convert string to char*

[mbh1]

i need to send a string from a text box to a certain
function that receives char* type
how can i do the convertion?
thanks

[tlhintoq]

What have you tried so far?
What did MSDN have to say on this?
What about a search right here on Bytes?

Thread 250052

[mbh1]

well , im not sure i understood what was the solution in that thread, but
this is what i did :

the C function header (in the C dll called genclient.dll):

int genLogin(char * name);

and this is the C# code:

[DllImport("genClient.dll", EntryPoint = "genLogin",SetLastError = false, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
public static extern int genLogin(string name);

//and this is the call to the function:

int reply;
string s;
reply = genLogin(s);

but now, c# cant find the enrty point genLogin...
what did i do wrong?
thanks

[tlhintoq]

It can't find the entry point... Or it doesn't like you trying to call it with an argument of 's' which has not been initialized yet? (s has no value when you try to use it in line 8)

[vekipeki]

Check this link for some examples on P/Invoke: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc164193.aspx. There is also a download link for a "PInvoke Interop Assistant" tool, which helps you create the correct DllImport signature (if you did a mistake).

You can get detailed info on string marshalling on this link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/s9ts558h.aspx.

[mbh1]

now ive tried something else...

the C function header is this:

__declspec(dlle xport) int genLogin(char * name);

and my decleration is this:

[DllImport("genC lient.dll", EntryPoint = "genLogin", ExactSpelling = false, SetLastError = true)]
public static extern int genLogin([MarshalAs(Unman agedType.LPArra y)] byte[] name);


the call to the function is done in this way:

byte[] str = new byte[100];
textBox1.Text = Convert.ToStrin g((genLogin(str )));

but still i get the following error:

Unable to find an entry point named 'genLogin' in DLL 'genClient.dll' .


any more suggestions?

thanks!

[vekipeki]

Use the dumpbin.exe tool to make sure that you have the correct entry point name in C++.