ILMerge Error Windows Phone 8 Unresolved assembly reference

Question

I am trying to merge some .net assemblies for Windows Phone 8 using ILMerge.exe (2.12.0803). On their own all assemblies work fine. I can successfully merge assembles which do not contain references to the Windows.Networking namespace as follows:

.\ILMerge.exe /lib:"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\WindowsPhone\v8.0" /out:.\WP8\%1\MathToolbox.dll .\%1\MathBase.dll .\%1\PolyFunctions.dll

As soon as I try to include a DLL which uses the Windows.Networking namspace as follows:

.\ILMerge.exe /lib:"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\WindowsPhone\v8.0" /out:.\WP8\%1\MathToolbox.dll .\%1\MathBase.dll .\%1\PolyFunctions.dll .\%1\RemoteTools.dll

I am recieving the following exception:

An exception occurred during merging: Unresolved assembly reference not allowed: Windows. at System.Compiler.Ir2md.GetAssemblyRefIndex(AssemblyNode assembly) at System.Compiler.Ir2md.GetTypeRefIndex(TypeNode type) at System.Compiler.Ir2md.VisitReferencedType(TypeNode type) at System.Compiler.Ir2md.VisitClass(Class Class) at System.Compiler.Ir2md.VisitModule(Module module) at System.Compiler.Ir2md.SetupMetadataWriter(String debugSymbolsLocation) at System.Compiler.Ir2md.WritePE(Module module, String debugSymbolsLocation, BinaryWriter writer) at System.Compiler.Writer.WritePE(String location, Boolean writeDebugSymbols, Module module, Boolean delayS ign, String keyFileName, String keyName) at System.Compiler.Writer.WritePE(CompilerParameters compilerParameters, Module module) at ILMerging.ILMerge.Merge() at ILMerging.ILMerge.Main(String[] args)

Having done some reading this exception suggets ILMerge is unable to locate the Windows.Networking assemblies. I have attempted adding various different flags to ILMERGE including:

.\ILMerge.exe /lib:"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\WindowsPhone\v8.0" /targetplatform:v4,"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\Silverlight\v4.0\Profile\WindowsPhone71" /out:.\WP8\%1\MathToolbox.dll .\%1\MathBase.dll .\%1\PolyFunctions.dll .\%1\RemoteTools.dll

But still get the same exception. If anyone has any suggestions that would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I don't think ILMerge actually works with other than pure .NET assemblies, especially when Windows Phone 8 and WinRT projects uses referenced native libraries - that might be that not found "Windows" unresolved assembly.

Answer 2

The error indicates that ILMerge cannot find the platform's Windows.winmd. When compiling a Windows Phone or Windows Store project, you compile against two main things; The Platform SDK (WinRT) and a .NET SDK. Any tools that run over these assemblies will need both.

In addition to passing the .NET assembly folder, try passing "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Phone Kits\8.0\Windows Metadata directory" as a lib argument.

Make note, ILMerge is based on an older version of CCI (http://ccimetadata.codeplex.com/) so even after doing above, may still have trouble consuming the WinRT metadata format which is slightly different to .NET's.