How do I convert a System::String^ to const char*? - c++-cli

I'm developing an app in C++/CLI and have a csv file writing library in unmanaged code that I want to use from the managed portion. So my function looks something like this:
bool CSVWriter::Write(const char* stringToWrite);
...but I'm really struggling to convert my shiny System::String^ into something compatible. Basically I was hoping to call by doing something like:
if( m_myWriter->Write(String::Format("{0}",someValueIWantToSave)) )
{
// report success
}

using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices;
const char* str = (const char*) (Marshal::StringToHGlobalAnsi(managedString)).ToPointer();
From Dev Shed.

As mcandre mentions, Marshal::StringToHGlobalAnsi() is correct. But don't forget to free the newly allocated resource with Marshal::FreeHGlobal(), when the string is no longer in use.
Alternatively, you can use the msclr::interop::marshal_as template to create the string resource and automatically release it when the call exits the resource's scope.

There's a list of what types need which conversion in the overview of marshalling in C++.

Related

c# ReadOnlyMemory from pointer

Hi there I have a c native library that is returning me json as char*. What I would like to do in c# is to use this pointer and write it straight to the
this.ControllerContext.HttpContext.Response.BodyWriter;
I'm able to create ReadOnlySpan from the ptr but as far as I can tell PipeWriter only accepts ReadOnlyMemory<byte> which does not have a constructor from IntPtr. Is there a way to create ReadOnlyMemory<byte> from IntPtr or some other way to writer my string from native library withou copying it one extra time?
This answer provides a solution that does not need to copy the entire buffer:
Marshalling pointer to array P/Invoke
TL;DR: Take UnmanagedMemoryManager from Pipelines.Sockets.Unofficial by Marc Gravell.
int* ptr = ...
int len = ...
var memory = new UnmanagedMemoryManager<int>(ptr, len).Memory;
Unfortunately, you still need to allocate the MemoryManager (it must be a class, not a struct).
Thank you for your answers but none of them was without extra copy. I was finally figure it out so in case somebody struggle with it, here is the solution.
So the only way I as able to achieve this is like.
await Response.StartAsync(HttpContext.RequestAborted);
var dest = Response.BodyWriter.GetMemory((int)jsonLen).Pin();
unsafe { memcpy(dest.Pointer), srcPtr, srcLen); }
Response.BodyWriter.Advance(srcLen);
await Response.BodyWriter.FlushAsync(HttpContext.RequestAborted);
Maybe use something like this?
public class Utility
{
public System.ReadOnlyMemory<T> ConvertToReadOnlyMemory(System.ReadOnlySpan<T> input) {
var tmp = new System.Memory<T>();
input.CopyTo(tmp.Span);
return (System.ReadOnlyMemory<T>)tmp;
}
}
However, I think this will involve completely copying the stream into heap storage, which is probably not what you want...
I glad if this could speed up and match to what you wants.
namespace Helper
{
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public static class CStringMapper
{
// convert unmanaged c string to managed c# string
public string toCSharpString(char* unmanaged_c_string)
{
return Marshal.PtrToStringAnsi((IntPtr)unmanaged_c_string);
}
// Free unmanaged c pointer
public void free(char* unmanaged_c_string)
{
Marshal.FreeHGlobal((IntPtr)unmanaged_c_string);
}
}
}
Usage:
using Helper;
/* generate your unmanaged c string here */
try
{
// eg. char* OO7c = cLibFunc();
string cSharpString = CStringMapper.toCSharpString(OO7c);
}
finally
{
// Make sure to freeing the pointer
CStringMapper.free(OO7c);
}

Accessing a C/C++ structure of callbacks through a DLL's exported function using JNA

