What's a ".dll.a" file?

Question

I'm trying to use a open source library from a Windows application, and the only pre-built version I can find comes as a file called "lib.dll.a"

What format is this, and can I convert it to a normal dll file?

Answer 1

It is an import library.

http://www.inonit.com/cygwin/jni/invocationApi/archive.html

Answer 2

I believe what you have is an import library.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0b9xe492(VS.80).aspx