Using DllImport to load unmanaged dll into managed application

Question

In my project I have an unmanaged native C++ dll and a C# application. I am trying to import a function from the unmanaged dll using DllImport but I keep getting a DllNotFoundException.

Here is my code that calls the DLL.

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace TestApp
{
  public delegate void UpdateDelegate(string s);
  class Program
  {
    [DllImport("CGPUnmanagedLibrary.dll")]
    internal static extern int parse_raw_gsod_file( 
      [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPStr)]                                               
      string filePath,
      int minTemp, 
      UpdateDelegate callBack);

    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
      UpdateDelegate myCallBack = new UpdateDelegate(Program.Report);
      string path = @"C:\Creative Solutions\Projects\Clyde's Garden Planner\Frost Data Database\GSOD Data\GSOD_RAW_DATA\1992\gsod_1992.txt";
      int result = parse_raw_gsod_file(path, 32, myCallBack);
      Console.Write("Parse completed with exit code: " + result.ToString());
      Console.ReadLine();
    } // end main function

    public static void Report(string msg)
    {
      Console.Write("Message is ");
      Console.WriteLine(msg);
    }

  } // End class
} // end namespace

I tried copying the DLL to the app output directory but it still can't find it. I also tried adding the DLL project as a reference but I get a popup window saying it can't be added. How do you properly link an unmanged DLL to a managed application?

Update - Here is the full error:

Unable to load DLL 'CGPUnmanagedLibrary': The specified module could not be found. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x8007007E)

Update 2 - I know for sure that the DLL is in the same directory as the .exe trying to load it. This makes me think there is a dependency in the DLL that isn't getting loaded. I'm only using basic C++ libraries in the DLL (string, math, iostream, etc). Any ideas what could not be loading and why?

Update 3 - Tested with Dependency Walker Loading my unmanaged C++ DLL in dependency walker showed no errors. I also tried to open my executable in dependency walker and it showed errors loading two DLLs: GPSVC.DLL and IESHIMS.DLL - doesn't make any sense because I am only using standard c++ libraries in my code. I think it may have something to do with the fact that I have a managed C++/CLI DLL trying to load the unmanaged DLL as well (I was trying to implement some C++/CLI wrappers). Anyway, I have since started a new VS solution and moved on. See my answer.

Might have something to do with PATH variables, but I think that normally the program directory is in it... — Jwosty
I tried the full path and it still says that the module could not be found. I'm thinking there is something else preventing the module from loading... — nalyd88

arayq2 arayq2 · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-26T03:05:36

In all likelihood the problem isn't the DLL you're trying to load but one of its (chained) dependencies. Run depends.exe or a similar utility on the DLL to see if all the dependencies can be found. The misleading message "The specified module could not be found" has become a classic annoyance (if not FAQ material!): it leads you to think that your DLL is not being found when almost all of the time it's one of its dependencies that's not being found.

Using DllImport to load unmanaged dll into managed application

4 Answers