C# Language Interoperability Dealing with Win32 Errors
Example
When using interop methods, you can use GetLastError API to get additional information on you API calls.
DllImport Attribute SetLastError Attribute
SetLastError=true
Indicates that the callee will call SetLastError (Win32 API function).
SetLastError=false
Indicates that the callee will not call SetLastError (Win32 API function), therefore you will not get an error information.
-
When SetLastError isn't set, it is set to false (Default value).
-
You can obtain the error code using Marshal.GetLastWin32Error Method:
Example:
[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError=true)]
public static extern IntPtr OpenMutex(uint access, bool handle, string lpName);
If you trying to open mutex which does not exist, GetLastError will return ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND.
var lastErrorCode = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error();
if (lastErrorCode == (uint)ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND)
{
//Deal with error
}
System Error Codes can be found here:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms681382(v=vs.85).aspx
GetLastError API
There is a native GetLastError API which you can use as well :
[DllImport("coredll.dll", SetLastError=true)]
static extern Int32 GetLastError();
- When calling Win32 API from managed code, you must always use the Marshal.GetLastWin32Error.
Here's why:
Between your Win32 call which sets the error (calls SetLastError), the CLR can call other Win32 calls which could call SetLastError as well, this behavior can override your error value. In this scenario, if you call GetLastError you can obtain an invalid error.
Setting SetLastError = true, makes sure that the CLR retrieves the error code before it executes other Win32 calls.
