What	ffidl
Where	http://elf.org/ffidl/
Where	http://rutherglen.ics.mq.edu.au/~steffen/tcltk/ffidl/doc (dead)
version	0.6
Updated	??/2006
Contact	mailto:rec@elf.org (Roger E. Critchlow Jr.)

Description  edit

Obtaining  edit

• source code
• MacOS Universal Binary (tested on Leopard)

http://elf.org/ffidl/

irrational-numbers project

version 0.6 from DAS  edit

• updates for 2005 versions of libffi & ffcall
• TEA 3.2 buildsystem, testsuite
• support for Tcl 8.4, TclpDlopen, Tcl_WideInt
• fixes for 64bit LP64
• callouts & callbacks are created/used relative to current namespace (for unqualified names)
• addition of [ffidl::stubsymbol] for Tcl/Tk symbol resolution via stubs tables
• callbacks can be called anytime, not just from inside call-outs (using Tcl_BackgroundError to report errors)

updated docs

source tarball

full source tarball

includes libffi and ffcall sources

ffcall 1.10

HEAD of libffi from the gcc CVS

small patch

The diff

installer package or tarball

available

sourceforge compilefarm

• amd64-linux1
• alpha-linux1
• x86-linux1
• x86-linux2
• x86-solaris1
• x86-freebsd1
• x86-netbsd1

• sparc-solaris1

• x86-openbsd1
• ppc-osx1
• ppc-osx2

Code Using Ffidl  edit

always on top

wrapper code for AutoIt

web2desktop

ZLM: includes an example of using ffidl to set the Windows desktop background.

Custom Toplevel Frame

SeS (26-10-2010): uses Ffidl to access DLL's and create customized toplevel frames in the Windows OS

Examples  edit

Getting Windows "special folders" with Ffidl

kostix offers a solution for getting "special folders" on Windows platforms. While TWAPI can do this out-of-the-box, it doesn't work on Win9x and is big. Ffidl doesn't have these limitations.

calling Fortran routines in a DLL

int foo_init( int adr, int log );
int foo_done( void );
int foo_info( FOO_INFO *infoPtr ); /* FOO_INFO is a structure */
int foo_open( const char *port );

load ffidl05.dll
set DLL foo.dll
ffidl::callout foo_init {int int} int  [ffidl::symbol $DLL foo_init]
ffidl::callout foo_done {} int   [ffidl::symbol $DLL foo_done]
ffidl::callout foo_info {pointer-var} int [ffidl::symbol $DLL foo_info]
ffidl::callout foo_open {pointer-utf8} int [ffidl::symbol $DLL foo_open]

example

#Rolf Schroedter
#German Aerospace Center
#Institute of Space Sensor Technology and Planetary Exploration
 
load ffidl05.dll
 
ffidl::callout dll_FindWindow       {pointer-utf8 pointer-utf8} int     [ffidl::symbol user32.dll FindWindowA]
ffidl::callout dll_FindWindowTitle  {int pointer-utf8} int              [ffidl::symbol user32.dll FindWindowA]
ffidl::callout dll_FindWindowClass  {pointer-utf8 int} int              [ffidl::symbol user32.dll FindWindowA]
ffidl::callout dll_SetWindowPos     {int int int int int int int} int   [ffidl::symbol user32.dll SetWindowPos]
ffidl::callout dll_SystemParametersInfo {int int pointer int} int       [ffidl::symbol user32.dll SystemParametersInfoA]

proc FindWindow { class title } {
    if { [string length $class] == 0 } {
        dll_FindWindowTitle 0 $title
    } elseif { [string length $title] == 0 } {
        dll_FindWindowClass $class 0
    } else {
        dll_FindWindow $class $title
    }
}
proc SetWindowPos { hwnd after x y cx cy {flags 0} } {
    array set VAL {TOP 0 BOTTOM 1 TOPMOST -1 NOTOPMOST -2}
    set iAfter $VAL([string toupper $after])
    dll_SetWindowPos $hwnd $iAfter $x $y $cx $cy $flags
}
proc SetupScreenSaver { bool } {
    dll_SystemParametersInfo 97 $bool 0 0   ;# SPI_SCREENSAVERRUNNING=97
}
proc exit? {} {
    set answer [tk_messageBox -message "Really quit?" -type yesno -icon question]
    switch -- $answer {
        yes {
            SetupScreenSaver 0
            exit
        }
        no {}
    }
}
proc ScreenSaver {win} {
    set size(X) [winfo screenwidth .]
    set size(Y) [winfo screenheight .]

