C# Application - Custom Assembly Version Format

Question

Bit of an odd one maybe, but currently looking into if it is possible to implement a custom format for the Assembly Information for a project.

In the Assembly information you are given the option of a 4 number system, so major.minor.build.revision

I have been asked to try and change this to a 5 number system, so something like 1.2.34.556.1234 and wondering whether this is even possible.

I have simply tried just modifying it programmatically, but that just returns the error:

Error emitting 'System.Reflection.AssemblyVersionAttribute' attribute -- 'The version specified '1.2.34.556.1234' is invalid'

Answer 1

For that purpose, I prefer using the AssemblyFileVersion instead of the AssemblyVersion.

The former has an open format and can accommodate virtually any additional information, whereas the latter, AssmeblyVersion is intended for use by the .NET framework and enforces a strict numbering scheme that yields compiler errors if infracted.

[assembly: AssemblyVersion("4.0.*")] //Strict Format, for framework use
[assembly: AssemblyFileVersion("4.0.20.110708")]    //Flexible Format more suitable for product versions

Update: Per OP comment, here is how one can access this attribute easily via reflection:

Assembly assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
FileVersionInfo fvi = FileVersionInfo.GetVersionInfo(assembly.Location);
string version = fvi.FileVersion;

Answer 2

This will not work because the constructor for AssemblyVersionAttribute takes up to 4 values in the string.:

The format of the version string is: major. minor. build. revision.

MSDN Link

Answer 3

AssemblyVersionAttribute is converted to the Version class.

It has only the major,minor,build,revision number: you cannot use 5 numbers.

If you want to use more numbers you can use the AssemblyInformationalVersion

It is not a Version Class but a string for a more descriptive assembly versioning:

[assembly: AssemblyInformationalVersion("1.12.0.3050.1234 Release - Any CPU")]

But you should provide anyway AssemblyVersion and/or AssemblyFileVersion without the 5th number