Re: using exe as dll

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Tim Roberts (timr_at_probo.com)
Date: 08/04/04 

Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2004 21:10:27 -0700

dbabits@hotmail.com (dima) wrote:
>
>It is possible to export functions out of exe and then use it as
>dll.What are the potential problems? I am aware of possible C-runtime
>initialization issues, and also of course there's no DllMain etc.

Actually, your last phrase pinpoints the root of the problem. DllMain is
not magic, it's just the standard name used for the initial entry point of
a DLL. For an EXE, the initial entry point goes instead to main or
WinMain.

When a PE file is loaded, the operating system always calls the initial
entry point. Thus, although you CAN load an executable as a DLL, as soon
as you do so, the executable's main() entry point will be called and the
program will run.

>But still, any comments appreciated. BTW, the goal is to have 1 file
>that could be used as an executable or as a library and not have to
>compile 2 binaries.

I think you'll need to make a DLL with a very small main program to call
it. 

-- 
- Tim Roberts, timr@probo.com
  Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc

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