How to turn an ARX Application into a Managed C++ Application?

By Philippe Leefsma

You can directly create a mixed manage project using ObjectARX wizard. The steps below apply to projects which are being migrating from old releases or converting a unmanaged ObjectARX project to a mixed managed.

The first thing to do is to turn on the /CLR compiler setting to compile as managed.

In the project properties window, under the Property Pages for the project, make the following modifications:

C++ :  General:

    Compile As Managed
     From: Not using managed extensions
     To: Assembly Support (/clr)

    Debug Information Format: (Debug only)
    From: Program Database for Edit & Continue (/ZI)
    To: Program Database (/Zi)

Code Generation (Debug only):

   Basic runtime checks
     From: Both (/RTC1, equip, to /RTC Su…)
     To: default

Precompiled Header:  

    Create/Use Precompiled Header
     From: Automatically Generate (/YX)
     To: Create Precompiled Header (/Yc)

Code Generation:

    Enable Minimal Rebuild
     From: Yes (/Gm)
     To: No

Link with the /NOENTRY flag

In stdafx.h add:

#using <mscorlib.dll>
#using <System.dll>

#using <System.Drawing.dll>

#using <system.windows.forms.dll>

In the CPP file where you’re going to use managed code, add the following after the compiler references through to stdafx.h

using namespace System;

using namespace System::Reflection;

using namespace System::Collections;

using namespace System::ComponentModel;

using namespace System::Drawing;

using namespace System::Windows::Forms;

using namespace System::Security::Policy;

using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices;

See attached sample for more details.