How to get objects from DLL?

[vnarod]

I have created a DLL that contains several forms. At run time I need to get all form names and forms from this DLL.

How can I do it? I can get the assembly, but I am confused how to get individual objects from it.

 

sFile = "LocalManagement.DLL"

oAssembly = System.Reflection.Assembly.LoadFrom(sFile)

[Night]

I have implement it like this:

- Make a DLL

- Expose method like: Open form A / Open Form B

- If you need form interaction --> Open other forms from form A/B (in DLL code) and so on...(I mean form A/B is some start points...)

[divil]

Use oAssembly.GetTypes() to get an array of the classes inside.

[vnarod]

1. Thank you. Do I unsderstand correctly that I need this to load all forms?

 

dim ar as ArrayList

dim oTypes as System.Type

oTypes = oAssembly.GetTypes

for i=0 to ubound(oTypes)

ar.Add oAssembly.CreateInstance(oTypes(0).FullName)

Next

 

2. What is the good way to store a form display name? Type.Name gives me "frmData" and I need to display "Transaction Data". Of course, I can make it public property of a form but then I will have to load form in order to read it. Is there some property that I could use to store it so I can get display name without loading form?

 

3. How does it work memory-wise? Will DLL stay in memory after first accessed? How can I make sure that it does not? Can keeping 150 form in memory introduce memory problems?

[divil]

1. Use Type.IsSubClassOf(GetType(Form)) to make sure first.

2. I would use an attribute to attach a text "friendly" description to each form, which you can retrieve with reflection without having to create an instance.

3. Let the GC worry about that.

[vnarod]

2. I will try to find in help how to do that. If you have a short sample, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

3. What is GC?

[divil]

2. I don't have an example just lying around, but if you don't manage it I will write one for you.

 

3. The Garbage Collector.