Reference Project or Assembly

[Just Me]

I have a solution containing many usercontrol projects.
When I wish to reference a usercontrol in another project I can select
either the project or the assembly.

Does it make a difference which one I select?

Thanks

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Just Me,
I normally reference the project, allowing VS.NET to work out compile &
setup dependencies for me.

If you reference the assembly, then you need to manually work out the
compile & setup dependencies. You can use "Project - Project Dependencies"
to set the compile dependencies, I believe you need to manually add the
respective assemblies to setup projects.

I've never had any real problems with referencing the project, however I
have seen reports on developers having problems with both methods.

Hope this helps
Jay
" Just Me" <gr****@a-znet.com> wrote in message
news:eU******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...

I have a solution containing many usercontrol projects.
When I wish to reference a usercontrol in another project I can select
either the project or the assembly.

Does it make a difference which one I select?

Thanks

[solex]

Yes it does. When you select project it is simply for debugging. When you
do a final compile you should first compile the child project and then
reference the compiled assembly in the parent project.

Dan

" Just Me" <gr****@a-znet.com> wrote in message
news:eU******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...

I have a solution containing many usercontrol projects.
When I wish to reference a usercontrol in another project I can select
either the project or the assembly.

Does it make a difference which one I select?

Thanks

[Just Me]

Thanks, but can you tell me why?
I mean if I select the project for the final compile, what bad thing
happens?

Thanks again

"solex" <so***@nowhere. com> wrote in message
news:Oj******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP14.phx.gbl...

Yes it does. When you select project it is simply for debugging. When
you
do a final compile you should first compile the child project and then
reference the compiled assembly in the parent project.

Dan

" Just Me" <gr****@a-znet.com> wrote in message
news:eU******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...

I have a solution containing many usercontrol projects.
When I wish to reference a usercontrol in another project I can select
either the project or the assembly.

Does it make a difference which one I select?

Thanks

[Just Me]

You mean, if I reference an assembly, I have to also reference all its
dependencies?

thanks

"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************ @msn.com> wrote in message
news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP10.phx.gbl. ..

Just Me,
I normally reference the project, allowing VS.NET to work out compile &
setup dependencies for me.

If you reference the assembly, then you need to manually work out the
compile & setup dependencies. You can use "Project - Project Dependencies"
to set the compile dependencies, I believe you need to manually add the
respective assemblies to setup projects.

I've never had any real problems with referencing the project, however I
have seen reports on developers having problems with both methods.

Hope this helps
Jay
" Just Me" <gr****@a-znet.com> wrote in message
news:eU******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...

I have a solution containing many usercontrol projects.
When I wish to reference a usercontrol in another project I can select
either the project or the assembly.

Does it make a difference which one I select?

Thanks

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Dan,
I only reference projects, when I do my final compiles (release builds),
using Build Solution, the child project is compiled first then the parent
project is compiled.

Do you have a documented case where the above does not work? I would be
curious to see it.

Hope this helps
Jay

"solex" <so***@nowhere. com> wrote in message
news:Oj******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP14.phx.gbl...

Yes it does. When you select project it is simply for debugging. When
you
do a final compile you should first compile the child project and then
reference the compiled assembly in the parent project.

Dan

" Just Me" <gr****@a-znet.com> wrote in message
news:eU******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...

I have a solution containing many usercontrol projects.
When I wish to reference a usercontrol in another project I can select
either the project or the assembly.

Does it make a difference which one I select?

Thanks

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Just Me,

You mean, if I reference an assembly, I have to also reference all its
dependencies? No that is not what my statement is saying!

If you have 2 or more projects in your solution, an executable and one or
more class libraries. And you reference the class library assembly from your
executable. The executable may be built before the class library, causing
build errors. However ever if you use "Project - Project Dependencies" you
can indicate that the executable depends on (requires) the class library,
VS.NET will then build the class library first, then it will build the
executable.

As I stated I normally reference projects, then VS.NET takes care of every
thing (dependencies) for me. In both debug & release (final) builds.
You mean, if I reference an assembly, I have to also reference all its
dependencies? There are cases where you need to reference dependent assemblies/projects.
For example:
- Library1 has BaseClass
- Library2 has DerivedClass that inherits from BaseClass
- Executable3 references Library2 & uses DerivedClass, Exectuable3 also
needs to reference Library1 as VB.NET needs the "definition " for the
BaseClass also. Here Exectuable3 can either reference both assemblies or the
projects.

However this dependent referencing has nothing to do with build order, which
is what my initial comments about Build/Project Dependencies are referring
to.

Hope this helps
Jay
" Just Me" <gr****@a-znet.com> wrote in message
news:uG******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP14.phx.gbl... You mean, if I reference an assembly, I have to also reference all its
dependencies?

thanks

"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************ @msn.com> wrote in message
news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP10.phx.gbl. ..

Just Me,
I normally reference the project, allowing VS.NET to work out compile &
setup dependencies for me.

If you reference the assembly, then you need to manually work out the
compile & setup dependencies. You can use "Project - Project
Dependencies" to set the compile dependencies, I believe you need to
manually add the respective assemblies to setup projects.

I've never had any real problems with referencing the project, however I
have seen reports on developers having problems with both methods.

