Description

This is a drop-in replacement for the Win32API library currently part of
Ruby's standard library.

Synopsis

require 'win32/api'
include Win32

# Typical example - Get user name
buf = 0.chr * 260
len = [buf.length].pack('L')

GetUserName = API.new('GetUserName', 'PP', 'I', 'advapi32')
GetUserName.call(buf, len)

puts buf.strip

# Callback example - Enumerate windows
EnumWindows     = API.new('EnumWindows', 'KP', 'L', 'user32')
GetWindowText   = API.new('GetWindowText', 'LPI', 'I', 'user32')
EnumWindowsProc = API::Callback.new('LP', 'I'){ |handle, param|
  buf = "\0" * 200
  GetWindowText.call(handle, buf, 200);
  puts buf.strip unless buf.strip.empty?
  buf.index(param).nil? ? true : false
}

EnumWindows.call(EnumWindowsProc, 'UEDIT32')

# Raw function pointer example - System beep
LoadLibrary    = API.new('LoadLibrary', 'P', 'L')
GetProcAddress = API.new('GetProcAddress', 'LP', 'L')

hlib = LoadLibrary.call('user32')
addr = GetProcAddress.call(hlib, 'MessageBeep')
func = Win32::API::Function.new(addr, 'L', 'L')
func.call(0)

Differences between win32-api and Win32API

* This library has callback support
* This library supports raw function pointers.
* This library supports a separate string type for const char* (S).
* Argument order change. The DLL name is now last, not first.
* Removed the 'N' and 'n' prototypes. Always use 'L' for longs now.
* Sensible default arguments for the prototype, return type and DLL name.
* Reader methods for the function name, effective function name, prototype,
  return type and DLL.
* Removed the support for lower case prototype and return types. Always
  use capital letters.

Developer’s Notes

The current Win32API library that ships with the standard library has been
slated for removal from Ruby 2.0 and it will not receive any updates in the
Ruby 1.8.x branch. I have far too many libraries invested in it to let it
die at this point.

In addition, the current Win32API library was written in the bad old Ruby
1.6.x days, which means it doesn't use the newer allocation framework.
There were several other refactorings that I felt it needed to more closely
match how it was actually being used in practice.

The first order of business was changing the order of the arguments. By
moving the DLL name from first to last, I was able to provide reasonable
default arguments for the prototype, return type and the DLL. Only the
function name is required now.

There was a laundry list of other refactorings that were needed: sensical
instance variable names with proper accessors, removing support for lower
case prototype and return value characters that no one used in practice,
better naming conventions, the addition of RDoc ready comments and,
especially, callback and raw function pointer support.

Most importantly, we can now add, modify and fix any features that we feel
best benefit our end users.

Multiple Binaries

As of win32-api 1.4.8 a binary gem is shipped that contains binaries for
both Ruby 1.8 and Ruby 1.9. The file under lib/win32 dynamically requires
the correct binary based on your version of Ruby.

Documentation

The source file contains inline RDoc documentation. If you installed
this file as a gem, then you have the docs. Run "gem server" and point
your browser at http://localhost:8808 to see them.

Warranty

This package is provided "as is" and without any express or
implied warranties, including, without limitation, the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

Known Issues

Possible callback issues when dealing with multi-threaded applications.

Please submit any bug reports to the project page at
http://www.rubyforge.org/projects/win32utils.

Copyright

(C) 2003-2011 Daniel J. Berger
All Rights Reserved

License

Artistic 2.0

Authors

Daniel J. Berger
Park Heesob