How to convert a C++ Struct with Union into C#?

Question

Guys I am having difficulties on retrieving struct member values after calling a function in the DLL. I tried to convert the C++ codes into C# but I’m not sure if it is correct or not. Please help me understand my mistakes here (if there is) and how to correct.

My problem here is I can’t correctly retrieved the values of the INNER STRUCTS (Union) after I called the ReceiveMessage function from the DLL. Like for example m_objMsg.MsgData.StartReq.MsgID is always 0. But when I try to use the C++ .exe program, the MsgID has a correct value. (not 0)

C++ Code:

extern int ReceiveMessage(SESSION, int, Msg*);  

typedef struct  
{  
  char SubsId[15];  
  int Level;  
  char Options[12];  
} ConxReq;  

typedef struct
{
  char MsgId[25];
} StartReq;


typedef struct  
{  
  long Length;  
  short Type;  
  union  
  {  
    ConxReq oConxReq;  
    StartReq oStartReq;  
  } Data;  
 } Msg;  


/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Msg oMsg;
int rc=ReceiveMessage(Session, 0, &oMsg);

switch(rc)
{
  case 0:
     switch(oMsg.Type)
     {
       case 0: // ConxReq
         …
         break;

      case 1: // StartReq
         …
         break;
   …  
}

And here is my attempt to convert this into c#:

[DllImport("MyDLL.dll",
  CallingConvention = CallingConvention.Cdecl,
  CharSet = CharSet.Ansi)]
  protected static extern Int32 ReceiveMessage(IntPtr session,
  Int32 nTimeOut,
  [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Struct)] ref Msg ptrMsg);


  [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Ansi)]
  public struct ConxReq
  {            
     [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = 15)]
     public string SubsId;

     public Int32 Level;

     [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = 12)]
     public string Options;
  }

  [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Ansi)]        
  public struct StartReq
  {            
     [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = 25)]
     public string MsgId;
  }


  [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Ansi)]
  protected struct Msg
  {
    public int Length;
    public Int16 Type;
    public Data MsgData;
  }

  StructLayout(LayoutKind.Explicit, CharSet = CharSet.Ansi)]
  public struct Data
  {
    [FieldOffset(0)]
    public ConxReq oConxReq;

    [FieldOffset(0)]
    public StartReq oStartReq;
  }


  Msg m_objMsg = new Msg();
  m_objMsg.MsgData = new Data();
  m_objMsg.MsgData.oConxReq = new ConxReq();
  m_objMsg.MsgData.oStartReq = new StartReq();

  int rc = ReceiveMessage(m_Session, nTimeOut, ref m_objMsg);


  then the SWITCH Condition

And If I add this struct inside the UNION for c++ and c#... I've got an error stating the "... incorrectly align" or "...overlapped..."

c++

ConxNack oConxNack;

typedef struct  
{

   int Reason;

} ConxNack;


[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]        
public struct ConxNack
{            
    public int nReason;
}

[FieldOffset(0)]
public ConxNack oConxNack;

Thank you so much in advance for your time and help...

Answer 1

Akash is right, have a look here: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en/csharplanguage/thread/60150e7b-665a-49a2-8e2e-2097986142f3

Another option is create two structs and use an appropriate cast once you know which type it is.

hth

Mario