Re: Export C++ class from a Borland DLL and use it in Microsoft VC

Bruno van Dooren [MVP VC++] wrote:
I'm new of this group and I do not know if this is the correct group
for my question.
I have a DLL with its export library (.lib) wrote in Borland C++ 6. In
borland everything is OK and I am able to include the lib and use the
class that i have exported creating an instance with new etc... I
would like to export this class in microsoft VC++ using the same .lib
file. Obviously it doesn' t work.

Is it possible to generate or convert the import library into a
compatible format?

Nope.

There is no binary standard for compiled C++ code. Each compiler uses its own binary layout.
This means that C++ code is incompatible between different compilers, and even different compiler version.

Using Borland C++ dlls in msvc is not possible.

I think, that's not true. For example, I use a DLL written in Intel Fortran with Borland C++. IMHO DLL-usage is compiler - and even though - language independant. If it really doesn't work with the MS compiler (I did not do this), it is in fact a Microsoft problem.

Markus

This is not a Microsoft problem btw. It is true for all compilers. Microsoft even has a very good record for compatibility, gcc the worst.

If you want to export C++ code you have to stick with 1 compiler.
If you want to mix different compiler environments, you have to stay with ANSI C interfaces.

.

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