I've got an C# Project in Visual Studio, which has Console Application as Output Type.
But I also need a Class Library of this project for another solution.
Right now I have to switch the output type every time, but I wonder if it's possible to generate exe and dll at the same build-event?
Is there a post-build-event for this?
To my knowledge there is no possibility to change the output type after compilation. That being said, if would be possible to have two projects like Console and Library in your solution, which would use the same source code files but have different output types. That way you would have different outputs without any duplication of code.
it is generally possible to reference a .net exe assembly as it would be a class-library.
So you can just stick in creating an exe file and reference the exe (sounds strange, but works) in your other project.
This is the dialog for browsing for references. As you see you can select exe files.
But as commented it really depends on what your usecase is.
I don't recommend to ship an exe with an entry point to your customer hoping that the customer does not discover the exe. But what you could do about that is to conditionaly compile your entry point.
For example
class Program {
// This is the entry point of the EXE
public static void Main() {
#if DEBUG
// Start Debug Application
...
#else
// Shipped to client - Entry point disabled
return;
#endif
}
}
If there is a relevant reason to have a shipped exe and a shipped class library, I would refactor your solution like this:
(A) complete application (.sln)
(B) console-application (.csproj) which has a reference to (C)
(C) class library project (.csproj)
With that it is perfectly clear to others that there is an application that uses the library and the library itself.
Console Application is the type of your project. You can not change it.
What you can -and must- do is, carry your logic into a Class Library project and use your class library from any type of project you want.
You should compile your project to become a dll and then use this dll in a console application.
A possibility to achieve what you want is to manually run the msbuild on your post-build event of your project.
See: How do i build a solution programatically in C#?
or Building C# Solution in Release mode using MsBuild.exe
The usual solution for this is using a Solution with two projects:
a Class Library with all the code (which builds into a DLL)
an Console Application referencing the library whose Main just calls some function(s).
For more information, check the MSDN page on Solutions.
Codor suggested manually adding the files to the Console project, but one downside is that build settings are not shared between both versions, so you might get some inconsistency there.
I'm not really sure why people think it's not possible but it actually is.
The easiest way would be renaming the exe to dll Sounds stupid, I know. But it works in many cases. Also, as "Peter I" said a .NET exe can be imported as assembly in other projects. So you might not actually need a dll anyways.
Another way would be using C# command line as stated here: /out (C# Compiler Options)
You can use command command line options in Pre/Post build events Pre-build Event/Post-build Event Command Line Dialog Box
I have a similar requirement and couldn't find any definite answer in this post or anywhere. I currently have a class library and would like to create a console application project without copying any code. Ideally speaking there should be two projects, one for creating a console application and another for creating a class library. And this is what the visual studio also suggests. When I tried to run the class library, I got the below message.
It clearly asks us to add an executable project to the solution and add the reference to the library project.
Below are the steps to do this.
Right click solution -> Add new project -> Console App -> choose name -> ok.
Right click on the console project -> add reference -> In reference manager, click on the projects tab and select the other project(In my case this is the class library project, In case it is not listed just click on browse and select the .csproj file) -> ok.
Now to use the classes in the other project, simple do using LibraryProjectNameSpace
There we are. Bingo!!!!
Also as mentioned in the other answers it is not possible to have the same project generate both .exe and .dll. But you can have the same solution generate these two guys by having two projects. In this way there is no need to switch the output of the project every time.
FYI, I use visual studio 2017
Related
I was following this tutorial, but at step 5 I had to import a .dll file in PowerShell:
PS> Import-Module .\bin\Debug\PowerShellModuleInCSharp.dll
But my Visual Studio program only makes an .exe file. I tried importing the .exe file, but this gave an error
Import-Module : The extension '.exe' is not a valid module extension. The supported module extensions are '.dll', '.ps1', '.psm1', '.psd1', '.cdxml' and '.xaml'. Correct the extension then try adding the file 'C:\users\wouter\documents\visual studio`.
So is this because I am making a Windows application instead of an console application in Visual Studio?
This is how my Debug folder looks like:
No, you weren't following that tutorial. Quoting that tutorial (emphasis mine):
Step 1: Create a Visual Studio project
Within your Visual Studio solution, you will house your cmdlets in a project, just as you would any other component you are building. For PowerShell, create a Class Library project so that once you have built the project, you have a DLL that comprises your PowerShell cmdlets.
The project you created was not a class library project. You appear to have created a Windows Forms Application project instead.
While it's possible to fix this, it involves more than simply changing the project type to "Class Library". The Windows Forms Application project template contains a lot of things you neither need nor should want. It contains references to assemblies you don't want. It contains a form. It contains program start-up code. All of that will remain if you simply change the project type, and you would need to get rid of it manually. It's easier to start over, taking care to follow the steps of the tutorial exactly.
