Use 1D .NET Framework DLL arrays in C# app

This article provides an introduction to cross-technology handling of one-dimensional arrays. Data structures are one of the essential aspects of every piece of software. Any application constantly process various information, that very often require specific grouping and access strategies. This aspect is addressed by arrays and more advanced collection types. By using the Javonet framework, users gain ability to easily and effectively work with data structures originating from .NET Framework DLL. Every array from .NET Framework DLL is treated as reference.

Javonet allows you to reference and use modules or packages written in (Java/Kotlin/Groovy/Clojure, C#/VB.NET, Ruby, Perl, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript) like they were created in your technology. If have not yet created your first project check Javonet overview and quick start guides for your technology.

With Javonet you can interact with arrays from .NET Framework DLL like they were available in C# but invocation must be performed through Javonet SDK API.

Custom .NET Framework DLL with arrays handling

With Javonet it is possible to reference any custom .NET Framework DLL and interact with arrays declared on types defined within that module almost the same as with any other C# library.

Snippet below represents the sample code from .NET Framework DLL that has methods which return or process the arrays:

public string[] Get1DArray()
{
    return new string[] { "one", "two", "three", "four", "five" };
}

public string[,] Get2DArray()
{
    return new string[,] { { "S00", "S01" }, { "S10", "S11" } };
}

public double AddArrayElementsAndMultiply(double[] myArray, double myValue)
{
    double sum = 0;
    foreach (double element in myArray)
    {
        sum += element;
    }

    return sum * myValue;
}

Javonet SDK contains various methods to interact with arrays and consume the results in C#:

Get element from .NET Framework DLL 1D array in C# application

I code in:
// use Activate only once in your app
Javonet.Activate("your-license-key");

// create called runtime context
var calledRuntime = Javonet.InMemory().Clr();

// set up variables
string libraryPath = resourcesDirectory + "/TestClass.dll";
string className = "TestClass.TestClass";

// load custom library
calledRuntime.LoadLibrary(libraryPath);

// get type from the runtime
var calledRuntimeType = calledRuntime.GetType(className).Execute();

// create type's instance
var instance = calledRuntimeType.CreateInstance().Execute();

// invoke instance's method
var array = instance.InvokeInstanceMethod("Get1DArray").Execute();

// get index from array
var response = array.GetIndex(2).Execute();

// get value from response
var result = (string)response.GetValue();

// write result to console
System.Console.WriteLine(result);

In the snippet above, get1DArray method is used to get reference to 1D array from .NET Framework DLL. Method getIndex is used to get element from the array.

Set element from .NET Framework DLL 1D array in C# application

I code in:
// use Activate only once in your app
Javonet.Activate("your-license-key");

// create called runtime context
var calledRuntime = Javonet.InMemory().Clr();

// set up variables
string libraryPath = resourcesDirectory + "/TestClass.dll";
string className = "TestClass.TestClass";

// load custom library
calledRuntime.LoadLibrary(libraryPath);

// get type from the runtime
var calledRuntimeType = calledRuntime.GetType(className).Execute();

// create type's instance
var instance = calledRuntimeType.CreateInstance().Execute();

// invoke instance's method
var array = instance.InvokeInstanceMethod("Get1DArray").Execute();

// set array's index
array.SetIndex(4, "seven").Execute();

// get index from array
var response = array.GetIndex(4).Execute();

// get value from response
var result = (string)response.GetValue();

// write result to console
System.Console.WriteLine(result);

In the snippet above, get1DArray method is used to get reference to 1D array from .NET Framework DLL. Method setIndex is used to set element of the 1D array. First argument is index, second argument is new value.

Get size and rank of .NET Framework DLL 1D array in C# application

I code in:
// use Activate only once in your app
Javonet.Activate("your-license-key");

// create called runtime context
var calledRuntime = Javonet.InMemory().Clr();

// set up variables
string libraryPath = resourcesDirectory + "/TestClass.dll";
string className = "TestClass.TestClass";

// load custom library
calledRuntime.LoadLibrary(libraryPath);

// get type from the runtime
var calledRuntimeType = calledRuntime.GetType(className).Execute();

// create type's instance
var instance = calledRuntimeType.CreateInstance().Execute();

// invoke instance's method
var array = instance.InvokeInstanceMethod("Get1DArray").Execute();

// get array's size
var response = array.GetSize().Execute();

// get value from response
var result = (int)response.GetValue();

// write result to console
System.Console.WriteLine(result);

In the snippet above, get1DArray method is used to get reference to 1D array from .NET Framework DLL. Method getSize is used to get number of elements of the array.

The same operation can be performed remotely by just changing the new Runtime Context invocation from in memory to tcp that will create and interact with your .NET Framework DLL objects on any remote node, container or service that hosts Javonet Code Gateway. This way you can preserve the same logic in your application and instantly switch between monolithic and microservices architecture without the need to implement the integration layer based on web services or other remote invocation methods.

Read more about use cases and software architecture scenarios where Javonet runtime bridging technology can support your development process.

Additional references