How can I open a DLL class/file that I created from another project/solution?
For example: I have a class "AClass" in a DLL that I'm referencing. When debugging a project, I'm able to put a breakpoint in my project and then step into the DLL's classes and view variables and insert breakpoints. However, it would take me a while to reach the class (AClass) that I actually want via stepping through the code. Is there a way to open the AClass file in the solution and insert breakpoints from there, instead of having to step through classes to reach it?
I have been unable to find where I can do this, but it seems possible.
The recommended way is to add the DLL project into your solution. Projects are designed to be used in multiple solutions.
Once the DLL project is in the solution, you can add a 'project reference' to it in the main project.
This way you can set breakpoints in the DLL project from the referencing solution.
Related
I am building a few different C# libraries that both depend on a single C# file we'll call Dep.cs, and these dll's need to be used together in a Unity project. I'd like to set up these projects in the following way:
The C# libraries can be built independently of one another using Visual Studio
C# libraries (i.e. dll's) can be imported into a Unity project without conflicting symbols
The C# library projects (i.e. the source code for each library via git submodule for example) can be imported into a Unity project without conflicting sources.
I've solved (1) by including Dep.cs in each library project that requires it, though this causes issue with (2). And I've solved (3) by putting the dependency in a folder like Dependencies~ so that Unity ignores the file (this way no duplicate classes are found).
I'm having trouble solving (2) however. I thought I'd be able to add Dep.cs as reference in the VS solution but This doesn't seem to work. I've heard of Assembly References but I am not sure if they do what I need.
You can use "Add File as Link" from Visual Studio "Add Existing File" screen. It also works well with git submodule, just place Dep.cs anywhere in a parent folder or in the solution's root directory.
To get the same result you can also directly edit the .csproj file and add a compile instruction:
<ItemGroup>
<Compile Include="..\..\Path\To\YourFile.cs" Link="YourFile.cs" />
</ItemGroup>
This method solves all the issues you mentioned.
To solve my problem I decided to modify the external scripts to be internal this way both dll's can compile with that source and not conflict with one another. The rest of the setup in my question remained the same so this solved (2) for me without compromising (1) and (3).
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
I am attempting to debug a class library in VS2013, however whenever I set a breakpoint in the library, it seems to be ignored when executing the code.
I am using a console project, which is located in the same solution to call the code of the class library. I've added the .dll, which has been generated by the class library, as a reference to the console project in order to connect the two projects.
How do I connect the two projects properly and stop VS2013 from ignoring the breakpoints?
Sounds like you need the PDB file(s) associated with the library's (DLL) files.
Without PDB files, it's possible to set a breakpoint on the library code, if you can see it, but the red breakpoint circle will say something like "Symbols could not be loaded...." and you won't land on any breakpoints.
So, if you can get the PDB files of the library, copy them to the bin folder of your project, add a reference to the library DLL, and hopefully that should make Visual Studio happy.
Also, when debugging the code in VS, if you go to Debug->Windows->Modules, that will open a new window in the IDE which shows loaded assemblies. That window will also tell you whether the symbols (PDB) have been loaded.
My solution had two class libraries, one application that needed them. Couldn't break anywhere in the class library code. All settings previously mentioned here were checked. I solved it by removing the class library dll from the references and then adding it back in as a reference. Voila. Previously ignored breakpoints in the class library became active.
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 ..
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.