interface DLL with java application, how to?

Question

I wrote a Java application for my company which works great. Now I am asked to interface my application with an API of a piece of hardware. The API is implemented in a Windows dynamic link library (DLL). The samples that come with the API were written in Visual C++ 6.0 and Visual Basic 5.0 (seems very old).

There is no Java API available. I am wondering if there is a way to use the DLLs with my Java application I wrote? Should I rewrite the application in VB.NET or... (Would these APIs even work with VB.NET)?

This is the piece of hardware whose API I need to use:

http://www.sealevel.com/store/8004e-pci-express-16-reed-relay-output-16-isolated-input-digital-interface-3-13v.html

Any suggestions or ideas are appreciated.

Thank you

Answer 1

The API should work with VB .NET.

If the API is Open-Source you could try to add JNI support, so that you can use it in Java.

Otherwise you could try to write the Application in C++. The difference to Java is not that big.