You need to change your project to be of type "Class Library" . For new projects its a matter of picking the "Class Library" template. For existing projects, there is a drop down list in the project properties screen that you can change to "Class Library" . Once you do that, you will need to recompile.
Go to Project > Properties and change the Output Type in the dropdown shown below in red to Class Library:
I have a windows application (winForms). I would like to refactor it such that all functionalities are built to .DLL file so that when winForm is run, it will just call .DLL. In addition, I would be creating another .exe which is Console App so when a user wants to just "schedule task" it, he will create a config file that will run the console app, which when run will also call .DLL
I don't have much knowledge about refactoring and compiling projects to .DLL (I hope I am making sense)
I just want to know if I am correct on how I quite understand it for now:
Should I transfer all my functionalities from winForms to a class that will be compiled to .DLL? Or if I am wrong, what should I put in a .DLL class?
You should create a new project in your solution. Create a class library project in your solution in Visual Studio (or tool of choice, you did not specify what you are using so I assume VS).
To add a new project, right click your solution and select Add submenu, then New project.
From the categories menu on the left, select Visual C#, then Windows, and Class Library.
Then you should add a reference to this new class library project from your current WinForms project.
Right click References in your current WinForms project and select Add reference.
Then select Solution category on the left (VS2012), or Projects tab (VS2010) and Select your newly created class library project from there.
Then you can start moving classes from your current WinForms project to this new class library project. Class library project will be compiled as a dll and you will have access to all classes in this dll from your WinForms project.
Nothing dramatic is needed. Just Project + Properties, Application tab, change the Output type setting from Windows Application to Class Library. Done. You may have to declare a class public if you didn't already do that. You could remove your Program.cs source file since it won't be used anymore but that is entirely optional. A good reason to not remove it is keeping your project testable.
Fwiw, changing the Output type setting is not actually necessary, .NET doesn't distinguish between a DLL and an EXE at all. The CLR loads assemblies by their display name, it doesn't include a filename extension. You can add a reference to your EXE assembly in another project and it will work just fine.
So doing nothing at all already works :)
I was given a project in which I am supposed to debug a problem in a Windows Forms application. I found where the problem is located but it is within a Class Library which is included as a component of my Windows Forms application solution.
How can I add/modify code in the Class Library project and actually run it live so that I can debug it? If I make any changes to the Class Library as is, the application ignores the changes and resorts to the original source code.
The only things contained in the Class Library's folder are plain source code files, some settings files, and a .vbproj. I just want to make changes to the Class Library and actually be able to debug them. If anyone could please explain what I have to do, it would be greatly appreciated!
Your application is not loading the assembly produced by compiling the class library. It is loading another copy from somewhere.
One quick way to find out where is to start the application from Visual Studio, break into the debugger and then bring up the Modules windows (Debug>Windows>Modules). Look for the class library in the Name column and check the Path.
If it is under C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly... then there is an older version being loading from the GAC. If it's another location, you will need to ensure the class library project output is going to that location.
Does the startup project have a project reference to the class library in the solution? You could always remove and re-add the reference to the class library in the startup application project and ensure you add it as a project reference.
Be careful though, there may be a good reason why this wasn't the case originally.
EDIT
A full explanation of how assemblies are located is way beyond the scope of an SO post - you'll need to study How the Runtime Locates Assemblies.
With no changes made to typical solution defaults, a library is most likely to be loaded from the same folder where the start-up executable is located. Setting a project reference to a library causes it to be compiled and copied to that project's bin folder - so make sure the startup project has a project reference to your class library project. (Right-click startup project and check Add References... dialog. The reference should come from the Solution section).
You'll need to examine the project property pages to see if something special has been configured.
99.99% of the time, building the WHOLE solution and hitting run should work. If it doesn't work, something is messed up in the solution and/or there is some kind of custom deployment set up.
There are simply so many ways to deviate from the default deployment that I just can't give specific guidance here; you best bet is to get someone knowledgeable who can take a look in person, or to whom you can send the source for inspection.
I just went to Project Properties ....Project Dependencies and checked(ticked ) the class /assembly(.dll) name... It worked for me. Now i dont need to run the class project for the changes to reflect in the Startup Project ..
Please can someone could explain why I get this error and what to do to fix it (or what I'm doing wrong!). The steps I have taken are
Download Source code from http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/16859/AForge-NET-open-source-framework
Opening in VS2010 shows the references cannot be found
Re-Add all 3 references from PlayingCardRecognition\bin\Release so no further warnings
When I try and build or Run I get the following message
To fix this issue, do these steps:
Right click the Project name in Solution Explorer of Visual Studio
Select Set as StartUp Project from the menu
Re-run your project
It should work!
