Sharing data array between two applications in Delphi

Question

I want to share array data between two applications. In my mind, first program create the array and the second program can read the array from already allocated memory area.

Answer 1

A Named File Mapping would be the easiest solution, here is some short example code. In this sample there is a main program that writes some data and reader(s) that only read from it.

Main:

type
  TSharedData = record
    Handle: THandle;
  end;
  PSharedData = ^TSharedData;

const
  BUF_SIZE = 256;
var
  SharedData: PSharedData;
  hFileMapping: THandle;  // Don't forget to close when you're done

function CreateNamedFileMapping(const Name: String): THandle;
begin
  Result := CreateFileMapping(INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE, nil, PAGE_READWRITE, 0,
    BUF_SIZE, PChar(Name));

  Win32Check(Result > 0);

  SharedData := MapViewOfFile(Result, FILE_MAP_ALL_ACCESS, 0, 0, BUF_SIZE);

  Win32Check(Assigned(SharedData));
end;

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  hFileMapping := CreateNamedFileMapping('MySharedMemory');
  Win32Check(hFileMapping > 0);
  SharedData^.Handle := CreateHiddenWindow;
end;

reader:

var
  hMapFile: THandle;   // Don't forget to close

function GetSharedData: PSharedData;
begin
  hMapFile := OpenFileMapping(FILE_MAP_ALL_ACCESS, False, 'MySharedMemory');
  Win32Check(hMapFile > 0);

  Result := MapViewOfFile(hMapFile, FILE_MAP_ALL_ACCESS, 0, 0, BUF_SIZE);

  Win32Check(Assigned(Result));
end;