Hope this helps
Jay
" Just Me" <gr****@a-znet.com> wrote in message
news:eU******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...

I have a solution containing many usercontrol projects.
When I wish to reference a usercontrol in another project I can select
either the project or the assembly.

Does it make a difference which one I select?

Thanks

[Just Me]

Thanks a lot.
I've got it now.

"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************ @msn.com> wrote in message
news:e%******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP14.phx.gbl. ..

Just Me,

You mean, if I reference an assembly, I have to also reference all its
dependencies?

No that is not what my statement is saying!

If you have 2 or more projects in your solution, an executable and one or
more class libraries. And you reference the class library assembly from
your executable. The executable may be built before the class library,
causing build errors. However ever if you use "Project - Project
Dependencies" you can indicate that the executable depends on (requires)
the class library, VS.NET will then build the class library first, then it
will build the executable.

As I stated I normally reference projects, then VS.NET takes care of every
thing (dependencies) for me. In both debug & release (final) builds.

You mean, if I reference an assembly, I have to also reference all its
dependencies?

There are cases where you need to reference dependent assemblies/projects.
For example:
- Library1 has BaseClass
- Library2 has DerivedClass that inherits from BaseClass
- Executable3 references Library2 & uses DerivedClass, Exectuable3 also
needs to reference Library1 as VB.NET needs the "definition " for the
BaseClass also. Here Exectuable3 can either reference both assemblies or
the projects.

However this dependent referencing has nothing to do with build order,
which is what my initial comments about Build/Project Dependencies are
referring to.

Hope this helps
Jay
" Just Me" <gr****@a-znet.com> wrote in message
news:uG******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP14.phx.gbl...

You mean, if I reference an assembly, I have to also reference all its
dependencies?

thanks

"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************ @msn.com> wrote in message
news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP10.phx.gbl. ..

Just Me,
I normally reference the project, allowing VS.NET to work out compile &
setup dependencies for me.

If you reference the assembly, then you need to manually work out the
compile & setup dependencies. You can use "Project - Project
Dependencies" to set the compile dependencies, I believe you need to
manually add the respective assemblies to setup projects.

I've never had any real problems with referencing the project, however I
have seen reports on developers having problems with both methods.

Hope this helps
Jay
" Just Me" <gr****@a-znet.com> wrote in message
news:eU******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...
I have a solution containing many usercontrol projects.
When I wish to reference a usercontrol in another project I can select
either the project or the assembly.

Does it make a difference which one I select?

Thanks

[solex]

Jay,

I do not have documentation. It was my understanding that this was an
accepted method. I generally compile my components outside of the solution
and therefore need to reference the assembly. This way I do not inadverntly
recompile the component if there are no changes, which can cause problems if
there are other projects that depend on the component.

In short my posting was just my convention and apologize for any
misunderstandin g.

Regards,
Dan
"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************ @msn.com> wrote in message
news:OP******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP10.phx.gbl...

Dan,
I only reference projects, when I do my final compiles (release builds),
using Build Solution, the child project is compiled first then the parent
project is compiled.

Do you have a documented case where the above does not work? I would be
curious to see it.

Hope this helps
Jay

"solex" <so***@nowhere. com> wrote in message
news:Oj******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP14.phx.gbl...

Yes it does. When you select project it is simply for debugging. When
you
do a final compile you should first compile the child project and then
reference the compiled assembly in the parent project.

Dan

" Just Me" <gr****@a-znet.com> wrote in message
news:eU******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...

I have a solution containing many usercontrol projects.
When I wish to reference a usercontrol in another project I can select
either the project or the assembly.

Does it make a difference which one I select?

Thanks

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Dan,
For projects that are shared across solutions, that may be a good
convention.

I currently do not share projects across solutions, so I have not "crossed
that bridge yet".

I can see potential problems for projects destined for the GAC where this
may be an issue, however for shared projects that are destined for side by
side deployment I don't know if I would worry about it. As I stated above, I
have not "crossed that bridge yet".

Thanks for the additional info!

Jay
"solex" <so***@nowhere. com> wrote in message
news:Oo******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...

Jay,

I do not have documentation. It was my understanding that this was an
accepted method. I generally compile my components outside of the
solution
and therefore need to reference the assembly. This way I do not
inadverntly
recompile the component if there are no changes, which can cause problems
if
there are other projects that depend on the component.

In short my posting was just my convention and apologize for any
misunderstandin g.

Regards,
Dan
"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************ @msn.com> wrote in message
news:OP******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP10.phx.gbl...

Dan,
I only reference projects, when I do my final compiles (release builds),
using Build Solution, the child project is compiled first then the parent
project is compiled.

Do you have a documented case where the above does not work? I would be
curious to see it.

Hope this helps
Jay

"solex" <so***@nowhere. com> wrote in message
news:Oj******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP14.phx.gbl...

> Yes it does. When you select project it is simply for debugging. When
> you
> do a final compile you should first compile the child project and then
> reference the compiled assembly in the parent project.
>
> Dan
>
> " Just Me" <gr****@a-znet.com> wrote in message
> news:eU******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...
>> I have a solution containing many usercontrol projects.
>> When I wish to reference a usercontrol in another project I can select
>> either the project or the assembly.
>>
>> Does it make a difference which one I select?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
>
>