C#•13mo ago

❔ Using STARTUPINFOEXW on PInvoke.CreateProcess - how to move from ref / out to pointer?

I'm using CsWin32 but I'm having trouble calling PInvoke.CreateProcess using a STARTUPINFOEXW instead of a STARTUPINFOW at argument 9 (in info). Looking at https://github.com/microsoft/CsWin32/issues/917 it says to instead of doing

PInvoke.CreateProcess(null, ref cmdLine, null, null, false, PROCESS_CREATION_FLAGS.EXTENDED_STARTUPINFO_PRESENT, null, null, in info, out var processInformation);

PInvoke.CreateProcess(null, ref cmdLine, null, null, false, PROCESS_CREATION_FLAGS.EXTENDED_STARTUPINFO_PRESENT, null, null, in info, out var processInformation);

I should use the variant using pointers... but I can't seem to figure out how to correctly refer to my Span<char> cmdLine = stackalloc char[execPath.Length]; and my STARTUPINFOEXW info = new STARTUPINFOEXW() using pointers or replacing out var with pointers

9 Replies

Chiyoko_S•13mo ago

span - you can just take the pointer by doing Unsafe.AsPointer(ref MemoryMarshal.AsRef(cmdLine)) ...or just do char* cmdLine = stackalloc char[...] out T name is just glorified T* so just do &info

Frodolon•13mo ago

This is the signature of the pointer variant btw

Frodolon•13mo ago

Ok, I managed to get a char* through fixed (char* cmdLine = execPath) { /* code */ }

ero•13mo ago

or just do char* cmdLine = stackalloc char[...]

Frodolon•13mo ago

I already had another string Really, the main problem is Visual Studio displaying the error messages for the version using refs etc. making the error messages utterly useless This feels like it should work:

string execPath = "notepad.exe\0";
nuint* size = default;
PInvoke.InitializeProcThreadAttributeList(default, 1, 0, size);
STARTUPINFOEXW info = new STARTUPINFOEXW();
info.lpAttributeList = (LPPROC_THREAD_ATTRIBUTE_LIST)Windows.Win32.PInvoke.LocalAlloc(0, (nuint)size).Value;
fixed (char* cmdLine = execPath)
{
  PROCESS_INFORMATION* procInfoPtr = default;
  PInvoke.CreateProcess(null, cmdLine, null, null, false, PROCESS_CREATION_FLAGS.EXTENDED_STARTUPINFO_PRESENT, null, null, &info, procInfoPtr);
}

string execPath = "notepad.exe\0";
nuint* size = default;
PInvoke.InitializeProcThreadAttributeList(default, 1, 0, size);
STARTUPINFOEXW info = new STARTUPINFOEXW();
info.lpAttributeList = (LPPROC_THREAD_ATTRIBUTE_LIST)Windows.Win32.PInvoke.LocalAlloc(0, (nuint)size).Value;
fixed (char* cmdLine = execPath)
{
  PROCESS_INFORMATION* procInfoPtr = default;
  PInvoke.CreateProcess(null, cmdLine, null, null, false, PROCESS_CREATION_FLAGS.EXTENDED_STARTUPINFO_PRESENT, null, null, &info, procInfoPtr);
}

It still complains about the CreateProcess arguments though (Can't convert STARTUPINFOEXW to STARTUPINFOW etc.) Ah, got it working:

PInvoke.CreateProcess(null, cmdLine, null, null, false, PROCESS_CREATION_FLAGS.EXTENDED_STARTUPINFO_PRESENT, null, null, (STARTUPINFOW*)&info, procInfoPtr);

ero•13mo ago

good luck with that nuint* size = default; lol

Frodolon•13mo ago

Already fixed that :P Still doesn't work but runs Hmm, CreateProcess gives error 87 - The Parameter is Incorrect - the reason I'm even trying to do all this is that I'm trying to reimplement https://scorpiosoftware.net/2019/01/15/fun-with-appcontainers/ in C# to play around with AppContainers...

Frodolon•13mo ago

Here's my code + the output: https://gist.github.com/macbrayne/8bf4c2cee0d5223849277d4ae0a0076d

Gist

The Parameter is incorrect?

The Parameter is incorrect? GitHub Gist: instantly share code, notes, and snippets.

Accord•13mo ago

Was this issue resolved? If so, run /close - otherwise I will mark this as stale and this post will be archived until there is new activity.

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❔ Using STARTUPINFOEXW on PInvoke.CreateProcess - how to move from ref / out to pointer?