DLL with GUI as plugin

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I want to create a DLL which shall be integrated as extension into another project.
This DLL must have a gui. My preferred solution would be using WPF for creating this GUI, but I don't know how to create a plain DLL with all this XAML stuff.

The second best would be to call a FORM from within the DLL. This works fine until I integrate the pluging. The problem is, that the DLL needs to be deployed to System32 and the other application is situated anywhere else. So the ShowForm() method does not work.

Is there anyone with an idea for a solution?

Regards

Martin

Posted 24-Jun-11 0:22am

MartinPrischmann

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Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Answer 1 · 2011-06-24T15:32:00

Solution 3

For some advanced consideration, please check my past answers on the similar questions:
Create WPF Application that uses Reloadable Plugins...[^],
AppDomain refuses to load an assembly[^],
Dynamically Load User Controls[^].

—SA

Posted 24-Jun-11 15:32pm

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

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Espen Harlinn 25-Jun-11 11:21am

My 5, good reading material :)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 25-Jun-11 17:27pm

Thank you, Espen.
--SA

Keith Barrow · Answer 2 · 2011-06-24T01:04:00

Solution 1

Microsoft Produced this Composite Application Guidance[^] to help break up Monolithic WPF/Silverlight apps. I only got started with it when I was move to a Winforms classic project, so I can provide more help, but it sounds like the type of thing you need.

Posted 24-Jun-11 1:04am

Keith Barrow

Richard A. Dalton · Answer 3 · 2011-06-24T01:09:00

I've done this in a number of ways.

Pop up the DLL UI as a form, it'll appear to the user to be a form within the main App.
Pop up the DLL UI as a borderless form nested within a user Control in the main App.
Implement user Controls within the DLL and use those as your UI.

I've done this with WinForms with absolutely no problems whatsoever.

Actually, now that I think about it, I have some sample code that might solve your problem,
Here[^]

If you have any specific issues feel free to come back to me.

Good Luck.

-Richard

Rick Shaub · Answer 4 · 2011-06-24T17:36:00

Solution 4

For winforms, you can call Application.Run(new myForm()) to show the form on the message loop (which is what you need to run an GUI in winforms).
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms157902.aspx[^]

Posted 24-Jun-11 17:36pm

Rick Shaub