C# Signature:

[DllImport("kernel32.dll")]
static extern IntPtr LoadLibraryEx(string lpFileName, IntPtr hFile,
   uint dwFlags);

VB.NET Signature:

<DllImport("kernel32.dll")> _
Private Shared Function LoadLibraryEx(lpFileName As String, hFile As IntPtr, dwFlags As UInteger) As IntPtr
End Function

User-Defined Types:

None.

Notes:

None.

Tips & Tricks:

If you only want to load resources from the library, specify LOAD_LIBRARY_AS_DATAFILE as dwFlags. In this case, nothing is done to execute or prepare to execute the mapped file. Declare LOAD_LIBRARY_AS_DATAFILE as follows:

private const uint LOAD_LIBRARY_AS_DATAFILE = 0x00000002;
private const uint DONT_RESOLVE_DLL_REFERENCES = 0x00000001;
private const uint LOAD_WITH_ALTERED_SEARCH_PATH = 0x00000008;
private const uint LOAD_IGNORE_CODE_AUTHZ_LEVEL = 0x00000010;

Sample Code:

[System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("kernel32.dll")]
private static extern IntPtr LoadLibraryEx(string lpFileName, IntPtr hFile, uint dwFlags);
private static void LoadWin32Library(string libPath)
{
    System.IntPtr moduleHandle = LoadLibraryEx(libPath, IntPtr.Zero, 0);
    if (moduleHandle == IntPtr.Zero)
        throw new ApplicationException("Failed to load library " + libPath);
}

Alternative Managed API:

Do you know one? Please contribute it!

Please edit this page!

Do you have...

• helpful tips or sample code to share for using this API in managed code?
• corrections to the existing content?
• variations of the signature you want to share?
• additional languages you want to include?

Select "Edit This Page" on the right hand toolbar and edit it! Or add new pages containing supporting types needed for this API (structures, delegates, and more).