WHAT IS THE PROPER WAY TO CODE A CLASS LIBRARY, IN VISUAL STUDIO 2022 PREVIEW (or 2019), THAT NEEDS TO USE C++ (to access DWriteCore) FROM MANAGED CODE (C#) ?

Question

WHAT IS THE PROPER WAY TO CODE A CLASS LIBRARY, IN VISUAL STUDIO 2022 PREVIEW (or 2019), THAT NEEDS TO USE C++ (to access DWriteCore) FROM MANAGED CODE (C#) ?

Kenny Brown 51

Is DWriteCore just for CPP apps?

Will a Managed Code implementation of the interface be coming in the future?

I need to get font information, and this interface has the functions and controls, and I'm using WinUI 3 Desktop, Windows App SDK (WindowsAppSDK - Experimental) , Visual Studio 2022 Preview.

I just need to know, since my app needs access to system font information (collections) - Am I - forced to go entirely CPP (looks to be), partial CPP - partial C#, or can I go entirely C# (preferred)?

Castorix31 90,686 Reputation points

2021-10-05T08:33:41.693+00:00

As I wrote in another thread, "entirely C#" is done actually with P/Invoke
P/Invoke is the usual way to declare C++ interfaces when they are not defined in Assemblies, which is the case for DWriteCore atm
I tested in C# with IDWriteFactory.GetSystemFontCollection and I get the same result as in C++
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T08:34:36.183+00:00

I generated a C# projection from a C++/WinRT component to distribute as a NuGet package for .NET 5+ applications and need to use it in a WinUI 3 Desktop App.

PROJECT_A is a C++ Windows Component (WinUI 3)
PROJECT_B is a C# Class Library (WinUI 3 in Desktop)
PROJECT_C is the APP (C# WinUI 3 in Desktop) that needs access to PROJECT_A or PROJECT_B (to access DWriteCore in WindowsAppSDK) ???????

I have added, as projects, PROJECT_A and PROJECT_B (as an existing item, referenced them by drilling back-then-down to their respective project file). I then added:
to PROJECT_C.csproj file.

I had to add the following to the .csproj so Visual Studio 2022 Preview could locate the "PROJECT_A.0.1.0-prerelease.nupkg" file:

"
<PropertyGroup>
<RestoreSources>
https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json;
../../../PROJECT_B/nuget
</RestoreSources>
</PropertyGroup>
"

I can see PROJECT_A in NuGet Package Manager and is installed for the project in question. I can see it as one of the Packages in Dependencies. But, neither #using PROJECT_A or #using PROJECT_B work, I get the following:

Error CS0246 The type or namespace name 'PROJECT_A' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?) Character Map C:\Source\Code\Windows\10\WinUI 3\Fonts\PROJECT_C\PROJECT_C\MainWindow.xaml.cs

Also added PROJECT_B's project as a reference, no luck - #using did not work.
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T08:36:49.34+00:00

PreviewSource
So, I referenced PROJECT_A's project (#using worked) but get the following :

Error NETSDK1130 PROJECT_A.winmd cannot be referenced. Referencing a Windows Metadata component directly when targeting .NET 5 or higher is not supported. For more information, see https://aka.ms/netsdk1130 Character Map C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk\6.0.100-rc.1.21463.6\Sdks\Microsoft.NET.Sdk\targets\Microsoft.NET.Sdk.targets

Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/csharp-winrt/net-projection-from-cppwinrt-component

What to TRY NEXT ???
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T08:57:00.597+00:00

This question is different, as it would be nice to know how to write C++ functions that can be consumed by C#, other than DWriteCore access. Windows 11 will show us a lot about where Microsoft is headed, so we can code accordingly.

I am going to try and implement the P/Invoke strategy in the next few days. I will comment on how it turns out and possibly add it as an answer to the other question.

I do want to thank you for your assistance.
Xiaopo Yang - MSFT 12,731 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2021-10-05T09:04:34.707+00:00

I found the DWriteCore implementation in Microsoft.ProjectReunion.DWrite.
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T09:06:57.59+00:00

I know where the implementation is, I just need to know how to use it from Managed Code.
Castorix31 90,686 Reputation points

2021-10-05T11:36:58.323+00:00

I can post a sample with P/Invoke, but it depends on which interfaces you want to use
I declared most of them from C++ headers, but not yet the last ones like IDWriteFactory7
I simply added the fonts from IDWriteFontCollection in a Listbox for the test :
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T11:55:55.69+00:00

Just this past hour I have started working on implementing. First problem, of course, is that the interface is defined in a C++ header.

I would love a sample, if you have the time. Would have expected 'collections' to be a thing, but appears not.

I prefer to go the DWriteCore route, for cross platform and such. I will set up my development environment to use the appropriate x32 - x64 version of the DLL from the Microsoft.WindowAppSDK.DWrite NuGet package.
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T12:01:03.437+00:00

DWriteCore is supposed to be all about consolidating the factories (e.g. IDWriteFactory3 thru IDWriteFactory7).
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T12:06:48.503+00:00

Also, we should probably be doing this in the other question-thread ( https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/574926/how-do-i-access-dwritecore-from-a-c-managed-applic.html ), as this wouldn't be the 'answer' to the current document's question. Let me know if I need to go delete an accepted answer or something to make it live again, I'm new to this site.
Castorix31 90,686 Reputation points

2021-10-05T19:40:36.33+00:00

OK, I will post my test in C# in the other thread then ...

