Re: DLL creation: exporting library symbols

From:

Scot T Brennecke <ScotB@Spamhater.MVPs.org>

Newsgroups:

microsoft.public.vc.language,microsoft.public.vc.mfc,microsoft.public.dotnet.languages.vc,comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.misc

Date:

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:26:39 -0500

Message-ID:

<#4ZAL$85JHA.3856@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl>

Hi Olumide,
    I presume that this "companion" lib file is the "import library" that
was generated for client applications to link, creating a static
dependency on your DLL. Symbols do not go in .lib files of this sort.
When you are exporting classes from your DLL, there are a couple of ways
to do it:
  1. Using __declspec(dllexport) in the declaration/definition of the
classes or other functions you are exporting.
  2. Using a .DEF file and explicitly naming the symbols to be exported.

    So, please explain two things in more detail: what you know you have,
and what you wanted/intended.

Scot

Olumide wrote:

Hi,

I'm writing my first dll consisting of several C++ classes, which I've
compiled to produce a dll and companion(?) lib file. The problem is
that the lib file contains no symbols. How can I get VS .NET to export
symbols for all the classes their methods? As I am utterly new to the
subject of DLL creation, I would prefer really simple explanations.

Thanks,

- Olumide