[ XP Pro, VS.NET 7.0 & VS.NET 7.1, mIRC 6.0.3 ]

Well I have seen alot of people wanting to create DLLs with the ability to have access to the .NET Framework hopfully this little bit of code will help give you a skeleton to build on. Note: This example does not use garbage collection. So if you new something, delete it before you return.

I plan on coming up with a "COOL" example that will include garbage collection for your managed code and will implement Load and Unload methods, just don't have any ideas of what to do with a DLL.

This text makes some assumptions. It assumes you know how to use your compiler and how to properly compile the code below. This also assumes you know how to properly use the /dll and $dll() commands in mIRC. Also make note that the code in this document is provided as is and comes with no warranty, support, or garuantee to work.

I didn't think of anything "COOL" to use, so I just used .NET DateTime library and grabed the values for use in a $dll() call.

Below is your basic header, notice the extern "C" wrap.
Code:
// mIRC_DLL.h

#ifndef MIRC_DLL
#define MIRC_DLL
#endif // MIRC_DLL

extern "C"
{
    int __stdcall Hello(HWND mWnd, HWND aWnd,
        char* data, char* params, bool show, bool nopause);
}


Now we move to the source itself.
Code:
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <cstring>

// Include windows.h
#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
#include <windows.h>

// .NET Framework goo
#using <mscorlib.dll>
using namespace System;

// DLL Project specific goo
#define MIRC_DLL 
#include "mIRC_DLL.h"

extern "C"
{
    namespace ax
    {
        char* StringToChar(String* s, char buf[255])
        {
            IntPtr p = Runtime::InteropServices::Marshal::StringToHGlobalAnsi(s);
            strcpy(buf, ((const char*) p.ToPointer()));
            Runtime::InteropServices::Marshal::FreeHGlobal(p);
            return buf;
        }
    }

    int __stdcall date_time(HWND mWnd, HWND aWnd, char* data,
                    char* params, bool show, bool nopause)
    {
        DateTime dt;
        char copy[255];
        char* _result = "\0";
        char* _tmp    = "\0";

        _tmp = ax::StringToChar(dt.Now.ToLongDateString(),copy);
        strcpy(_result, _tmp);
        
        lstrcpy(data, _result);
        return 3;
    }
}


And now finally the DEF file.
Code:
LIBRARY	mIRC_DLL
EXPORTS
    date_time @1


Now you can go in to mIRC and, //echo -a $dll(mirc_dll.dll,date_time,0). Not very useful, not the greatest tutorial, but great for those looking for a little nudge, enjoy.

This isn't to teach you how to create DLLs or how to program or managed C++ this is to show people coming from other languages who understand what is going on here a simple example to get them headed in the right direction.

If you have any general questions (please do not ask me things like "How do I make my DLL do <insert>") or comments please feel free, flames need not apply smirk

Bluesock - Better than a redhat.
http://www.bluesock.com