DLL Technology

Logan from Singapore

Hi, I had started a COM DLL project about a year back. When I did a research on DLL back then, I found this is one of the more advance methods of doing it. Before I started the project, I was expecting it to be cross-platform and cross-language but it did not seems to be the case after I finish it. I had managed to get my DLL working for .Net, VB6 (with a bit of difficult for array passing) and VC6++ (which need extensive coding). I am still trying to figure out how to use it in Java. I am currently wondering if this is the latest way of writing a DLL (I use the ATL COM wizard). I found out that VC6++ also offers MFC DLL and ActiveX ocx. Can anyone tell me what is the different between these 3? It seems that using the OCX method will help with reducing the coding when used in VC6++. Again my questions are: 1. What is the latest method of writing a DLL? 2. What is the different between creating a DLL/OCX with ATL COM AppWizard, MFC ActiveX Control Wizard and MFC AppWizard? Any information will be appreicated. As I am very keen in learning more about the technology available. Thanks in advance.

Jun Du

Try to figure out what you want. DLL and COM have little relationship. DLL is a format of library and COM is a component technology. Almost all Windows libraries are delivered as DLLs, but only small portion of them are COM compoenets. You may create DLLs without knowing COM and COM components can be delivered as DLLs as well. Do you want to create DLLs or COM components? Best, Jun

Logan from Singapore

I know what I want, maybe you should read what I had written again before answering... Pardon me for my rudeness as I do realise that you seems to be very experience... one puzzling issue is that you recent replies do not seems to match your experience.. if fact it seems like an amateur I said that I had did a COM DLL project, a DLL written in a form of COM component. Currently what I found out was that written DLL in COM component is one of the latest way of writing a DLL. I just need to if there were any newer way of writing a DLL.:) -- modified at 22:09 Wednesday 21st June, 2006

Jun Du

Just tried to help and learn. I have to disagree that COM is a DLL technology. It's not. Best, Jun

Logan from Singapore

Yes, I do understand that COM is not a DLL technology. But it can be used to create a DLL and it is one of the more advance method of writing a DLL. I was just hoping to know if there is any other methods to write a DLL other than this and the older method that exports the function. I apologise for my rude reply again.

Milton Karimbekallil

you can have a: * .lib file which is a static linking library which exports c functions. * win32 dll which exports c functions. * mfc extension dll which exports c++ classes. * com dll which exports ( export is not the right term but exposes)component classes. * u can have an ocx which again exports/exposes componentclasses * u can have a .net managed dll which exports managed types. All these are valid ways of creating a dll or a dynamic/static linking libraries.' cheeeeeeeeeeeeeers ...milton kb.