How do I import an ActiveX control in BCB5 with tlibimp? - c++builder

What are the required flags for tlibimp.exe to properly mimic choosing
'Component -> Import ActiveX Control -> Install'
in the Borland C++ Builder 5 IDE? I currently pass tlibimp an ocx and -L-, but there is a loss in funcionality when compared with results of importing it manually.

The command line depends on what the IDE is attempting..for example install a component as active x.
-A TypeLibrary file suffix (defaults to '_TLB', -A- : no
suffix)
-D Output directory
-F TypeLibrary Output filename (extension ignored)
-N C++ namespace name
-X OCX Wrappers Output filename (extension ignored - C++
only)
Switches: - (defaults are shown below)
-C- Generate C++ import file
-E+ Generate wrapper class for dispinterfaces (C++ only)
-G+ Expose namespace with 'using' statement
-H+ Generate IDE component wrappers for ActiveX Controls
-J- Generate CORBA IDL source file
-K- Generate Pascal CORBA Stubs and Skeletons
-L- Generate IDE component wrappers for OLE Servers
-O+ Generate CoClass Creator wrappers
-P+ Generate Pascal import file
-Q+ Generate 'Register' function for IDE components wrappers
-R+ Generate files for dependent typelibraries
-S+ Map HRESULT stdcall to safecall on dual interfaces (Delphi only)
-T- Map HRESULT stdcall to safecall on all interfaces (Delphi only)
-V- Generate Event wrappers for Server (C++ only)
-W+ Warnings in import file
-Yh Ignore the [Hidden] flag when importing
-Yr Ignore the [Restricted] flag when importing
-Yp Ignore the [PreDeclID] flag when importing
-Ya Combined -Yh -Yr -Yp
--
Michael

It turns out that functionality loss was due to the fact that the ocx file I was importing was not registered. The projects that used this activeX control still compiled without a problem, but were still flawed.
Registering the ocx with regsvr32 solved the problem.

Related

Calling Library in Lua

I have created a Wireshark dissector in Lua for an application over TCP. I am attempting to use zlib compression and base64 decryption. How do I actually create or call an existing c library in Lua?
The documentation I have seen just says that you can get the libraries and use either the require() call or the luaopen_ call, but not how to actually make the program find and recognize the actual library. All of this is being done in Windows.
You can't load any existing C library, which was not created for Lua, with plain Lua. It's not trivial at least.
*.so/*.dll must follow some specific standard, which is bluntly mentioned in programming in Lua#26.2 and lua-users wiki, code sample. Also similar question answered here.
There are two ways You could solve Your problem:
Writing Your own Lua zlib library wrapper, following those standards.
Taking some already finished solution:
zlib#luapower
lua-zlib
ffi
Bigger list #lua-users wiki
The same applies to base64 encoding/decoding. Only difference, there are already plain-Lua libraries for that. Code samples and couple of links #lua-users wiki.
NOTE: Lua module package managers like LuaRocks or
LuaDist MIGHT save You plenty of time.
Also, simply loading a Lua module usually consists of one line:
local zlib = require("zlib")
The module would be searched in places defined in Your Lua interpreter's luaconf.h file.
For 5.1 it's:
#if defined(_WIN32)
/*
** In Windows, any exclamation mark ('!') in the path is replaced by the
** path of the directory of the executable file of the current process.
*/
#define LUA_LDIR "!\\lua\\"
#define LUA_CDIR "!\\"
#define LUA_PATH_DEFAULT \
".\\?.lua;" LUA_LDIR"?.lua;" LUA_LDIR"?\\init.lua;" \
LUA_CDIR"?.lua;" LUA_CDIR"?\\init.lua"
#define LUA_CPATH_DEFAULT \
".\\?.dll;" LUA_CDIR"?.dll;" LUA_CDIR"loadall.dll"
#else
How do I actually create or call an existing c library in Lua?
An arbitrary library, not written for use by Lua? You generally can't.
A Lua consumable "module" must be linked against the Lua API -- the same version as the host interpreter, such as Lua5.1.dll in the root of the Wireshark directory -- and expose a C-callable function matching the lua_CFunction signature. Lua can load the library and call that function, and it's up to that function to actually expose functionality to Lua using the Lua API.
Your zlib and/or base64 libraries know nothing about Lua. If you had a Lua interpreter with a built-in FFI, or you found a FFI Lua module you could load, you could probably get this to work, but it's really more trouble than it's worth. Writing a Lua module is actually super easy, and you can tailor the interface to be more idiomatic for Lua.
I don't have zlib or a base64 C library handy, so for example's sake lets say we wanted to let our Lua script use the MessageBox function from the user32.dll library in Windows.
#include <windows.h>
#include "lauxlib.h"
static int luaMessageBox (lua_State* L) {
const char* message = luaL_checkstring(L,1);
MessageBox(NULL, message, "", MB_OK);
return 0;
}
int __declspec(dllexport) __cdecl luaopen_messagebox (lua_State* L) {
lua_register(L, "msgbox", luaMessageBox);
return 0;
}
To build this, we need to link against user32.dll (contains MessageBox) and lua5.1.dll (contains the Lua API). You can get Lua5.1.lib from the Wireshark source. Here's using Microsoft's compiler to produce messagebox.dll:
cl /LD /Ilua-5.1.4/src messagebox.c user32.lib lua5.1.lib
Now your Lua scripts can write:
require "messagebox"
msgbox("Hello, World!")
Your only option is to use a library library like alien. See my answer Disabling Desktop Composition using Lua Scripting for other FFI libraries.