If it did not work, be sure that you have set your start page. If your project is C# Windows Application or C# Console Application, try this:
Right click the Project name in Solution Explorer of Visual Studio
Select Properties
Select the Application tab
In the Output Type drop box
Select the correct application type of your project
Re-run your project and let me know if it won’t work.
The project type set as the Start-up project in that solution is of type ClassLibrary. DUe to that, the output is a dll not an executable and so, you cannot start it.
If this is an error then you can do this:
A quick and dirty fix for this, if that is the only csproj in the solution is to open the .csproj file in a text editor and change the value of the node <ProjectGuid> to the Guid corresponding to a WinForms C# project. (That you may obtain from a google search or by creating a new project and opening the .csproj file generated by Visual Studio to find out what the GUID for that type is). (Enjoy - not many people know about this sneaky trick)
BUT: the project might be a class library rightfully and then you should reference it in another project and use it that way.
.Exe's and .dll's are both assemblies. The key difference is that executeables define an entry point Main which can be invoked by the runtime. The error
"Class library cannot be started directly"
is due to the fact that said .dll's do not have a Main. To fix this issue, change the project type to a Windows application/Console application and define an entry point. Or, add a new project that is of type Windows application/Console application and reference said .dll.
The project is a class library. It cannot be run or debugged without an executable project (F5 doesn't work!!!). You can only build the project (Ctrl+Shift+B).
If you want to debug the code add a console application project (set it as the start up project) to the solution and add the reference to the library.
The project you downloaded is a class library. Which can't be started.
Add a new project which can be started (console app, win forms, what ever you want) and add a reference to the class library project to be able to "play with it".
And set this new project as "Startup project"
The project you've downloaded is a class library, not an executable assembly. This means you need to import that library into your own project instead of trying to run it directly.
Your project type is a class library one would suspect, add a ConsoleApplication or WindowsApplication and use that as your startup object. Reference this project and then access the code.
If you convert the WPF application to Class library for get the projects .dll file.After that convert the same project to the WPF application you get the following error.
Error:".exe does not contain a static main method suitable for an entry point".
Steps to troubleshoot:
1.Include the App.xaml file in the respective project.
2.Right Click on App.xaml file change the build action to Application Definition
3.Now Build your project
Goto the Solution properties -> on Build right side you see the startup project type. here you need to select the console appication/windows appication.
If you got this issue (got it in Visual Studio 2017 RC), and you don't get any of the things listed by Mak post from step 3 onward "4 In the Output Type drop box....", it is because you made a Class Library app when you want to create a cross platform app, so here is the solution :
1 Start a new project
2 select Visual C# and cross-platform app.
3 select cross-platform app (Xamarin and native app)
4 select blank form.
From then , right click, select as startup project and build as mentioned by Mak, and it should work.
If you can afford to start from scratch, it could do the trick as it did for me.
This could do the trick for the main issue as well, but must be adapted to your current version of Visual Studio ("Xamarin.forms portable" for visual studio 2015 for example).
Bye!
VS -> Debug -> Attach unity debugger -> double click project
Set your api project to a startup project:
Right click the api Project than choose Set as startup Project.
Just right click on the Project Solution A window pops up. Expand the common Properties. Select Start Up Project
In there on right hand side Select radio button with Single Startup Project Select your Project in there and apply.
That's it. Now save and build your project. Run the project to see the output.
_Sarath#F1
To fix this issue, do these steps:
Right click the Project name in Solution Explorer of Visual Studio
Select Set as StartUp Project from the menu
Re-run your project It should work!
I am new to C# programming and I have a problem with dll creation.
I opened a class library project and write public static methods in my classes. Clicked debug and copied dll and pdb files (under bin/debug/..) to my WPF application project.
I didn't get any reference problems also editor shows my methods normally, also when I use them it gives me no error or warning...
However, when I run my program, I saw that my methods calling dll methods are not working. In addition, debug mode also jumps my methods so I cant trace the code.
Where am I doing wrong? Is there any other way to create dll or am I missing a trick in here?
Thank you..
Rather than copying the DLLs into your WPF app's bin directory, you should either add a project reference to your class library from your WPF app, or add a reference to the output directory of the class library. Otherwise the build is probably copying over your hand-copied files. Basically, you should treat anything in bin as "controlled by Visual Studio" IMO - don't copy anything there manually. It helps if you use project references rather than referring to specific files, too - that way each build gets an appropriate configuration for its dependencies.