C++ dll in C program

Question

I'd like to create a dll library from C++ code and use it in C program. I'd like to export only one function:

GLboolean load_obj (const char *filename, GLuint &object_list);

Header file from library:

#ifndef __OBJ__H__
#define __OBJ__H__

#include <windows.h>  
#include <GL/gl.h>
#include <GL/glext.h>
#include <GL/glu.h>
#include <GL/glut.h>

#if defined DLL_EXPORT
#define DECLDIR __declspec(dllexport)
#else
#define DECLDIR __declspec(dllimport)
#endif

extern "C" GLboolean load_obj (const char *filename, GLuint &object_list);

#endif // __3DS__H__

in .cpp (in library project) function is also declared as:

extern "C" GLboolean load_obj (const char *filename, GLuint &object_list)
{
 code...
}

File .lib is added in VS project options (Linker/Input/Additional dependencies). .dll is in folder where .exe is. When I compile C project - error:

Error   1 error C2059: syntax error : 'string'

It is about part "extern "C" " in header file.

I've tried to change header file to:

extern GLboolean load_obj (const char *filename, GLuint &object_list);

then

Error   1 error C2143: syntax error : missing ')' before '&' 
Error   2 error C2143: syntax error : missing '{' before '&' 
Error   3 error C2059: syntax error : '&' 
Error   4 error C2059: syntax error : ')'

and even when I changed & to * appeared:

Error   6 error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _load_obj referenced in function _main main.obj

I've no idea why it is wrong. .lib .h and .dll are properly added.

Answer 1

The parameter "GLuint &object_list" means "pass a reference to an GLuint here". C doesn't have references. Use a pointer instead.

// declaration
extern "C" GLboolean load_obj (const char *filename, GLuint *object_list);

// definition
GLboolean load_obj (const char *filename, GLuint *object_list)
{
    code...
}

Answer 2

C has no references, as David pointed out.

In addition, take out extern "C". C does not have a use for nor know about it.

If you need to share the header, do something like:

#ifdef __cplusplus
    extern "C" {
#endif

/* extern "C" stuff */

#ifdef __cplusplus
    }
#endif

In C, __cplusplus won't be defined.