How to involve C++/WinRT lib in C# UWP App on Visual Studio 2022

Question

I have a pre-built C++/WinRT lib (dll/lib/winmd...), I want to use it in my C# UWP App。

• I want to query how to involve the ilb in my C# UWP project. (where to add reference of lib/winmd files in VS2022).
• Since C++/WinRT is self language projection, so I can use it in C# code directly, am I right?

I try as "Generate a C# projection from a C++/WinRT component" mentioned, it works for me, but the C++/WinRT in this guide is "source code project" and the target app is ".NET 6 console application".

Please note: my requirement is involve a pre-built C++/WinRT lib in to C# UWP app. I find options are diff with the articles, and I don't know how to config correctly.

Thanks

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

Currently, it seems that it is not able to directly add a C++/WinRT component as a reference to a C# UWP app directly via Visual Studio. But you could do this manually by modifying the csproj file and the manifest file. You could go through this Github link: Unable to add C++/WinRT Runtime Component to UWP C# Application . In that link, Code-ScottLe tried to modify the csproj file and Scottj1s gives suggestions about how to make it work.

In short, you need to modify the c# project and adding

     <ItemGroup>
    <ProjectReference Include="..\projectname\project.vcxproj" />
    </ItemGroup>

And then change the c# manifest:

    <Extensions>
    <Extension Category="windows.activatableClass.inProcessServer">
      <InProcessServer>
        <Path>projectname.dll</Path>
        <ActivatableClass ActivatableClassId="projectname.classname" ThreadingModel="both"/>
      </InProcessServer>
    </Extension>
  </Extensions>  

For more details, please go through the link: Unable to add C++/WinRT Runtime Component to UWP C# Application

Thank you.

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