C++ as a .NET language

I originally learned C# because I had given up looking for a tutorial on how to do C++ in .NET. I have Visual Studio .NET, and downloaded the plug-in to handle C++ projects, etc... but before I start coding I had a few questions:

1) Can I still use graphics libraries and other APIs as normal in C++.NET, even if they are written for regular C++?

2) Do I include files using #include or 'using? Actually this whole concept is confusing me. If I want to use the standard C++ libraries, I've seen people use something like 'using std', but I assume I also have access to the .NET namespaces, right?

Thanks a lot if anybody can help.

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1) Can I still use graphics libraries and other APIs as normal in C++.NET, even if they are written for regular C++?

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yes you can still use them as you would in any previous version of C++.NET, in fact IIRC there arent any real differences in .NET for C++ besides an improved compiler.

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2) Do I include files using #include or 'using? Actually this whole concept is confusing me. If I want to use the standard C++ libraries, I've seen people use something like 'using std', but I assume I also have access to the .NET namespaces, right?

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you use #include like in all ANSI standard C/++ compilers. What I believe you have seen is "using namespace std". If so, that is also ANSI standard and acts somewhat like C#'s using, but if you have the MSDN disks , do a quick read through on the namespace references.

and finally, I really cannot answer on the last question, as I have never used .NET namespaces.

If you mean the namespaces you use in C# (System and those) then no, you dont have access to those in C++.

Thank you - this helps a lot :)

You can still write standard C++ using visual studio.Net.Just use the standard syntax and #inlcude<files>. You cannot use the Net. namespaces for use in a standard C++ program.

instead of #using macorlib.dll ( or what ever it is ) You would just use the appropriate #include <files>.

Also if you wanted to write a console program you would use win32 console project instead of a console application(Net).

Looking at the first line above.....you could port a standard C++ program to a Net program( just thought i woudl throw that in so you knew).

i.e instead of using Console.WriteLine(S"blablab");
In C++ it would be(assuming your using namespace std)
cout << "blabla" << endl;

Hope this help clear it up a little for ya.

Alright - I've figured it out now. So for anyone searching the forums: just add

Code:

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using namespace std;

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to your code and then it's like regular old C++.

You can use the .NET CLR from C++. It is called "managed extensions for C++" and can be mixed with "unmanaged" C++.

http://www.ondotnet.com/pub/a/dotnet...intromcpp.html
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/01/07/vsnet/
http://www.google.com/search?q=managed+code+C%2B%2B