Assemblies in C#
Working with assemblies:
1)A collection of classes is called as a namespace
2)A collection of namespaces is called as an assembly
3)A collection of assemblies is called as FCL(Framework class library) (or) BCL
4)A dll file is called as an assembly
5)To add an assembly into the project
Goto project menu->add reference->.Net(or) browse->select a Dll file
6)Assemblies are reusable
7)Assemblies contains only reusable logic but not design
8)Assemblies supports lang interoperability i.e the assembly developed in C#, .Net can be used from any another .Net program language including asp.net
9)To develop assemblies, we required “class library project template
10)Assemblies are not executable, These are only reusable
11)Assemblies are divided into 3 types
a)private assemblies
b)shared assemblies
c)sattilite assemblies…required while working with globalization
12)The referred private assembly dlls will be copied automatically into current projects debug folder. In case of shared assemblies the dlls will not be copied
13)Private assemblies are faster in accessing and shared assemblies are memory wise more efficient
14)When ever only one project need to be developed for one client, Then recommended to use private assemblies
15)When ever more than one project need to be developed for same client, Then recommended to use shared assemblies
16)Using keyword loads the classes of only last specified namespace
Example on private assembly with multiple namespaces
Open class library project with project name pa:
Start->programs->Microsoft visual studio 2010->Microsoft Visual studio 2010->file menu->new->
project->select visual c# from installed templates->select class library template
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
namespace pa
{
public class paclass
{
public string pamethod()
{
return "form pamethod of paclass";
}
}
namespace sa // need to used as pa.sa
{
public class saclass
{
public string samethod()
{
return "from samethod of saclass";
}
}
}
}
Note: for every project by default a namespace will be created with the same name as project name
Steps for providing meta data:
Goto project menu->pa properties->application->click on “assembly information” button then provide the data as follows
Title: product management system
Description: having 2 namespaces, 2 classes and 2 methods
Company: perrs tech
Product: pms
Copy right: all the rights are reserved to u and me
Click on ok
Build the project
Goto build menu->build solution (or) build pa
Note: then pa.dll is created under drive\foldername\pa\bin\debug folder, which is by default private assembly
Steps to reuse pa.dll private assembly
Open windows forms application project:
Start->programs->Microsoft visual studio 2010->Microsoft Visual studio 2010->file menu->new->
project->select visual c# from installed templates->select windows forms application project
The project name patest
Place a button
Goto project menu->add reference->browse->pa.dll
Use two name spaces
using pa;
using pa.sa;
Code for button1_click
{
// to use the classes and methods etc..
Paclass p=new paclass();
Messagebox.show(p.pamethod());
Saclass s=new saclass();
Messagebox.show(s.samethod());
}
Goto F5
