx.h"
#include "CLRSamples.h"
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Threading;
using namespace System::Threading::Tasks;
using namespace System::Collections;
using namespace System::Collections::Generic;
void CLRSamples::sampleFunction(Object^ number)
{
Console::WriteLine(number->ToString());
Thread::Sleep((int)number * 100);
}
void CLRSamples::testTasks()
{
List<Task^>^ tasks = gcnew List<Task^>();
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
tasks->Add(Task::Factory->StartNew((Action<Object^>^)(gcnew Action<Object^>(this, &CLRSamples::sampleFunction)), i));
}
Task::WaitAll(tasks->ToArray());
Console::WriteLine("Completed...");
}
int main(array<System::String ^> ^args)
{
CLRSamples^ samples = gcnew CLRSamples();
samples->testTasks();
Console::Read();
return 0;
}
I had a similar problem when I wanted to provide a parameter to a task executing a method which does not return a value (retuns void). Because of that Func<T, TResult> was not an option I could use. For more information, please check the page Using void return types with new Func.
So I ended up with a solution where I created a helper class
template <typename T>
ref class ActionArguments
{
public:
ActionArguments(Action<T>^ func, T args) : m_func(func), m_args(args) {};
void operator()() { m_func(m_args); };
private:
Action<T>^ m_func;
T m_args;
};
which is using Action<T> delegate to encapsulate a method that has a single parameter and does not return a value.
I would then use this helper class in a following way
ref class DisplayActivationController
{
public:
DisplayActivationController();
void StatusChanged(EventArgs^ args) { };
}
Action<EventArgs^>^ action =
gcnew Action<EventArgs^>(this, &DisplayActivationController::StatusChanged);
ActionArguments<EventArgs^>^ action_args =
gcnew ActionArguments<EventArgs^>(action, args);
Threading::Tasks::Task::Factory->
StartNew(gcnew Action(action_args, &ActionArguments<EventArgs^>::operator()));
Approach using the helper class is probably not the most elegant solution, but is the best one I could find to be used in C++/CLI which does not support lambda expressions.
If you are using c++/ CLR, then make a C# dll and add reference to it
namespace TaskClrHelper
{
public static class TaskHelper
{
public static Task<TResult> StartNew<T1, TResult>(
Func<T1, TResult> func,
T1 arg)
=> Task.Factory.StartNew(() => func(arg));
public static Task<TResult> StartNew<T1, T2, TResult>(
Func<T1, T2, TResult> func,
T1 arg1, T2 arg2)
=> Task.Factory.StartNew(() => func(arg1, arg2));
}
}
bool Device::Stop(int timeout)
{
_ResetEvent_Running->Set();
return _ResetEvent_Disconnect->WaitOne(timeout);
}
Task<bool>^ Device::StopAsync(int timeout)
{
auto func = gcnew Func<int, bool>(this, &Device::Stop);
return TaskClrHelper::TaskHelper::StartNew<int,bool>(func,timeout);
}