C# get string/characters value from c++ function which return char pointer

Question

I've a DLL written in C++. A function of this DLL is like the following code:

C++ code:

     char _H *GetPalette() {

            -------Functions body

            -------Functions body

            return pPaletteString;

      }

Now I want to get the Pallet String from that GetPalette() function in C# code.

How could I get string from that function? I've tried this in C# code. But could not get the correct result.

C# code:

    [DllImport("cl.dll", EntryPoint = "GetPalette@0", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall)]

    private static extern IntPtr libGetPalette();

    public IntPtr GetPalette()
    {
        return libGetPalette();
    }

Finally I want to get string like this

            IntPtr result;
            result = imgProcess.GetPallet();

            string pallet;
            pallet = Marshal.PtrToStringAnsi(result);
            MessageBox.Show(pallet);

This code does not work properly. Can some body plz help me, How could I get the string value from my C++ DLL function?

Thanks

Shahriar

It is good practice to define what error or behavior you are getting. How can we know what does "This code does not work properly" mean? — Marino Šimić
– Marino Šimić, Commented May 2, 2011 at 10:17
I've got '-->' characters from that code. But it should return as like '473757.473767.574767.............' string. — Shahriar Hasan Sayeed
– Shahriar Hasan Sayeed, Commented May 2, 2011 at 10:28

Lukas Kabrt · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-02 15:01:54Z

1

You can define your C++ function in C# code with string return type.

[DllImport("cl.dll")]
private static extern string GetPalette();

And than simply call it from in your C# code.

string palette = GetPalette();

Within DllImport attribute you might need to set correct calling convention CallingConvention and character encoding CharSet

answered May 2, 2011 at 15:01

Lukas Kabrt

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2 Comments

sehe Over a year ago

I think you might want to explain the onwership semantics of the returned buffers (IIRC .NET will free the memory with free()?)

Shahriar Hasan Sayeed Over a year ago

Thanks Lukas Kabrt. Your answer is 100% correct. I've used CharSet=CharSet.Ansi and changed my functions return type as string. And now I'm getting the correct results.

Puppy · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-02 10:16:01Z

1

You've told C# that the calling convention is __stdcall but there's no evidence of __stdcall marking on the function itself. In addition, char* could be UTF-8.

answered May 2, 2011 at 10:16

Puppy

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2 Comments

Shahriar Hasan Sayeed Over a year ago

Actually, I'm new in .net Interoperability/Marshalling . I've used this stdcall convention code from other sources. May be I'm wrong. So what can I do now to get string from that C++ DLL function? Thanks

Security Hound Over a year ago

Changing your C# code to match the calling convention of the C++ code would be a start.

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