## How do you Export an Entire C Class from a DLL?

Exporting an Entire C Class from a DLL

Late Binding with Dynamic Library Loading

While exporting C-level functions from a DLL is straightforward, handling exported classes requires a different approach. Late binding, achieved through dynamic library loading, works well for functions but presents challenges for classes.

Dynamic Loading of Classes

Unfortunately, dynamically loading classes is not typically supported. Linking to a class defined in a DLL and loading it dynamically requires special techniques:

• Factory Function: A factory function can be implemented to create objects using assembly to establish object offsets.
• Delay-load DLL: Delay-load DLLs can be employed to defer loading until runtime.

Compile-Time Linking with Header and Lib

For compile-time linking, the preprocessor technique involving exporting the class with __declspec(dllexport) and including the header and linking to the lib file remains the preferred approach. Visual Studio provides these macros for ease of use.

Conclusion

While late binding may be desirable for flexibility, implicit linking is more practical for exporting C classes from DLLs. The preprocessor technique outlined above allows for seamless access to exported classes at compile time.

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