    toplevel $win
    wm title $win "TclScreenSaver"     ;# to find the window

    wm overrideredirect $win true
    $win configure -relief flat -bd 0
    $win configure -cursor hand2    ;# Ohne cursor ???

    update idletasks                ;# virtually display $win, allows window to be found
    set hwnd [FindWindow "" "TclScreenSaver"]
    set res1 [SetWindowPos $hwnd TOPMOST 0 0 $size(X) $size(Y)]   ;# ever makes full screen
    set res2 [SetupScreenSaver 1]

    canvas $win.c -background yellow -width $size(X) -height $size(Y) -relief flat -bd 0
    pack $win.c -expand yes -fill both

    focus -force $win

    bind $win <Key> exit?
    bind $win <Motion> {}
}

wm withdraw .
ScreenSaver .scr

load lib/ffidl05.dll
ffidl::callout dll_SetFocus {int} int [ffidl::symbol user32.dll SetFocus]
proc GrabFocus {args} {dll_SetFocus [winfo id .]}

bind . <Button> +GrabFocus

Example: Using Pointers  edit

typedef short           I16;
typedef unsigned short  U16;


I16 _7443_initial(I16 *existCards);
I16 _7443_close(void);
I16 _7443_version_info(I16 CardNo, U16 *HardwareInfo, U16 *SoftwareInfo, U16 *DriverInfo);
I16 _7443_d_output(I16 CardNo, I16 Ch_No, I16 value);

namespace eval 7443 {
    variable dll_name PPCI7443.dll
  
    ffidl::callout _initial {pointer-var} sint16 \
        [ffidl::symbol $dll_name _7443_initial]

    ffidl::callout close {} void [ffidl::symbol $dll_name _7443_close]
  
    ffidl::callout _version_info {sint16 pointer-var pointer-var pointer-var} \
        sint16 [ffidl::symbol $dll_name _7443_version_info]

    ffidl::callout d_output {sint16 sint16 sint16} sint16 \
          [ffidl::symbol $dll_name _7443_d_output]

}
  
# varName should containt quantity of available cards
proc 7443::initial {varName} {
    upvar $varName existsCards
    set cards [binary format s 0]
    set result [_initial cards]
    binary scan $cards s existsCards
    return $result
}

# return: {errorCode hardwareInfo softwareInfo driverInfo}
proc 7443::version_info {cardNumber} {
    set hardwareInfo [binary format s 0]
    set softwareInfo [binary format s 0]
    set driverInfo   [binary format s 0]
  
    set result [_version_info $cardNumber hardwareInfo softwareInfo driverInfo]

    binary scan $hardwareInfo s hi
    binary scan $softwareInfo s si
    binary scan $driverInfo   s di
  
    return [list $result $hi $si $di]
}

Example: Accessing Carbon API's on Mac OS X  edit

#!/bin/sh
#
# Let's ffidl with Carbon HotKeys!
#
# Copyright (c) 2005, Daniel A. Steffen <das@users.sourceforge.net>
# BSD License: c.f. <http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license>
# 
#\
exec wish $0 "$@"

package require Tk
package require Ffidl

namespace eval carbon {

    ::ffidl::typedef EventHotKeyID {unsigned long} uint32
    ::ffidl::typedef EventTypeSpec uint32 uint32
    ::ffidl::typedef EventTargetRef pointer
    ::ffidl::typedef OSStatus sint32
    