(I just finished the declarations for IDWriteFactory7 and all other interfaces, it was longer than I thought...
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-06T10:40:10.33+00:00

I have just used the Answer from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/574926/how-do-i-access-dwritecore-from-a-c-managed-applic.html?childToView=579442#comment-579442 to implement a P/Invoke strategy to access DWriteCore directly from managed code.

But, I still need to know how to accomplish what this question is asking - How to have a class library written in C++ and have a C# managed application consume it.

Your answer

Castorix31 90,686 Reputation points

2021-10-05T08:33:41.693+00:00

As I wrote in another thread, "entirely C#" is done actually with P/Invoke
P/Invoke is the usual way to declare C++ interfaces when they are not defined in Assemblies, which is the case for DWriteCore atm
I tested in C# with IDWriteFactory.GetSystemFontCollection and I get the same result as in C++
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T08:34:36.183+00:00

I generated a C# projection from a C++/WinRT component to distribute as a NuGet package for .NET 5+ applications and need to use it in a WinUI 3 Desktop App.

PROJECT_A is a C++ Windows Component (WinUI 3)
PROJECT_B is a C# Class Library (WinUI 3 in Desktop)
PROJECT_C is the APP (C# WinUI 3 in Desktop) that needs access to PROJECT_A or PROJECT_B (to access DWriteCore in WindowsAppSDK) ???????

I have added, as projects, PROJECT_A and PROJECT_B (as an existing item, referenced them by drilling back-then-down to their respective project file). I then added:
to PROJECT_C.csproj file.

I had to add the following to the .csproj so Visual Studio 2022 Preview could locate the "PROJECT_A.0.1.0-prerelease.nupkg" file:

"
<PropertyGroup>
<RestoreSources>
https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json;
../../../PROJECT_B/nuget
</RestoreSources>
</PropertyGroup>
"

I can see PROJECT_A in NuGet Package Manager and is installed for the project in question. I can see it as one of the Packages in Dependencies. But, neither #using PROJECT_A or #using PROJECT_B work, I get the following:

Error CS0246 The type or namespace name 'PROJECT_A' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?) Character Map C:\Source\Code\Windows\10\WinUI 3\Fonts\PROJECT_C\PROJECT_C\MainWindow.xaml.cs

Also added PROJECT_B's project as a reference, no luck - #using did not work.
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T08:36:49.34+00:00

PreviewSource
So, I referenced PROJECT_A's project (#using worked) but get the following :

Error NETSDK1130 PROJECT_A.winmd cannot be referenced. Referencing a Windows Metadata component directly when targeting .NET 5 or higher is not supported. For more information, see https://aka.ms/netsdk1130 Character Map C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk\6.0.100-rc.1.21463.6\Sdks\Microsoft.NET.Sdk\targets\Microsoft.NET.Sdk.targets

Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/csharp-winrt/net-projection-from-cppwinrt-component

What to TRY NEXT ???
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T08:57:00.597+00:00

This question is different, as it would be nice to know how to write C++ functions that can be consumed by C#, other than DWriteCore access. Windows 11 will show us a lot about where Microsoft is headed, so we can code accordingly.

I am going to try and implement the P/Invoke strategy in the next few days. I will comment on how it turns out and possibly add it as an answer to the other question.

I do want to thank you for your assistance.
Xiaopo Yang - MSFT 12,731 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2021-10-05T09:04:34.707+00:00

I found the DWriteCore implementation in Microsoft.ProjectReunion.DWrite.
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T09:06:57.59+00:00

I know where the implementation is, I just need to know how to use it from Managed Code.
Castorix31 90,686 Reputation points

2021-10-05T11:36:58.323+00:00

I can post a sample with P/Invoke, but it depends on which interfaces you want to use
I declared most of them from C++ headers, but not yet the last ones like IDWriteFactory7
I simply added the fonts from IDWriteFontCollection in a Listbox for the test :
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T11:55:55.69+00:00

Just this past hour I have started working on implementing. First problem, of course, is that the interface is defined in a C++ header.

I would love a sample, if you have the time. Would have expected 'collections' to be a thing, but appears not.

I prefer to go the DWriteCore route, for cross platform and such. I will set up my development environment to use the appropriate x32 - x64 version of the DLL from the Microsoft.WindowAppSDK.DWrite NuGet package.
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T12:01:03.437+00:00

DWriteCore is supposed to be all about consolidating the factories (e.g. IDWriteFactory3 thru IDWriteFactory7).
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-05T12:06:48.503+00:00

Also, we should probably be doing this in the other question-thread ( https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/574926/how-do-i-access-dwritecore-from-a-c-managed-applic.html ), as this wouldn't be the 'answer' to the current document's question. Let me know if I need to go delete an accepted answer or something to make it live again, I'm new to this site.
Castorix31 90,686 Reputation points

2021-10-05T19:40:36.33+00:00

OK, I will post my test in C# in the other thread then ...

(I just finished the declarations for IDWriteFactory7 and all other interfaces, it was longer than I thought...
Kenny Brown 51 Reputation points

2021-10-06T10:40:10.33+00:00

I have just used the Answer from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/574926/how-do-i-access-dwritecore-from-a-c-managed-applic.html?childToView=579442#comment-579442 to implement a P/Invoke strategy to access DWriteCore directly from managed code.

But, I still need to know how to accomplish what this question is asking - How to have a class library written in C++ and have a C# managed application consume it.

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WHAT IS THE PROPER WAY TO CODE A CLASS LIBRARY, IN VISUAL STUDIO 2022 PREVIEW (or 2019), THAT NEEDS TO USE C++ (to access DWriteCore) FROM MANAGED CODE (C#) ?

Your answer