Reuse define statement from .h file in C# code

Question

I have C++ project (VS2005) which includes header file with version number in #define directive. Now I need to include exactly the same number in twin C# project. What is th

Answer 1

I would consider using a .tt file to process the .h and turn it into a .cs file. Its very easy and the source files will then be part of your C# solution (meaning they will be refreshed as the .h file changes), can be clicked on to open in the editor, etc.

If you've only got 1 #define it might be a little overkill, but if you have a file full of them (eg a mfc resource.h file perhaps) then this solution becomes a big win.

eg: create a file, DefineConverter.tt and add it to your project, change the marked line to refer to your .h file, and you'll get a new class in your project full of static const entries. (note the input file is relative to your project file, set hostspecific=false if you want absolute paths).

<#@ template language="C#v3.5" hostspecific="True" debug="True" #>
<#@ output extension="cs" #>
<#@ assembly name="System.Core.dll" #>
<#@ import namespace="System" #>
<#@ import namespace="System.Collections.Generic" #>
<#@ import namespace="System.IO" #>

<#
string input_file = this.Host.ResolvePath("resource.h");             <---- change this
StreamReader defines = new StreamReader(input_file);
#>
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
//     This code was generated by template for T4
//     Generated at <#=DateTime.Now#>
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------

namespace Constants
{
    public class <#=System.IO.Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(input_file)#>
    {
<#
    // constants definitions

    while (defines.Peek() >= 0)
    {
        string def = defines.ReadLine();
        string[] parts;
        if (def.Length > 3 && def.StartsWith("#define"))
        {
            parts = def.Split(null as char[], StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
            try {
                Int32 numval = Convert.ToInt32(parts[2]);
                #>
        public static const int <#=parts[1]#> = <#=parts[2]#>;
<#
            }
            catch (FormatException e) {
            #>
        public static const string <#=parts[1]#> = "<#=parts[2]#>";
<#
            }
        }
    } #> 
    }
}