I have a vendor supplied .DLL and an online API that I am using to interact with a piece of radio hardware; I am using JNA to access the exported functions through Java (because I don't know C/C++). I can call basic methods and use some API structures successfully, but I am having trouble with the callback structure. I've followed the TutorTutor guide here and also tried Mr. Wall's authoritative guide here, but I haven't been able to formulate the Java side syntax for callbacks set in a structure correctly.
I need to use this exported function:
BOOL __stdcall SetCallbacks(INT32 hDevice,
CONST G39DDC_CALLBACKS *Callbacks, DWORD_PTR UserData);
This function references the C/C++ Structure:
typedef struct{
G39DDC_IF_CALLBACK IFCallback;
//more omitted
} G39DDC_CALLBACKS;
...which according to the API has these Members (Note this is not an exported function):
VOID __stdcall IFCallback(CONST SHORT *Buffer, UINT32 NumberOfSamples,
UINT32 CenterFrequency, WORD Amplitude,
UINT32 ADCSampleRate, DWORD_PTR UserData);
//more omitted
I have a G39DDCAPI.java where I have loaded the DLL library and reproduced the API exported functions in Java, with the help of JNA. Simple calls to that work well.
I also have a G39DDC_CALLBACKS.java where I have implemented the above C/C++ structure in a format works for other API structures. This callback structure is where I am unsure of the syntax:
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.List;
import java.nio.ShortBuffer;
import com.sun.jna.Structure;
import com.sun.jna.platform.win32.BaseTSD.DWORD_PTR;
import com.sun.jna.win32.StdCallLibrary.StdCallCallback;
public class G39DDC_CALLBACKS extends Structure {
public G39DDC_IF_CALLBACK IFCallback;
//more omitted
protected List getFieldOrder() {
return Arrays.asList(new String[] {
"IFCallback","DDC1StreamCallback" //more omitted
});
}
public static interface G39DDC_IF_CALLBACK extends StdCallCallback{
public void invoke(ShortBuffer _Buffer,int NumberOfSamples,
int CenterFrequency, short Amplitude,
int ADCSampleRate, DWORD_PTR UserData);
}
}
Edit: I made my arguments more type safe as Technomage suggested. I am still getting a null pointer exception with several attempts to call the callback. Since I'm not sure of my syntax regarding the callback structure above, I can't pinpoint my problem in the main below. Right now the relevant section looks like this:
int NumberOfSamples=65536;//This is usually 65536.
ShortBuffer _Buffer = ShortBuffer.allocate(NumberOfSamples);
int CenterFrequency=10000000;//Specifies center frequency (in Hz) of the useful band
//in received 50 MHz wide snapshot.
short Amplitude=0;//The possible value is 0 to 32767.
int ADCSampleRate=100;//Specifies sample rate of the ADC in Hz.
DWORD_PTR UserData = null;
G39DDC_CALLBACKS callbackStruct= new G39DDC_CALLBACKS();
lib.SetCallbacks(hDevice,callbackStruct,UserData);
//hDevice is a handle for the hardware device used-- works in other uses
//lib is a reference to the library in G39DDCAPI.java-- works in other uses
//The UserData is a big unknown-- I don't know what to do with this variable
//as a DWORD_PTR
callbackStruct.IFCallback.invoke(_Buffer, NumberOfSamples, CenterFrequency,
Amplitude, ADCSampleRate, UserData);
EDIT NO 2:
I have one callback working somewhat, but I don't have control over the buffers. More frustratingly, a single call to invoke the method will result in several runs of the custom callback, usually with multiple output files (results vary drastically from run to run). I don't know if it is because I am not allocating memory correctly on the Java side, because I cannot free the memory on the C/C++ side, or because I have no cue on which to tell Java to access the buffer, etc. Relevant code looks like:
//before this, main method sets library, starts DDCs, initializes some variables...
//API call to start IF
System.out.print("Starting IF... "+lib.StartIF(hDevice, Period)+"\n")
G39DDC_CALLBACKS callbackStructure = new G39DDC_CALLBACKS();
callbackStructure.IFCallback = new G39DDC_IF_CALLBACK(){
#Override
public void invoke(Pointer _Buffer, int NumberOfSamples, int CenterFrequency,
short Amplitude, int ADCSampleRate, DWORD_PTR UserData ) {
//notification
System.out.println("Invoked IFCallback!!");
try {
//ready file and writers
File filePath = new File("/users/user/G39DDC_Scans/");
if (!filePath.exists()){
System.out.println("Making new directory...");
filePath.mkdir();
}
String filename="Scan_"+System.currentTimeMillis();
File fille= new File("/users/user/G39DDC_Scans/"+filename+".txt");
if (!fille.exists()) {
System.out.println("Making new file...");
fille.createNewFile();
}
FileWriter fw = new FileWriter(fille.getAbsoluteFile());
//callback body
short[] deBuff=new short[NumberOfSamples];
int offset=0;
int arraySize=NumberOfSamples;
deBuff=_Buffer.getShortArray(offset,arraySize);
for (int i=0; i<NumberOfSamples; i++){
String str=deBuff[i]+",";
fw.write(str);
}
fw.close();
} catch (IOException e1) {
System.out.println("IOException: "+e1);
}
}
};
lib.SetCallbacks(hDevice, callbackStructure,UserData);
System.out.println("Main, before callback invocation");
callbackStructure.IFCallback.invoke(s_Pointer, NumberOfSamples, CenterFrequency, Amplitude, ADCSampleRate, UserData);
System.out.println("Main, after callback invocation");
//suddenly having trouble stopping DDCs or powering off device; assume it has to do with dll using the functions above
//System.out.println("StopIF: " + lib.StopIF(hDevice));//API function returns boolean value
//System.out.println("StopDDC2: " + lib.StopDDC2( hDevice, Channel));
//System.out.println("StopDDC1: " + lib.StopDDC1( hDevice, Channel ));
//System.out.println("test_finishDevice: " + test_finishDevice( hDevice, lib));
System.out.println("Program Exit");
//END MAIN METHOD
You need to extend StdCallCallback, for one, otherwise you'll likely crash when the native code tries to call the Java code.
Any place you see a Windows type with _PTR, you should use a PointerType - the platform package with JNA includes definitions for DWORD_PTR and friends.
Finally, you can't have a primitive array argument in your G39DDC_IF_CALLBACK. You'll need to use Pointer or an NIO buffer; Pointer.getShortArray() may then be used to extract the short[] by providing the desired length of the array.
EDIT
Yes, you need to initialize your callback field in the callbacks structure before passing it into your native function, otherwise you're just passing a NULL pointer, which will cause complaints on the Java or native side or both.
This is what it takes to create a callback, using an anonymous instance of the declared callback function interface:
myStruct.callbackField = new MyCallback() {
public void invoke(int arg) {
// do your stuff here
}
};

How do I convert a System::IO::Stream^ to an LPCSTR for PlaySound?