Auto rename compiled file in Delphi XE2

I use Delphi XE2 and I have a project called PGetBase. In this project, there is a module with a constant declaration. For example:
const
   FragH = 5;
   FragW = 4;
...
After compiling, the file is called PGetBase.exe. Is it possible to make the name of the build file dependent on the constants declared in the module, e.g. PGetBase_5_4.exe, by making use of a Post-Build event?
Add a project to the projectgroup which creates an executable that uses the same unit and changes the filename. Build and run that executable in the Post-Build event.
Microsoft Build knows nothing about the Pascal language and cannot parse the sources.
However you may extract "5" and "4" into some external text files.
const
FragH =
{$I Frag_h.txt}
;
FragW =
{$I Frag_W.txt}
;
Then make a simple program (or script: WSH, PowerShell, etc), that would be launched from post-build events.
You program would read those file and rename the Delphi-made PGetBase.exe to anything you wish.
PS. Of course one can parse the source unit to regain those constants, rather than offloading them into external storage. Comments hold the discussion pro et con.
PPS. NGLN came wit ha neat idea. Rather than parsing the file, you can just include that unit as part of your renamer project. Then you can add a pre-build event, that would compile(make) renamer and in post-buid the renamer would have those constants within itself. While calling make/dcc32 would probably be slower than just parsing the sources from inside the version-neutral pre-compiled renamer.exe, that NGLN's approach is elegant and self-contained in its own way.

Export C functions for LabView with c++builder

I have a DLL that I have ported from VC2008 to C++ Builder XE2. The DLL is used in LabVIEW's TestStand.
TestStand, when importing the VC2008 DLL, can see the function names and their arguments. When using the C++ Builder DLL, all its sees are the function names and not the arguments. All exports are C functions and use extern "C" declspec( dllexport ).
Is there a way to get the exports correct?
I have read that adding a TLB file will do the job, if this is true, how do I create a TLB that exports only C functions?
TestStand can read a .c/.cpp file and derive parameters from that file. You still load the DLL and select the function you want to call. You then 'verify' the parameters and select the .c/.cpp file in the dialog. TestStand will find the function with the same name and insert the parameters itself.
The function must be very specific, I had to create a dummy .c file that contained the prototypes as TestStand could not handle the #defines for dllexport and dllimport. It likes a very specific format. For the function:
TESTAPI bool StartTest( long inNumber ) {}
where TESTAPIis either extern "C" __declspec( dllexport ) or extern "C" __declspec( dllimport I had to write the line below in my dummy file:
bool __declspec( dllexport ) StartTest( long inNumber ) {}
That does it.
DLL function parameters cannot be determined from exports alone, unless they are being decorated by the calling convention (which is unusual to do in a DLL). If a TLB (aka a Type Library) solves the problem, then the VC2008 DLL is likely an In-Process ActiveX/COM object rather than a flat C DLL. If so, then in C+Builder you can use the IDE wizards on the "File | New" menu to create an "ActiveX Library" project, then a "COM Object" to add to the library. Then you will have a TLB that you can define your object with, and the IDE will generate stub code that you can fill in with your object's implementation.
If that is not what LabViews is expecting, then I suggest you contact them and ask. If all it needs is a TLB with flat C functions (which is very unusual, because TLB's are object-oriented), then you can omit the "COM Object" portion and just create an "ActiveX Library" project to get a bare-bones TLB, then add your definitions to it as needed, an then add your exports to the project.
From the reference here:
Avoid using the extern "C" syntax to export symbols. The extern "C" syntax prevents the C/C++ DLL Adapter from obtaining type information for function and method parameters."
A little late to the game, but your problem may be that C++ Builder is decorating the exported function with a leading underscore. The TLIB command line utility should help prove this (assuming tlib still ships with C++Builder)
TLIB mydll.lib, mydll.lst
Look at the resulting lst file and see if it contains StartTest or _StartTest. LabView is probably expecting to find a function without the underscore.
You can add a DEF file to your C++Builder project that will suppress the leading underscore. Try this:
Use the __cdecl calling convention instead of __stdcall.
Export plain "C" functions. No C++ classes or member functions.
Make sure you have an extern "C" {} around your function prototypes.
Create a DEF file that aliases the exported functions to a Microsoft
compatible name. Alias the names so they don't contain a leading
underscore. The DEF file will look like this:
EXPORTS
; MSVC name = C++Builder name
StartTest = _StartTest
Foo = _Foo
Bar = _Bar
5- Add the DEF file to your BCB DLL project and rebuild it.
Check out these ancient articles for more details:
http://bcbjournal.org/articles/vol4/0012/Using_Visual_C_DLLs_with_CBuilder.htm
The reverse article (creating C++Builder DLLs that get called from VC++ created applications) is buried in this archive:
http://www.frasersoft.net/program/bcbdev.zip : /articles/bcbdll.htm. It describes the DEF file trick in more detail, plus some other options.
Note that my answer is based on the way thing were in 1998 or so. They may have changed since then. If they have, then the C++Builder command line tools impdef, tlib, tdump, plus the Microsoft equivalents of those tools, should be able to show you exactly what is in your DLL vs the MSVC one.
H^2
I suggest to use ActiveX object: you can create an automation object in C++Builder and in Labview / TestStand you can import this object. If you use automation, in Lavbiew you will have the correct parameter definition. Make sure you are using a set of compatible type variables with Labview / TestStand.
For example, this fragment of code is the implementation of an array passed from Labview to C++:
STDMETHODIMP TCanLibraryImpl::DataDownload(VARIANT Data, long* RV)
{
_precondition_cmodule();
*RV = 0;
TSafeArrayLong1 mySafeArray(Data.parray);
int dLen =mySafeArray.BoundsLength[0];
...
}
In Labview you will pass to this function an array of I64

Delphi .res file changer

I'm looking for a ready-to-use piece of code that would be able to read and modify Delphi .res files. The thing is that I need to create an application that will be compiling many Delphi projects at once (using the dcc32.exe file). However, it is necessary for me to change file version and language before compilation, and as far as I know, I have to modify the .res file to do that.
Have you come across any code that would give me an interface to .res files allowing me to modify the data contained in it? The thing is that I want to change only those two pieces of information keeping the rest unchanged. This is why I can't compile my own .res file based on a script.
An application executed from a command line would also be OK if it allows to be called with parameters and does what I need it to do.
Thank you very in advance!
If all you need is to add file version resource then create appver.rc file, compile it with brcc32 and in one of your app unit (for example appver.pas) add {$R appver.res} (as Marian noticed you must turn off Delphi project option to include version info).
I created command line programs that increase build numbers in .rc file, create new branch/tag in SVN with new version in branch name, compiles .rc to .res, and build application.
My .rc files with such info (Polish language) looks like:
#define IDR_VERSION1 1
IDR_VERSION1 VERSIONINFO LOADONCALL MOVEABLE DISCARDABLE IMPURE
FILEVERSION 7,28,7,17
PRODUCTVERSION 7,28,7,17
FILEFLAGSMASK VS_FFI_FILEFLAGSMASK
FILEFLAGS 0
FILEOS VOS_DOS_WINDOWS32
FILETYPE VFT_DLL
FILESUBTYPE 0
{
BLOCK "StringFileInfo"
{
BLOCK "041504E2"
{
VALUE "CompanyName", "xxx\0"
VALUE "FileDescription", "yyy\0"
VALUE "ProductName", "zzz\0"
VALUE "FileVersion", "7.28.7.17\0"
VALUE "ProductVersion", "7.28.7.17\0"
}
}
BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
{
VALUE "Translation", 0x0415, 1250
}
}
For all things .res, look at Colin Wilson's "XN Resource Editor", for which he provides the source code: http://www.wilsonc.demon.co.uk/d10resourceeditor.htm
And probably all you need is his resource utility library:
http://www.wilsonc.demon.co.uk/d9resourceutils.htm
I haven't used this source, but if I needed it, that's the first place I'd look. His resource editor is very useful, btw.
There is ChangeRes which seems to match your needs.
Check out sources:
http://code.google.com/p/gedemin/source/browse/trunk#trunk/Gedemin/Utility/IncVerRC
It is our utility which reads .RC file with version information and increments build number. We use it inside our build process. Here is an excerpt:
incverrc.exe ..\gedemin\gedemin.rc
"%delphi_path%\brcc32.exe" -fogedemin.res -i..\images gedemin.rc
"%delphi_path%\dcc32.exe" -b gedemin.dpr
The utility uses TIncVerRc class written by Chris Morris.
Check Resource Tuner Console on www.heaventools.com. They position that product for tasks like yours. Also there's a free rcstamp tool on CodeProject.

LIB file output locations for Delphi 2009 packages

When building a Delphi 2009 component package, how do you specify which directory should contain the resulting .hpp and .lib files needed for C++ Builder users?
On the Project|Options|Delphi Compiler|Linking page, the first two items are C++Builder .hpp output directory and C++Buidler .obj output directory should do what you want. The .lib and .bpi files. However, it seems that there is a bit of a bug in how these options are passed to the compiler... I'll speak with the engineer responsible about it.
From the command-line DCC32 you can use the following to control where to place these items:
-N0<path> = unit .dcu output directory
-NH<path> = unit .hpp output directory
-NO<path> = unit .obj output directory
-NB<path> = unit .bpi output directory
Note that the -NB switch AFAICR, also controls where the .lib file goes as well.
There is a known bug: http://qc.embarcadero.com/wc/qcmain.aspx?d=67513
This is /expected/ to be fixed in the forthcoming Update 3. (Don't worry about the 10.0 resolved in build number, that is a mistake that will be corrected when Update 3 is released and all the bug fixes get synchronized back to QC)
As far as I know, you can't. None of the directory options seem to control it. However, you could probably define a post-build event (Project->Options->Build events) which would copy the files to where you wanted them.

Resources