    ::ffidl::callout RegisterEventHotKey {uint32 uint32 EventHotKeyID EventTargetRef \
                                          uint32 pointer-var} OSStatus \
            [::ffidl::symbol Carbon.framework/Carbon RegisterEventHotKey]
    
    ::ffidl::callout GetApplicationEventTarget {} EventTargetRef \
            [::ffidl::symbol Carbon.framework/Carbon GetApplicationEventTarget]
    
    ::ffidl::callout InstallEventHandler {EventTargetRef pointer-proc uint32 pointer-byte \
                                          pointer pointer-var} OSStatus \
            [::ffidl::symbol Carbon.framework/Carbon InstallEventHandler]

    ::ffidl::callout XKeysymToKeycode {pointer {unsigned long}} {unsigned long} \
            [::ffidl::stubsymbol tk intXLibStubs 35]; #XKeysymToKeycode
            
    ::ffidl::callout TkStringToKeysym {pointer-utf8} {unsigned long} \
            [::ffidl::stubsymbol tk intStubs 86]; #TkStringToKeysym
}

proc hotkeyHandler {handlerCallRef event userData} {
    .l configure -bg red
    after 200 .l configure -bg blue
    return 0
}

proc installHotKey {key} {
    labelframe .l -width 100 -height 100 -bg blue
    pack .l

    ::ffidl::callback hotkeyHandler {pointer pointer pointer} OSStatus

    set EventHandlerRef [binary format I 0]
    set res [carbon::InstallEventHandler [carbon::GetApplicationEventTarget] hotkeyHandler 1 \
        [binary format a4I keyb 5] 0 EventHandlerRef]
    if {$res} {puts stderr "InstallEventHandler failed: $res"; exit -1}

    set keycode [expr {[carbon::XKeysymToKeycode 0 [carbon::TkStringToKeysym $key]]>>16}]
    set modifiers [expr {1 << 8 | 1 << 9}]; #Cmd-Shift
    #set modifiers [expr {1 << 8}]; #Cmd
    
    set EventHotKeyRef [binary format I 0]
    set res [carbon::RegisterEventHotKey  $keycode $modifiers [binary format a4I wish 1] \
        [carbon::GetApplicationEventTarget] 0 EventHotKeyRef]
    if {$res} {puts stderr "RegisterEventHotKey failed: $res"; exit -1}
}

installHotKey A

package require Tk
package require Ffidl 0.6

::ffidl::callout CPSSetProcessName {pointer-byte pointer-utf8} sint32 \
    [::ffidl::symbol /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/CoreGraphics CPSSetProcessName]
CPSSetProcessName [binary format I2 {0 2}] "MyCoolApp"

::ffidl::callout ShowHideProcess {pointer-byte int} sint32 [::ffidl::symbol Carbon.framework/Carbon ShowHideProcess]
ShowHideProcess [binary format I2 {0 2}] 1; #Show
ShowHideProcess [binary format I2 {0 2}] 0; #Hide

another example

#!/bin/sh
#
# Set the Dock Tile from a png file with Ffidl
#
# Copyright (c) 2005, Daniel A. Steffen <das@users.sourceforge.net>
# BSD License: c.f. <http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license>
# 
#\
exec wish $0 "$@"

package require Tk
package require Ffidl

namespace eval carbon {
    proc api {name argl ret lib} {::ffidl::callout $name $argl $ret \
        [::ffidl::symbol $lib.framework/$lib $name]}
    proc type {name type} {::ffidl::typedef $name $type}
    proc const {name args} {variable {}; eval set [list ($name)] $args}
    
    type OSStatus sint32
    type bool int
    type CFURLRef pointer
    type CGDataProviderRef pointer
    type CGImageRef pointer
    type CGColorRenderingIntent int
    const kCGRenderingIntentDefault 0

