ILMerge generated assembly doesn't run, although log output reports no errors - why is this?

Question

I\'m testing out ILMerge for a new project, and although the .exe file seems to be created correctly, it won\'t run.

I have installed ILMerge via the .msi installer (fou

Answer 1

A fully self-contained executable can be created in Visual Studio 2010 easily, and this method does not require ILMerge at all.

Steps:

• Create an empty executable project
• Add your DLLs (and your EXE file) as resources. (Right click on project's name in Solution Explorer, Properties, Resources, Add Resource)

After this Visual Studio will auto-create a new class called Resources, which you have to use in your new project.

• Add the two methods below to Program.cs to make the final application work.

Then you have to compile your program with Visual Studio and that's it.

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    // Load your assembly with the entry point from resources:
    Assembly start = Assembly.Load((byte[]) Properties.Resources.NameOfDllOrExeInYourResources);
    Type t = start.GetType("Foo.Bar.Program");

    // Install the resolver event
    AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += new ResolveEventHandler(CurrentDomain_AssemblyResolve);

    // Find Program.Main in the loaded assembly
    MethodInfo m = t.GetMethod("Main", BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Static);

    // Launch the application
    m.Invoke(null, new object[] { args });
}

static Assembly CurrentDomain_AssemblyResolve(object sender, ResolveEventArgs args)
{
    string assemblyName = new AssemblyName(args.Name).Name.Replace('.', '_');

    // Locate and load the contents of the resource 
    byte[] assemblyBytes = (byte[]) Properties.Resources.ResourceManager.GetObject(assemblyName, Properties.Resources.Culture);

    // Return the loaded assembly
    return Assembly.Load(assemblyBytes);
}