Calling Windows DLLs

This section describes how you can call DLLs. You can call a DLL either within the process of the Open Agent or in the application under test (AUT). This allows the reuse of existing native DLLs in test scripts.

DLL calls in the Open Agent are typically used to call global functions that do not interact with UI controls in the AUT.

DLL calls in the AUT are typically used to call functions that interact with UI controls of the application. This allows Silk Test Workbench to automatically synchronize the DLL call during playback.

Note: In 32-bit applications, you can call 32-bit DLLs, while in 64-bit applications you can call 64-bit DLLs. The Open Agent can execute both 32-bit and 64-bit DLLs.
Note: The .NET framework also provides built-in support for DLL calling, which is called P/Invoke. P/Invoke can be used in Visual Basic scripts to call DLL functions within the process that executes the script. However, in contrast to calling DLL functions with Silk Test Workbench in the application under test, there is no automatic synchronization.
Note: You can only call DLLs with a C interface. If you want to call .NET assemblies, which also have the file extension .dll, do not use the DLL calling feature but instead just add a reference to the assembly in your .NET script.