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Yet another approach to Delegates in unmanaged C++

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5 Mar 2002 93.3K   587   42   19
Asynchronous delegates in unamanaged C++ using the C# syntax

Sample Image - cppDelegate.gif

Introduction

Ben Chan introduced a way of simulating delegates in unmanaged code. Although his method works I wanted to have a syntax similar found in the C# language. I also wanted to be able to use async delegates.

Using my solution

Defining a Delegate is simple as this:

Delegate OnBtnClick;
AsyncDelegate OnNewMail;

To add a new delegate handler to those defined above you have to choose whether you want to use a static/global function or a member function. To subscribe a delegate you use a syntax similar to C#'s:

class MyClass
{
public:
	void Handler1(LPVOID source, DelegateArgs* args)
	{
	...
	}

	static void StaticHandler(LPVOID source, DelegateArgs* args)
	{
	...
	}
};

void main()
{
	MyClass instance;
	Delegate OnBtnClick;

	OnBtnClick += NewClassDelegateHandler(MyClass, instance, Handler1);
	OnBtnClick += NewDelegateHandler(&MyClass::StaticHandler);


	LPVOID source = 0;
	DelegateArgs* args = 0;

	// you can also remove a delegate handler from the invocation list
	// OnBtnClick -= NewClassDelegateHandler(MyClass, instance, Handler1);

	OnBtnClick.Invoke(source, args);
}

NewClassDelegateHandler and NewDelegateHandler are defines that create the appropriate DelegateHandler class. It can be the StaticDelegateHandler for static functions or ClassDelegateHandler for member functions.

The async delegate only overrides the Delegate::Invoke method by creating a thread to invoke the handlers. You can make your delegate thread safe (AsyncDelegate already is) by defining a Delegate like this Delegate ThreadSafeDelegate(true);

IMPORTANT: To use my solution you have to enable runtime type information in your project.

License

This article has no explicit license attached to it but may contain usage terms in the article text or the download files themselves. If in doubt please contact the author via the discussion board below.

A list of licenses authors might use can be found here


Written By
Architect VisionOne AG
Switzerland Switzerland
XicoLoko is a brazilian developer based in Switzerland.

Comments and Discussions

 
QuestionDownload link is down... Pin
GhostEx27-Jan-13 23:58
GhostEx27-Jan-13 23:58 
GeneralStraightforward and useful Pin
Yves Tkaczyk21-Oct-05 10:50
Yves Tkaczyk21-Oct-05 10:50 
GeneralRe: Straightforward and useful Pin
Mizan Rahman24-Sep-13 1:51
Mizan Rahman24-Sep-13 1:51 
GeneralRe: Straightforward and useful Pin
Yves Tkaczyk7-Oct-13 7:14
Yves Tkaczyk7-Oct-13 7:14 
GeneralRe: Straightforward and useful Pin
Mizan Rahman7-Oct-13 22:21
Mizan Rahman7-Oct-13 22:21 
GeneralRe: Straightforward and useful Pin
Yves Tkaczyk8-Oct-13 8:13
Yves Tkaczyk8-Oct-13 8:13 
GeneralExcellent work Pin
jgauffin19-Nov-03 3:08
jgauffin19-Nov-03 3:08 
GeneralShould not mix C/C++ with .NET Pin
TW23-May-03 0:04
TW23-May-03 0:04 
Generalthreads.. Pin
saltynuts200225-Feb-03 18:32
saltynuts200225-Feb-03 18:32 
Generalget the code to run under VS.NET Pin
MyBlindy30-Jan-03 6:54
MyBlindy30-Jan-03 6:54 
GeneralRe: get the code to run under VS.NET Pin
YuetKent24-Aug-04 23:01
YuetKent24-Aug-04 23:01 
GeneralRe: get the code to run under VS.NET Pin
MyBlindy26-Aug-04 3:05
MyBlindy26-Aug-04 3:05 
GeneralFairly named "Standard C++" instead biased ads "unmanged C++" ! Pin
10-Apr-02 13:24
suss10-Apr-02 13:24 
GeneralRe: Fairly named "Standard C++" instead biased ads "unmanged C++" ! Pin
Daniel Kamisnki15-May-02 17:20
Daniel Kamisnki15-May-02 17:20 
GeneralRe: Fairly named "Standard C++" instead biased ads "unmanged C++" ! Pin
aamironline10-Mar-03 17:32
aamironline10-Mar-03 17:32 
GeneralRe: Fairly named "Standard C++" instead biased ads "unmanged C++" ! Pin
Cholo15-Mar-03 4:53
Cholo15-Mar-03 4:53 
GeneralRe: Fairly named "Standard C++" instead biased ads "unmanged C++" ! Pin
Cholo15-Mar-03 4:53
Cholo15-Mar-03 4:53 
GeneralWell I don't agree! Pin
Chryler21-Jul-03 21:29
Chryler21-Jul-03 21:29 
GeneralRe: Well I don't agree! Pin
Paul Selormey4-Sep-03 3:09
Paul Selormey4-Sep-03 3:09 

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