Could someone explain to me what the .exe does compared to the .dll? I''m guessin in the .exe I would load the code to start the program running, then pack different class definitions and thier functions into DLLs then link them at run-time. If I''m right about this, or at least on the right track, could someone tell me how to set this up using VC++.

".dll"''s are dynamic link libraries that load into executable memory and are linked to a program at the programs run time. another program can use this library without loading another instance of the library to decrease the amount of resources needed for standard functionally. ".exe"''s are the actually programs that start the program. however, the magnitude of code executed is within ".dll"''s. ".dll"''s are the same file format as ".exe"''s (PE/COFF) but cannot run on their own.

There is a great MSDN document about DLLs in the MSDN library for April 2000. I am not sure what the name of it is but it is something like DLLs for Beginners. Remember that the code segment is the only segment that a DLL shares. All processes that request use data in any for during a call to the DLL will use its application heap to manage that data. Additionally, the DLL can be built to use and manage its own heap if that is how you want to architect the DLL.

Kressilac

ps Learn much about DLLs. DirectX uses the COM architecture and all non service/executable COM objects are DLLs and share the same code and data management characteristics as DLLs. COM adds overhead to this as well but an understanding of DLLs will help you program COM and understand COM. Seeing that COM+ is the foundation of MS Windows2000 programming, it behooves us to embrace and learn it.

I couldn''t find the article you''re talking about but I found a small sample of a simple DLL.

if you need help with writing a ".DLL" i could do some sample code for you tomorrow. e-mail me at pajoaqui@hotmail.com or leave a message on this post.