calling a static member function

[steph5]

Hi Guys I am working with Visual Stusios 2005. I have a solution with 2 projects in it. Can I call a static member function that is declared in one project from the other project? OtherProjectClass::StaticMemberFunction(variables); At the moment I get error LNK2019 Thanks:confused:

[Mark Salsbery]

You can export the class from the project that implements the class:

class __declspec(dllexport) test
{
public:
static void StaticMemberFunction();
};

void test::StaticMemberFunction()
{
// do something
}

Then on the consumer side, import the class:

class __declspec(dllimport) test
{
public:
static void StaticMemberFunction();
};
...
// call the imported member function
test::StaticMemberFunction();

Note that it's nicer to use a macro that expands to __declspec(dllexport) or __declspec(dllimport) depending on the definition of a build-type macro:

// define BUILDINGDLL in the DLL project compiler preprocessor options
#if defined(BUILDINGDLL)
#define MYIMPORTEXPORT __declspec(dllexport)
#else
#define MYIMPORTEXPORT __declspec(dllimport)
#endif

Then both sides can share the same header file for the class, making maintainability easier (if the class changes you don't have to remember to change it in two places):

class MYIMPORTEXPORT test
{
public:
static void StaticMemberFunction();
};

*EDIT* I forgot to mention - you'll need to add the import library for the implementing module to the importing project's linker input settings.

Mark Salsbery Microsoft MVP - Visual C++ :java:

modified on Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:33 PM

[steph5]

Thanks for the comprehensive answer Mark. Really appreciate it :)

[Mark Salsbery]

If __declspec(dllexport) works for your needs, you can also use it on individual class functions witout exporting the entire class... Exporting from a DLL Using __declspec(dllexport)[^] Cheers, Mark

Mark Salsbery Microsoft MVP - Visual C++ :java: