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DLL files are dynamic-linked library files written and controlled with C++. DLLs make sharing, storing, and saving your code simple. This wikiHow will show you how to create a DLL file with Visual Studio , the Windows application, or Visual Studio for Mac. Make sure you have “Desktop Development with C++” checked when you install. If you already have Visual Studio but didn’t check that box, you can run the installer again to make sure you do.
Making and Using a Dynamic Link Library
- To make a DLL, open Visual Studio and start a new project for C++. Set the project type as Library .
- Click Dynamic-link Library (DLL) and create it. Add the code from the Microsoft website.
- Add a CPP file to the DLL, and then select Build Solution .
Steps
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Open Visual Studio. You can find this in your Start Menu or Applications folder. Since a DLL is a library of information, it is only one piece of a project, and usually requires an accompanying app to access it.
- You can get Visual Studio for Windows here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/install/install-visual-studio?view=vs-2022
- Visual Studio for Mac can be downloaded here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/visualstudio/mac/installation?view=vsmac-2022
- This wikiHow will be using code provided by Microsoft to explain how to build a DLL file.
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Click the File . You’ll find this either above the project space (Windows) or along the top of your screen (Macs). [1] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Set the options for Language , Platform , and Project Type . These will filter what kinds of project templates appear.
- Click Language to get a drop-down menu and click C++ .
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Click Platform to get a drop-down menu and click Windows .
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Click Dynamic-link Library (DLL) . Your choice will highlight blue. Click Next to continue. [4] X Research source
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Type a name in the Name Box for the project. For example, type “MathLibrary” in the box for a sample name. [5] X Research source
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Add a header file to the DLL. You can do this by clicking “ Add New Item ” from “ Project ” in the menu bar.
- Select Visual C++ from the left menu of the dialog box.
- Select Header file (.h) from the center of the dialog box.
- Type the name as “MathLibrary.h” in the name field below the menu choices.
- Click Add to generate the blank header file.
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Type the following code into the blank header file.
- This is sample code provided from the Microsoft help website.
// MathLibrary.h - Contains declarations of math functions #pragma once #ifdef MATHLIBRARY_EXPORTS #define MATHLIBRARY_API __declspec(dllexport) #else #define MATHLIBRARY_API __declspec(dllimport) #endif // The Fibonacci recurrence relation describes a sequence F // where F(n) is { n = 0, a // { n = 1, b // { n > 1, F(n-2) + F(n-1) // for some initial integral values a and b. // If the sequence is initialized F(0) = 1, F(1) = 1, // then this relation produces the well-known Fibonacci // sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ... // Initialize a Fibonacci relation sequence // such that F(0) = a, F(1) = b. // This function must be called before any other function. extern "C" MATHLIBRARY_API void fibonacci_init ( const unsigned long long a , const unsigned long long b ); // Produce the next value in the sequence. // Returns true on success and updates current value and index; // false on overflow, leaves current value and index unchanged. extern "C" MATHLIBRARY_API bool fibonacci_next (); // Get the current value in the sequence. extern "C" MATHLIBRARY_API unsigned long long fibonacci_current (); // Get the position of the current value in the sequence. extern "C" MATHLIBRARY_API unsigned fibonacci_index ();
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Add a CPP file to the DLL. You can do this by clicking Add New Item from “Project” in the menu bar.
- Select “ Visual C++ ” from the left menu of the dialog box.
- Select “ C++ File (.cpp) ” from the center of the dialog box.
- Type the name as “MathLibrary.cpp” in the name field below the menu choices.
- Click Add to generate the blank file.
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Type the following code into the blank file.
- This is sample code provided from the Microsoft help website.
// MathLibrary.cpp : Defines the exported functions for the DLL. #include "stdafx.h" // use pch.h in Visual Studio 2019 #include <utility> #include <limits.h> #include "MathLibrary.h" // DLL internal state variables: static unsigned long long previous_ ; // Previous value, if any static unsigned long long current_ ; // Current sequence value static unsigned index_ ; // Current seq. position // Initialize a Fibonacci relation sequence // such that F(0) = a, F(1) = b. // This function must be called before any other function. void fibonacci_init ( const unsigned long long a , const unsigned long long b ) { index_ = 0 ; current_ = a ; previous_ = b ; // see special case when initialized } // Produce the next value in the sequence. // Returns true on success, false on overflow. bool fibonacci_next () { // check to see if we'd overflow result or position if (( ULLONG_MAX - previous_ < current_ ) || ( UINT_MAX == index_ )) { return false ; } // Special case when index == 0, just return b value if ( index_ > 0 ) { // otherwise, calculate next sequence value previous_ += current_ ; } std :: swap ( current_ , previous_ ); ++ index_ ; return true ; } // Get the current value in the sequence. unsigned long long fibonacci_current () { return current_ ; } // Get the current index position in the sequence. unsigned fibonacci_index () { return index_ ; }
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Click Build in the menu bar. You’ll find this either above the project space (Windows) or along the top of your screen (Macs).
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Click Build Solution . After you click that, you should see text similar to this:
- If your DLL creation was successful, you'll see that here. If there was an error, it will be listed here for you to fix.
1 >------ Build started : Project : MathLibrary , Configuration : Debug Win32
1 > MathLibrary . cpp 1 > dllmain . cpp 1 > Generating Code ... 1 > Creating library C : \ Users \ username \ Source \ Repos \ MathLibrary \ Debug \ MathLibrary . lib and object C : \ Users \ username \ Source \ Repos \ MathLibrary \ Debug \ MathLibrary . exp 1 > MathLibrary . vcxproj -> C : \ Users \ username \ Source \ Repos \ MathLibrary \ Debug \ MathLibrary . dll 1 > MathLibrary . vcxproj -> C : \ Users \ username \ Source \ Repos \ MathLibrary \ Debug \ MathLibrary . pdb ( Partial PDB ) ========== Build : 1 succeeded , 0 failed , 0 up - to - date , 0 skipped ==========
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References
- ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/walkthrough-creating-and-using-a-dynamic-link-library-cpp?view=msvc-170
- ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/walkthrough-creating-and-using-a-dynamic-link-library-cpp?view=msvc-170
- ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/walkthrough-creating-and-using-a-dynamic-link-library-cpp?view=msvc-170
- ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/walkthrough-creating-and-using-a-dynamic-link-library-cpp?view=msvc-170
- ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/walkthrough-creating-and-using-a-dynamic-link-library-cpp?view=msvc-170
- ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/walkthrough-creating-and-using-a-dynamic-link-library-cpp?view=msvc-170
About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Open Visual Studio.
2. Open a new Dynamic-link library (DLL)
project.
3. Add a header file.
4. Add a CPP file.
5. Check to see if the library works.
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 147,552 times.
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