I'm trying to embed and then play back a .wav file in a C++/CLI app but all the examples I've seen which use PlaySound are in VB. I can't see how to get froma Stream^ to the LPCSTR which PlaySound requires:
System::IO::Stream^ s = Assembly::GetExecutingAssembly()->GetManifestResourceStream ("Ping.wav");
LPCSTR buf = s->????;
PlaySound(buf, NULL, SND_ASYNC|SND_MEMORY|SND_NOWAIT);
I guess I need some sort of horrible .net memory conversion magic.
Use the System::Media::SoundPlayer class instead. It has a Stream property, assign your "s" variable to it, then call the Play() method.

How to convert System::IntPtr to char*

can any body tell How to convert System::IntPtr to char* in managed c++
this is my main function
int main(void)
{
String* strMessage = "Hello world";
CManagedClass* pCManagedClass = new CManagedClass();//working
pCManagedClass->ShowMessage(strMessage);//working
****above said error here***
char* szMessage = (char*)Marshal::StringToHGlobalAnsi(strMessage);
CUnmanagedClass cUnmanagedClass; cUnmanagedClass.ShowMessageBox(szMessage);
Marshal::FreeHGlobal((int)szMessage);
return 0;
}
thanks in advance
I'm not a huge C++/CLI programmer, but the following should work just fine.
IntPtr p = GetTheIntPtr();
char* pChar = reinterpret_cast<char*>(p.ToPointer());
The IntPtr class has a method called ToPointer which returns the address as a void* type. That will be convertible to char* in C++/CLI.
EDIT
Verified this works on VS2008 and VS2015
Instead of
char* szMessage = (char*)Marshal::StringToHGlobalAnsi(strMessage).ToPointer();
Marshal::FreeHGlobal((int)szMessage);
Use
marshal_context conversions.
const char* szMessage = conversions.marshal_as<const char*>(strMessage);
It cleans itself up, the magic of C++ RAII.
Attention!
I want to add something to JaredPar answer.I don't know where your IntPtr is coming from but you should also use pin_ptr in order to prevent the garbage collector from messing up your memory. I did lot of CLR/Native inter op in the past and using pin_ptr is one of those things that I learnt to do in the hard way.
read the following:
click me

How to use System::Threading::Interlocked::Increment on a static variable from C++/CLI?

I would like to keep a static counter in a garbage collected class and increment it using Interlocked::Increment. What's the C++/CLI syntax to do this?
I've been trying variations on the following, but no luck so far:
ref class Foo
{
static __int64 _counter;
__int64 Next()
{
return System::Threading::Interlocked::Increment( &_counter );
}
};
You need to use a tracking reference to your _int64 value, using the % tracking reference notation:
ref class Bar
{
static __int64 _counter;
__int64 Next()
{
__int64 %trackRefCounter = _counter;
return System::Threading::Interlocked::Increment(trackRefCounter);
}
};
Just remove the address-of operator:
return System::Threading::Interlocked::Increment( _counter );
In C++/CLI, like C++, there is no special notation for passing by reference.
or you could use the native function, InterlockedIncrement64 (#include <windows.h>)
return ::InterlockedIncrement64(&_counter);
The suggestion to use the native functions/macros (i.e. InterlockedExchangePointer, etc... plus a lot of cool ones I didn't know about such as InterlockedXor64) is severely hampered by the fact that doing so can cause an intrinsic (at least with the default compiler settings) to be dropped into your managed C++/CLI function. When this happens, your whole function will be compiled as native.
And the managed versions of Interlocked::* are also nice because you don't have to pin_ptr if the target is in a GC object. However, as noted on this page, it can be a real pain to find the right incantations for getting it to work, especially when you want to swap, (i.e) native pointers themselves. Here's how:
int i1 = 1, i2 = 2;
int *pi1 = &i1, *pi2 = &i2, *pi3;
pi3 = (int*)Interlocked::Exchange((IntPtr%)pi1, IntPtr(pi2)).ToPointer();
I verified that this does work properly, despite the suspiciously unnerving lack of address-taking (&) on the pi1 pointer. But it makes sense, when you think about it because if the target is moving about in a GC host, you wouldn't want to do the usual ** thing by grabbing the & (native) address of the pointer itself.