How To Add Refrence In Run Time

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how can i add an assembly(dll) as reference in a C# project at run time.?! i need to add a reference at run time.!? i.e normally we add references by Right-Clicking References in Solution Explorer and we can browse for any dll and add it in references. i need to do this using code.

Posted 23-Nov-11 9:03am

behzad vosughi

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Sander Rossel · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-23T09:25:00

Solution 1

I guess what you want is load an Assembly[^] at run time.
Assembly.Load[^]
Assembly.LoadFrom[^]
Using Reflection[^] you can loop through its types and instantiate Objects from it, possibly using the Activator Class[^] and Activator.CreateInstance Method[^].
Hope it helps :)

Posted 23-Nov-11 9:25am

Sander Rossel

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fjdiewornncalwe 23-Nov-11 15:28pm

I was actually just looking for a project where I did this a while back to ensure I remembered correctly how to do this. Your answer is exactly what worked.

Sander Rossel 23-Nov-11 15:35pm

Glad to be of help :)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 23-Nov-11 22:38pm

I agree, voted 5. However, there are some aspects which makes it more complex than it may seem.
Please see my solution.
--SA

Sander Rossel 24-Nov-11 2:28am

Thanks :)

Mehdi Gholam 24-Nov-11 1:52am

5'ed

Sander Rossel 24-Nov-11 2:28am

Thanks Mehdi :)

Uday P.Singh 24-Nov-11 13:46pm

5ed :)

Sander Rossel 24-Nov-11 14:27pm

Thanks Uday :)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-23T16:37:00

Solution 2

The solution by Naerling is correct: the referenced assembly is a static thing; all you can do it loading assembly during run-time and using Reflection. Unfortunately, you cannot unload such assembly, is you need something like reloadable plugins, you will also need to load assembles in a separate Application Domain and use IPC, as Application Domains are isolated from each other the same was as separate processes. You can unload only the whole Application Domain with all its code linked statically or during run-time.

For more detail, see my past solutions:
Create WPF Application that uses Reloadable Plugins...[^],
AppDomain refuses to load an assembly[^],
code generating using CodeDom[^],
Dynamically Load User Controls[^].

—SA

Posted 23-Nov-11 16:37pm

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

v2

Comments

Mehdi Gholam 24-Nov-11 1:52am

5'ed

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 24-Nov-11 1:59am

Thank you, Mehdi.
--SA

Sander Rossel 24-Nov-11 2:33am

Interesting. Never used AppDomains myself, but as I read they can be pretty handy in cases like these. 5ed.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 24-Nov-11 2:36am

It's critically important for this very case (unloading an assembly) -- there is absolutely no another way.
Thank you, Naerling.
--SA

Sander Rossel 24-Nov-11 2:57am

I think I'll have another look at AppDomain sometime :)

Uday P.Singh 24-Nov-11 13:47pm

5ed :)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 24-Nov-11 14:23pm

Thank you, Uday.
--SA