    api CFURLCreateFromFileSystemRepresentation {pointer pointer-utf8 \
            int bool} CFURLRef CoreFoundation
    api CFRelease {pointer} void CoreFoundation
    api CGDataProviderCreateWithURL {CFURLRef} CGDataProviderRef \
            ApplicationServices
    api CGImageCreateWithPNGDataProvider {CGDataProviderRef pointer \
            bool CGColorRenderingIntent} CGImageRef ApplicationServices
    api SetApplicationDockTileImage {CGImageRef} OSStatus Carbon

    proc setDockTileToPNG {pngFile} {
        if {[file exists $pngFile]} {
            set url [CFURLCreateFromFileSystemRepresentation 0 $pngFile \
                    [string bytelength $pngFile] 0]
            if {$url} {
                set dp [CGDataProviderCreateWithURL $url]
                if {$dp} {
                    set img [CGImageCreateWithPNGDataProvider $dp 0 1 \
                            [const kCGRenderingIntentDefault]]
                    if {$img} {
                        SetApplicationDockTileImage $img
                        CFRelease $img
                    }
                    CFRelease $dp
                }
                CFRelease $url
            }
        }
    }
}

carbon::setDockTileToPNG test.png

#!/bin/sh
#
# Ffidling CFLocale
#
# Copyright (c) 2005, Daniel A. Steffen <das@users.sourceforge.net>
# BSD License: c.f. <http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license>
#
#\
exec tclsh $0 "$@"

package require Ffidl 0.6

namespace eval corefoundation {
    proc api {name argl ret} {::ffidl::callout $name $argl $ret \
        [::ffidl::symbol CoreFoundation.framework/CoreFoundation $name]}
    api CFLocaleCopyCurrent {} pointer
    api CFLocaleGetIdentifier pointer pointer
    api CFStringGetLength pointer sint32
    ::ffidl::typedef CFRange sint32 sint32
    api CFStringGetCharacters {pointer CFRange pointer-var} void
    api CFRelease pointer void

    proc getLocaleIdentifier {} {
        set cfloc [CFLocaleCopyCurrent]
        set cfstr [CFLocaleGetIdentifier $cfloc]
        set len [CFStringGetLength $cfstr]
        set buf [binary format x[expr {2*$len}]]
        set range [binary format [::ffidl::info format CFRange] 0 $len]
        CFStringGetCharacters $cfstr $range buf
        CFRelease $cfloc
        encoding convertfrom unicode $buf
    }
}

puts [corefoundation::getLocaleIdentifier]

Example: Microsof's net send  edit

A wrapper for the Microsoft API-Call,

package require Ffidl 0.5
ffidl::callout dll_netSend {pointer-utf16 pointer-utf16 pointer-utf16 pointer-utf16 long} long \
                           [ffidl::symbol netapi32.dll NetMessageBufferSend]
proc netSend {dest mesg {srv {}}} {
    set from $::tcl_platform(user)
    # or:
    # set from [info host]
    #  (only these two alternatives seems to work...)
    return [dll_netSend $srv $dest $from $mesg [expr [string length $mesg]*2]]
}

Example: expand a path containing Microsoft Windows environment variables  edit

ffidl::callout dll_ExpandEnvironmentStringsForUser \
    {int pointer-utf16  pointer-utf16 long} int \
    [ffidl::symbol Userenv.dll ExpandEnvironmentStringsForUserW]

proc {ExpandEnvironmentStringsForUser} {WPath} {
    set TclPath [string repeat \u0000 300]
    if [dll_ExpandEnvironmentStringsForUser 0 $WPath $TclPath 300] {
        set ix [string first \u0000 $TclPath]
        if {$ix > 0} {
            return [string range $TclPath 0 [expr {$ix - 1}]]
        } else {
            return {}
        }
    } else {
        return {}
    }
}

ExpandEnvironmentStringsForUser {%ProgramFiles%\windows media player\wmplayer.exe}

C:\Program Files\windows media player\wmplayer.exe

Misc  edit

See Also  edit

TWAPI

an alternative to ffidl for accessing the Win32API

critcl

provides an alternative approach for "calling functions in arbitrary dynamic libraries"

Yet another dll caller

provides advanced data type handling over FFidl in a Windows-only version.

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