thinCore as embeddable 3rd party DLL

**ErosOlmi** · 24-08-2009, 12:39

Next thinBasic beta preview will have the first necessary SDK functions in order to use thinCore.dll as 3rd party embeddable scripting engine other than just thinBasic programming language.

It will be possible to use thinCore.dll to add scripting functionalities to any application able to handle external dll function calling and manage OLE32 dynamic strings (BSTR strings).

I will go by step:

first step will be allow application to run scripts (from file or from a string buffer) in a INIT/SETUP/RUN/RELEASE way. It means application will have to INIT thinCore engine, SETUP any local function interface (if any) adding new dedicated keywords to the engine, RUN the thinBasic script, RELEASE thinCore engine
if feedback/usage of first step will be successful and no big bugs, I will develop more functionalities (mainly already in place) in order to be able to execute more script without the need to RELEASE and INIT again. It will be also possible to keep data from RUN to RUN of different script and/or reset/delete global variables

Will see.
Eros

**Michael Hartlef** · 24-08-2009, 13:00

Damn, now that i have no time to test this you come up with it

but for sure, it is a great feature.

Thank you!

**Petr Schreiber** · 24-08-2009, 13:57

That is cool Eros, I did not expected it so soon!

**ErosOlmi** · 24-08-2009, 14:37

For the next beta version update, I will prepare a PowerBasic example showing how to use it on a very basic level.
Than we will see how it seems. I have a direction in mind but maybe some feedback can help me adjust it.

Ciao
Eros

**ErosOlmi** · 25-08-2009, 00:43

Beta 1.7.9.0 present here http://community.thinbasic.com/index.php?topic=2875.0
has already the basic functionalities to be used and embeddable dll but unfortunately I didn't have enough time to prepare a clever example and document interfaces, sorry.

I will do during the next days.

Eros

**MouseTrap** · 25-08-2009, 00:48

Do you plan on adding support for other string types: C style strings ?

**ErosOlmi** · 25-08-2009, 00:53

I suppose definitely yes.

Engine Initialization and Release are already OK.
Only the RUN function that receive the script file name or the script string buffer must be changed but I can easily wrap it making relevant string conversion before passing buffer as BSTR string.

Maybe I will be able to do it quite quickly before stating to test it.

Thanks for alerting me.
Ciao
Eros

**John Spikowski** · 25-08-2009, 03:54

That's good news Eros !

When your ready, I'll retrieve the "Embedded Scripting Code Challenge" from the archive and try it again. It didn't seem like there would be enough interest with only ScriptBasic and VBA as options. This opens up new possibilities. I'm working on a ScriptBasic embedded example in BCX.

John

**ErosOlmi** · 25-08-2009, 09:18

John,

where can I find ScrptBasic used as embedded DLL documentation?
I would like to compare methods.

Thanks
Eros

**ErosOlmi** · 25-08-2009, 09:20

Originally Posted by MouseTrap

Do you plan on adding support for other string types: C style strings ?

I've already changed new interface functions to accept ASCIIZ strings as file or script buffer input.
Interface with programming languages other than PowerBasic will be quite straight.

This will be present in next beta refresh.