Installing Components into the GAC

[Steve Blair]

I need to install a component into the global assembly cache (GAC). I'm able
to do this.

What do I do to get VS.NET to recognize its presence? If I select the Add
Reference... menu item my component/class is not listed among the others.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

[Kathleen Dollard]

Steve,

Two possibilities here:

Either you are working with the references list with a VB6 mindset (I did
this) and failed to register what the menu item says "Add Reference". It
does not list currently selected references. For this, go to references
under the project name in the solution explorer.

Or, you are trying to reference a component or control and are surprised
that it is not showing up in the controls toolbox. To do this right click
the toolbox and select "Customize". You have to add your control to both the
toolbox and the references list. In my experience, when you update your
control you only have to read it to the references list and you do not have
the COM problems of trashing your form if you remove and read a control
reference.

If neither idea helps, I think you will have to clarify your problem.

--
Kathleen
(MS-MVP)
Reply in the newsgroup so everyone can benefit
--

[martin rydman]

I'm puzzled just the same. I've got a DLL that I've dragged into the GAC.
It shows there among all the others. I then create a new project, click Add
Reference in the References section in Solution Explorer, but my assembly
won't show up. Yes, I could browse for the actual DLL, but that seems to
miss the whole point of having a GAC, or am I missing something here?

TIA

/Martin

"Kathleen Dollard" <kathleen@nomailplease.org> wrote:
>Steve,
>
>Two possibilities here:
>
>Either you are working with the references list with a VB6 mindset (I did
>this) and failed to register what the menu item says "Add Reference". It
>does not list currently selected references. For this, go to references
>under the project name in the solution explorer.
>
>Or, you are trying to reference a component or control and are surprised
>that it is not showing up in the controls toolbox. To do this right click
>the toolbox and select "Customize". You have to add your control to both
the
>toolbox and the references list. In my experience, when you update your
>control you only have to read it to the references list and you do not have
>the COM problems of trashing your form if you remove and read a control
>reference.
>
>If neither idea helps, I think you will have to clarify your problem.
>
>--
>Kathleen
>(MS-MVP)
>Reply in the newsgroup so everyone can benefit
>--
>
>

[Mattias Sjögren]

Martin,

>I've got a DLL that I've dragged into the GAC.
>It shows there among all the others. I then create a new project, click Add
>Reference in the References section in Solution Explorer, but my assembly
>won't show up.

The Add Reference dialog lists assemblies from
%systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.0.xxxx\, plus any assemblies
in the directories listed under
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\.NETFramework\AssemblyFolders in the Registry.
It does not look in the GAC.


Mattias

===
Mattias Sjögren (VB MVP)
mattias @ mvps.org
http://www.msjogren.net/dotnet/

[martin rydman]

Hi mattias!

OK, so let's say I've got app A and app B, both needing component X, and
I want to place X in the GAC.

Let's skip installers, just so I get the essentials. I compile my app's against
my strong named X.DLL. I copy my DLL to some folder on a target machine.
I copy my apps to some other (unrelated to X) folders on the target machine.
I drag my DLL into the target-machine's GAC.

That's it?

(I've only got one .NET-enabled computer right now, so I can't actually test
it...)

TIA!

/Martin

[Mattias Sjögren]

Martin,

>Let's skip installers, just so I get the essentials. I compile my app's against
>my strong named X.DLL. I copy my DLL to some folder on a target machine.
>I copy my apps to some other (unrelated to X) folders on the target machine.
>I drag my DLL into the target-machine's GAC.
>
>That's it?


Yes, that sounds like it should work.


Mattias

===
Mattias Sjögren (VB MVP)

[martin rydman]

Thanks mattias!

/Martin