VSCode c# add reference to custom assembly

Question

in Visual Studio Code I simply want to add a reference to an custom c# assembly like

\"../libs/mylib.dll\"

how can I add this

Answer 1

I create a project with dotnet and then open it with Visual Studio 2019. Then click project, Add reference, browse to Dll, then save project (save a solution incase you want to open it again with file) Now open it with vscode.

Answer 2

simpler, just add the following:

1) modify the myproject.csproj file

    <ItemGroup>
     <Reference Include="DllComunVb2008">
       <HintPath>..\Dlls\DllComunVb2008.dll</HintPath>
     </Reference>
    </ItemGroup>

2) Add the using of the library you are going to use. Example: using Dllcomun;

Answer 3

I finally found a way to reference any .net assembly within visual studio code.

First to note: I only need the vscode for the intellisense. I will not compile the assembly in vscode /.netcore. When I'm done with coding, I will use commandline-tools to generate my assembly.

And this is my solution:

1. Create an regular .net class library with Visual studio (not code) This will create an myproject.csproj-file (wich can be read by vscode). Or use my test.csproj-file at the bottom of the post.

2. create an folder for the referenced assemblies. I've just created an libs-directory inside the top-directory.

3. close vs and open the folder with vscode.

4. modify the *.csproj-file as followed:

note: we've created the project in debug-mode, so we can remove the release-property-group:

4.2. remove the Release-PropertyGroup (you don't have to, but you don't need it)

<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
    <DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
    <Optimize>true</Optimize>
    <OutputPath>bin\Release\</OutputPath>
    <DefineConstants>TRACE</DefineConstants>
    <ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
    <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
  </PropertyGroup>

4.3. Modify the bin-output-path to the libs-directory

from

<OutputPath>bin\Debug\</OutputPath>

to

<OutputPath>libs</OutputPath>

4.4. put your referencing .net assembly (external or custom) in the libs-directory and references them like:

...
</PropertyGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Reference Include="log4net">
      <SpecificVersion>False</SpecificVersion>
      <HintPath>log4net.dll</HintPath>
    </Reference>
    ...
  </ItemGroup>
...

this is the complete *.csproj file with reference to an log4net.dll.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="12.0" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
  <Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props" Condition="Exists('$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props')" />
  <PropertyGroup>
    <Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
    <Platform Condition=" '$(Platform)' == '' ">AnyCPU</Platform>
    <ProjectGuid>{75278D05-4850-4282-8AB4-3643A9E799FF}</ProjectGuid>
    <OutputType>Library</OutputType>
    <AppDesignerFolder>Properties</AppDesignerFolder>
    <RootNamespace>Test</RootNamespace>
    <AssemblyName>Test</AssemblyName>
    <TargetFrameworkVersion>v4.6</TargetFrameworkVersion>
    <FileAlignment>512</FileAlignment>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
    <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
    <DebugType>full</DebugType>
    <Optimize>false</Optimize>
    <OutputPath>libs</OutputPath>
    <DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
    <ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
    <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Reference Include="log4net">
      <SpecificVersion>False</SpecificVersion>
      <HintPath>log4net.dll</HintPath>
    </Reference>
    <Reference Include="System" />
    <Reference Include="System.Core" />
    <Reference Include="System.Runtime.Serialization" />
    <Reference Include="System.Xml.Linq" />
    <Reference Include="System.Data.DataSetExtensions" />
    <Reference Include="Microsoft.CSharp" />
    <Reference Include="System.Data" />
    <Reference Include="System.Xml" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Compile Include="myassembly.cs" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
  </ItemGroup>
  <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
  <!-- To modify your build process, add your task inside one of the targets below and uncomment it. 
       Other similar extension points exist, see Microsoft.Common.targets.
  <Target Name="BeforeBuild">
  </Target>
  <Target Name="AfterBuild">
  </Target>
  -->
</Project>