Call DLL file included into the project

Question

I can add DLL file to C# my project resources , Then I need a way to call a function in this DLL without extract it outside the exe file.

Answer 1

That's really not what Resources are best used for.  Why not just reference the DLL and distribute it as part of your software package? 

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Answer 2

Just because. I need a solution to call it inside the exe file.

Answer 3

Is it a Win32 DLL or a .NET assembly.  If a .NET assembly you can certainly just use Assembly.Load(byte[])

David

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David http://blogs.msdn.com/b/dbrowne/

Answer 4

OK good. But then how to call a function or use anything inside DLL?

Answer 5

I just tested this out, and here's a simple process that appears to work. 

1) Change the reference to the target assembly to set "Copy Local" to False in order to prevent the assembly from being copied to your bin folder.

2) Add a file resource to your .EXE for the library, say "ClassLibrary1".

3) Add a pre-build step to copy the assembly to your resources folder, eg

copy "$(SolutionDir)ClassLibrary2\bin\Debug\ClassLibrary2.dll" "$(ProjectDir)Resources"

4) Add an AssemblyResolve event handler in your main program to load the assembly from the resource. eg

    class Program
    {
        private static Assembly MyResolveEventHandler(object sender, ResolveEventArgs args)
        {
            if (args.Name == "ClassLibrary2, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null")
            {
                var assembly = Assembly.Load(Properties.Resources.ClassLibrary2);
                return assembly;
            }
            return null;
        }

        static Program()
        {
            AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += MyResolveEventHandler;
        }

Then you can use the referenced assembly as you normally would, with a design-time referenced assembly.

David

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David http://blogs.msdn.com/b/dbrowne/

Answer 6

"Then you can use the referenced assembly as you normally would" How?

I use "Assembly.Load()" already

Answer 7

>"Then you can use the referenced assembly as you normally would" How?

By setting a reference to the library (With Copy Local=False) and then just referencing types defined in that library.  Eg

   var c = new ClassLibrary2.Class1();
   c.Foo();

The alternative is to use reflection

   var assembly = Assembly.Load(Properties.Resources.ClassLibrary2);
   dynamic obj = assembly.CreateInstance("ClassLibrary2.Class1");
   obj.Foo();

David

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David http://blogs.msdn.com/b/dbrowne/

Answer 8

Doesn't work with class without constructors. It gives me this exception error

"Constructor on type 'MyClass' not found."

I have to call static method inside the DLL.

And later if I add two DLL files , and the first DLL calls the second one and I don't have access to the second , First file will call Second normally from resources or must do something?

Answer 9

I just tested this out, and here's a simple process that appears to work. 

1) Change the reference to the target assembly to set "Copy Local" to False in order to prevent the assembly from being copied to your bin folder.

2) Add a file resource to your .EXE for the library, say "ClassLibrary1".

3) Add a pre-build step to copy the assembly to your resources folder, eg

copy "$(SolutionDir)ClassLibrary2\bin\Debug\ClassLibrary2.dll" "$(ProjectDir)Resources"

4) Add an AssemblyResolve event handler in your main program to load the assembly from the resource. eg

    class Program
    {
        private static Assembly MyResolveEventHandler(object sender, ResolveEventArgs args)
        {
            if (args.Name == "ClassLibrary2, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null")
            {
                var assembly = Assembly.Load(Properties.Resources.ClassLibrary2);
                return assembly;
            }
            return null;
        }

        static Program()
        {
            AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += MyResolveEventHandler;
        }

Then you can use the referenced assembly as you normally would, with a design-time referenced assembly.

David

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David http://blogs.msdn.com/b/dbrowne/

Don't want to thread hijack, but this is of use to me as well.

Can you output that for VB.NET David?

I'm assuming you would use standard Reflection commands afterwards, correct?

Answer 10

If you want to call a static method through reflection, it would be something like this:

            var type = assembly.GetType("ClassLibrary2.Class1");
            var methodInfo = type.GetMethod("Bar");
            methodInfo.Invoke(null, null);

David

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David http://blogs.msdn.com/b/dbrowne/

Answer 11

Now it gives me this exception error :D

"Ambiguous match found."

I think because it has overloaded methods.

Answer 12

>Can you output that for VB.NET David?

Something like

Class Whatever
    Private Shared Function MyResolveEventHandler(sender As Object, args As ResolveEventArgs) As Assembly
        If args.Name = "ClassLibrary2, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null" Then
            Dim asm = Assembly.Load(My.Resources.ClassLibrary2)
            Return asm
        End If
        Return Nothing
    End Function

    Shared Sub New()
        AddHandler AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve, AddressOf MyResolveEventHandler
    End Sub

With help from http://converter.telerik.com/

David

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David http://blogs.msdn.com/b/dbrowne/