How do you use GAC'd assemblies as references with csc.exe?

Question

I'm compiling from csc.exe (well, CruiseControl is...), and I need to reference a DLL in the GAC. I do not have the correct version of this DLL as a simple file, but there is a correct version in the GAC.

However, you can't reference assemblies in the GAC with csc -- you have to have the path to the actual file.

I've found some references that claim you can reverse engineer the path to the actual file, but I haven't been able to get them work. I fired up Fusion logging, and I can see where the runtime is getting the file from, but using a filepath to that location in my reference does not work.

So, how do you provide csc with a reference to an assembly version that only exists in the GAC?

Answer 1

I had a similar problem. The solution I used was to open a command prompt and change directory to something like the following (change it depending on which assembly you want):

C:\WINDOWS\assembly\GAC_MSIL\System.Web.Extensions\3.5.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35\

You can then copy the DLL in this directory somewhere outside the GAC.

Answer 2

I'd recommend using Nant or MSBuild and just use the .csproj file generated by visual studio. Then simply get CruiseControl to use your Nant script. Below is an extract from a Nant script I wrote,

<csc target="library" output="${basedir}/bin/${basename}.dll" debug="${debug}" optimize="true">
  <sources>
    <include name="src/app/**/*.cs"/>
  </sources>
  <references refid="My.Assemblies" />
</csc>

and the references

      <assemblyfileset id="My.Assemblies"><include name="System.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.Configuration.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.Core.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.Data.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.Data.DataSetExtensions.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.Drawing.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.EnterpriseServices.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.Web.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.Web.Extensions.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.Web.Mobile.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.Web.Services.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.Xml.dll"></include>
    <include name="System.Linq.dll"></include>
</assemblyfileset>

Answer 3

When I compiled against the Excel PIA's, I used this path to specify a reference on the command line for csc.exe: C:\windows\assembly\GAC\Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel\11.0.0.0__71e9bce111e9429c\Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.dll

The compile succeeded.

?? Does this not work for you?