I have a Visual Studio 2017 C++ project which depends on ffmpeg libraries. As of now it crashes at run time because of the missing dependency avformat-58.dll. I've tried adding this file into the project by dragging it into my project but that does not suffice. I tried looking at the Add Reference screen but it is empty. What can I do?
On the advice of #HansPassant I added the dll(s) to the project as existing external files. I think there should now be an option somewhere to "Copy to output directory" but I'm not seeing it. Here is what I see when I open property pages of one of the dlls.
#sellotape Here is a screenshot of the window when I just single click.
According to this documentation https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/Dlls/dynamic-link-library-search-order I can copy the necessary dlls to any directory in the PATH environment variable. There were many dlls already in C:/Windows/System32 already so I just put the ffmpeg dlls there as well and the executable runs.
This is not so much a question but rather a comment since I've found the answer already.
Problem:
I was moving a VS2008 project to VS2010, which uses the Microsoft.ManagementConsole namespace. The reference of the project targeted the DLL registered in the GAC, namely the file C:\WINDOWS\assembly\GAC_MSIL\Microsoft.ManagementConsole\3.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35\Microsoft.ManagementConsole.dll. However VS2010 did not accept the reference anymore, even though I checked that the DLL was still in the GAC with the command gacutil /l.
Solution:
On MSDN: How-To Create a Hello World Snap-in I found a hint in a comment. Instead of linking the DLL in the GAC, I'd rather link the original DLL in the folder C:\Program Files\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\mmc\v3.0\microsoft.managementconsole.dll. Builds like a charm.
Hope this helps somebody with the same problem!
I need to put a dll file into my project, my notes say simply drag the dll into the toolbox but it doesn't seem to be working.
How do i do this?
thanks.
You use the "References" item in the Solution Explorer to add a reference to it; Right-click and choose to Add Reference. There is an option there to select the DLL file.
When you do this, by default the DLL is copied and included in the project's output, which is what you usually want for a .NET Assembly, anyway.
Which reminds me to ask to make sure; Are you talking about a .NET Assembly DLL here? Things could be quite different if you mean a native code DLL.
Put the DLL into the root of your ASP.NET project, then make a regular .NET reference to it. Once you click "Add Reference..." you'll get to the .NET assemblies tab in the reference dialog. Then you click "Browse" which should open up the root directory of the project. In there you'll find the DLL you want to use, select it and ok out of everything. Visual Studio will then copy the DLL into the bin directory for you and the code that uses that assembly will then work.
<%#RegisterAssembly="(DLL Name)"Namespace="(Namespace from Object Browser)"TagPrefix="(Any Prefix)" %>
Is there a way to update the PDB file with the new source location ? I have a project which links to some libraries which are built on another machine and are debug build with the PDB file. I cannot put a breakpoint in the files which are compiled in the libs. These libs take more than 4 hours to build so I dont want to buid them on my machine. Is there a way where i can make the compiler use the new source paths. I am using VS 2005 pro c++.
Thanks
Amit
Instead of modifying the .pdb files to adjust to where you have your source, you should be able to make the debugger see the new source path. Look here for instructions on doing this in Visual Studio, and here for instructions on doing this in WinDbg.
Another this StackOverflow question: Best Visual Studio 2008 Debugging Tutorial.
Is the debugger picking up the .pdb files from the wrong location? Do you have a copy of the .pdb files that match the binaries (i.e. .exe, .dll) that you are executing? Keep in mind that the .pdb files can only be used if they were created at the same time as the exact binaries you are executing.
Try the following:
Rename the (stale) .pdb file that the debugger wants to load, so the debugger will no longer try to pick it up.
Go to Tools->Options->Debugging->Symbols and add the symbol file (.pdb) location to the list.
If the debugger is already attached, right click on the module in the "Modules" list and click "Load symbols". This will re-load the symbols from the path you entered.
Also, if you know the code is exactly the same, but your .pdb file doesn't match the binaries you are using because they were created during different builds, try un-checking the following checkbox:
Tools->Options->Debugging->Require source files to exactly match the original version
This assembly is in the GAC: Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.RegisteredServers.dll
How can I add a reference to this assembly in Visual Studio?
I can view the file in c:\windows\assembly\
As the others said, most of the time you won't want to do that because it doesn't copy the assembly to your project and it won't deploy with your project. However, if you're like me, and trying to add a reference that all target machines have in their GAC but it's not a .NET Framework assembly:
Open the windows Run dialog (Windows Key + r)
Type C:\Windows\assembly\gac_msil. This is some sort of weird hack that lets you browse your GAC. You can only get to it through the run dialog. Hopefully my spreading this info doesn't eventually cause Microsoft to patch it and block it. (Too paranoid? :P)
Find your assembly and copy its path from the address bar.
Open the Add Reference dialog in Visual Studio and choose the Browse tab.
Paste in the path to your GAC assembly.
I don't know if there's an easier way, but I haven't found it. I also frequently use step 1-3 to place .pdb files with their GAC assemblies to make sure they're not lost when I later need to use Remote Debugger.
Registering assmblies into the GAC does not then place a reference to the assembly in the add references dialog. You still need to reference the assembly by path for your project, the main difference being you do not need to use the copy local option, your app will find it at runtime.
In this particular case, you just need to reference your assembly by path (browse) or if you really want to have it in the add reference dialog there is a registry setting where you can add additional paths.
Note, if you ship your app to someone who does not have this assembly installed you will need to ship it, and in this case you really need to use the SharedManagementObjects.msi redistributable.
I've created a tool which is completely free, that will help you to achieve your goal. Muse VSReferences will allow you to add a Global Assembly Cache reference to the project from Add GAC Reference menu item.
Hope this helps Muse VSExtensions
In VS2010, from the Add Rerences window you can click 'Browse' and navigate to C:\Windows\Assembly and add references to the assemblies that you want. Please note that the files may be grouped under different folders like GAC, GAC_32, GAC_64, GAC_MSIL etc.
In VS, right click your project, select "Add Reference...", and you will see all the namespaces that exist in your GAC. Choose Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.RegisteredServers and click OK, and you should be good to go
EDIT:
That is the way you want to do this most of the time. However, after a bit of poking around I found this issue on MS Connect. MS says it is a known deployment issue, and they don't have a work around. The guy says if he copies the dll from the GAC folder and drops it in his bin, it works.
The only way that worked for me, is by copying the dll into your desktop or something, add reference to it, then delete the dll from your desktop.
Visual Studio will refresh itself, and will finally reference the dll from the GAC on itself.
Assuming you alredy tried to "Add Reference..." as explained above and did not succeed, you can have a look here. They say you have to meet some prerequisites:
- .NET 3.5 SP1
- Windows Installer 4.5
EDIT: According to this post it is a known issue.
And this could be the solution you're looking for :)
May be it's too late to answer, but i found a very simple way to do this(without a hack).
Put your dll in GAC (for 3.5 Drag Drop inside "C:\Windows\assembly\")
GoTo Projects --> Properties
Click Reference Path (for 3.5 it's "C:\Windows\assembly\")
and Build
Hope it helps
The relevant files and references can be found here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc283981.aspx
Note the links off it about implementation/etc.
I found this extension for VS 2013 Vitevic GAC Reference.