Embed DLL as Resource - Revision history

Ledhed: /* Console Application */

2014-08-25T22:26:58Z

‎Console Application

Ledhed at 22:26, 25 August 2014

2014-08-25T22:26:38Z

Ledhed at 18:10, 10 July 2014

2014-07-10T18:10:24Z

Ledhed at 18:09, 10 July 2014

2014-07-10T18:09:16Z

Ledhed: Created page with "Sometimes you want to create a portable application. A single executable that doesn't require additional library files. This article will briefly explain how to embed a DLL fi..."

2014-07-10T18:08:55Z

Created page with "Sometimes you want to create a portable application. A single executable that doesn't require additional library files. This article will briefly explain how to embed a DLL fi..."

New page

Sometimes you want to create a portable application. A single executable that doesn't require additional library files.
This article will briefly explain how to embed a DLL file as a resource so that you can have a self contained application.

== Down and Dirty ==
1. Go to the project properties and go to the "References" tab.
2. Click "Add..." -> "Browse" and select the DLL file you would like to use (Make note of the Reference Name).
3. While still under project properties go to the "Resources" tab.
4. Under resources select "Add Resource" -> "Add Existing File..." and select the DLL you just added add in the previous step (Make note of the Resource Name).
5. While still under project properties go to the "Application" tab and click "View Application Events"
6. Add the following import:
Imports System.Reflection
6a. Paste the following code into the MyApplication Class:
Private Sub AppStart(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.StartupEventArgs) Handles Me.Startup
AddHandler AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve, AddressOf ResolveAssemblies
End Sub

Private Function ResolveAssemblies(sender As Object, e As System.ResolveEventArgs) As Reflection.Assembly
Dim desiredAssembly = New Reflection.AssemblyName(e.Name)

If desiredAssembly.Name = "DLL_REFERENCE_NAME" Then 'replace DLL_REFERENCE_NAME with reference name
Return Reflection.Assembly.Load(My.Resources.DLL_RESOURCE_NAME) 'replace DLL_RESOURCE_NAME with your assembly's resource name
Else
Return Nothing
End If
End Function
6b. Make sure to replace the following with the correct names.
DLL_REFERENCE_NAME = Reference Name from step 2
DLL_RESOURCE_NAME = Resource Name from step 4

[[Category:.NET]]

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
          Dim desiredAssembly = New Reflection.AssemblyName(e.Name)
          Dim assemblyToLoad As Byte() = Nothing
-−
          Select Case desiredAssembly.Name
              Case Is = "NetOffice"
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
                  assemblyToLoad = My.Resources.OutlookApi
          End Select
-−
          If assemblyToLoad IsNot Nothing Then
              Return Reflection.Assembly.Load(assemblyToLoad)

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 This article will briefly explain how to embed a DLL file as a resource so that you can have a self contained application.
-== Down and Dirty ==
+== Windows Forms Application ==
 . Go to the project properties and go to the "References" tab. <br>
 . Click "Add..." -> "Browse" and select the DLL file you would like to use (Make note of the Reference Name). <br>
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 [[Category:.NET]]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 == Down and Dirty ==
-. Go to the project properties and go to the "References" tab.
+. Go to the project properties and go to the "References" tab. <br>
-. Click "Add..." -> "Browse" and select the DLL file you would like to use (Make note of the Reference Name).
+. Click "Add..." -> "Browse" and select the DLL file you would like to use (Make note of the Reference Name). <br>
-. While still under project properties go to the "Resources" tab.
+. While still under project properties go to the "Resources" tab. <br>
-. Under resources select "Add Resource" -> "Add Existing File..." and select the DLL you just added add in the previous step (Make note of the Resource Name).
+. Under resources select "Add Resource" -> "Add Existing File..." and select the DLL you just added add in the previous step (Make note of the Resource Name). <br>
-. While still under project properties go to the "Application" tab and click "View Application Events"
+. While still under project properties go to the "Application" tab and click "View Application Events" <br>
-. Add the following import:
+. Add the following import: <br>
    Imports System.Reflection
 a. Paste the following code into the MyApplication Class:

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
   		End If
   	End Function
-b. Make sure to replace the following with the correct names.
+b. Make sure to replace the following with the correct names. <br>
-DLL_REFERENCE_NAME = Reference Name from step 2
+DLL_REFERENCE_NAME = Reference Name from step 2 <br>
-DLL_RESOURCE_NAME = Resource Name from step 4
+DLL_RESOURCE_NAME = Resource Name from step 4 <br>