Import unmanaged dlls at runtime

Question

I was wondering if it is possible to import unamaged dlls in C# at runtime.
I am trying to build an application in which user can browse the dll, and access and use the functions which are exposed in that dll.
Any help or suggestions are welcome
Thanks in advance

Sam Hobbs · Answer

DLLs are never imported. Importing a DLL is a misleading concept. Type libraries are imported. If you think in terms of importing type libraries you will understand better. Is the DLL a COM object or ActiveX control? Is there a type library for it? If the answer to all of that is no then you probably cannot import type information. I am not sure but I think it is possible to create a type library for a DLL that does not have one but I don't know the details. You could write a C++ program that is a COM object that calls the DLL and then that COM object could be imported. Or you could write a C# class library that uses the DLL as an unmanaged DLL and then the class library could be used by other programs.