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This article will briefly explain how to embed a DLL file as a resource so that you can have a self contained application. | This article will briefly explain how to embed a DLL file as a resource so that you can have a self contained application. | ||
| − | == | + | == Windows Forms Application == |
| − | 1. Go to the project properties and go to the "References" tab. | + | 1. Go to the project properties and go to the "References" tab. <br> |
| − | 2. Click "Add..." -> "Browse" and select the DLL file you would like to use (Make note of the Reference Name). | + | 2. Click "Add..." -> "Browse" and select the DLL file you would like to use (Make note of the Reference Name). <br> |
| − | 3. While still under project properties go to the "Resources" tab. | + | 3. While still under project properties go to the "Resources" tab. <br> |
| − | 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). | + | 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). <br> |
| − | 5. While still under project properties go to the "Application" tab and click "View Application Events" | + | 5. While still under project properties go to the "Application" tab and click "View Application Events" <br> |
| − | 6. Add the following import: | + | 6. Add the following import: <br> |
Imports System.Reflection | Imports System.Reflection | ||
6a. Paste the following code into the MyApplication Class: | 6a. Paste the following code into the MyApplication Class: | ||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
End If | End If | ||
End Function | End Function | ||
| − | 6b. Make sure to replace the following with the correct names. | + | 6b. 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> |
| − | + | ||
| + | == Console Application == | ||
| + | In console applications you can access the application events by clicking "View Application Events". | ||
| + | To accomplish the same thing add the following code to the top of your "Main" class. | ||
| + | AddHandler AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve, New ResolveEventHandler(AddressOf Resolver) | ||
| + | Then add this function to the same module as your "Main" class. | ||
| + | Private Function Resolver(sender As Object, e As System.ResolveEventArgs) As Reflection.Assembly | ||
| + | Dim desiredAssembly = New Reflection.AssemblyName(e.Name) | ||
| + | Dim assemblyToLoad As Byte() = Nothing | ||
| + | |||
| + | Select Case desiredAssembly.Name | ||
| + | Case Is = "NetOffice" | ||
| + | assemblyToLoad = My.Resources.NetOffice | ||
| + | Case Is = "OfficeApi" | ||
| + | assemblyToLoad = My.Resources.OfficeApi | ||
| + | Case Is = "OutlookApi" | ||
| + | assemblyToLoad = My.Resources.OutlookApi | ||
| + | End Select | ||
| + | |||
| + | If assemblyToLoad IsNot Nothing Then | ||
| + | Return Reflection.Assembly.Load(assemblyToLoad) | ||
| + | Else | ||
| + | Return Nothing | ||
| + | End If | ||
| + | End Function | ||
| + | == References == | ||
| + | http://dotnetzip.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=Embed%20DotNetZip&referringTitle=Examples | ||
| + | http://bytes.com/topic/visual-basic-net/answers/944933-embedding-dll-into-app | ||
[[Category:.NET]] | [[Category:.NET]] | ||
Latest revision as of 22:26, 25 August 2014
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.
Windows Forms Application
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
Console Application
In console applications you can access the application events by clicking "View Application Events". To accomplish the same thing add the following code to the top of your "Main" class.
AddHandler AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve, New ResolveEventHandler(AddressOf Resolver)
Then add this function to the same module as your "Main" class.
Private Function Resolver(sender As Object, e As System.ResolveEventArgs) As Reflection.Assembly
Dim desiredAssembly = New Reflection.AssemblyName(e.Name)
Dim assemblyToLoad As Byte() = Nothing
Select Case desiredAssembly.Name
Case Is = "NetOffice"
assemblyToLoad = My.Resources.NetOffice
Case Is = "OfficeApi"
assemblyToLoad = My.Resources.OfficeApi
Case Is = "OutlookApi"
assemblyToLoad = My.Resources.OutlookApi
End Select
If assemblyToLoad IsNot Nothing Then
Return Reflection.Assembly.Load(assemblyToLoad)
Else
Return Nothing
End If
End Function
References
http://dotnetzip.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=Embed%20DotNetZip&referringTitle=Examples http://bytes.com/topic/visual-basic-net/answers/944933-embedding-dll-into-app