Question

Share Functions Between Projects

Asked by: ssteeves

I was able to do this in VB6 by creating and referencing a DLL, but I'm stuck trying to do it in .NET.

I want to create some commonly used functions, and place them (On our Lan?) to be shared.  We will eventually have at least 200 separate programs running on our LAN, and we'd like to have the code for the main functions stored just once. That way, if a function changes, we don't have to update 200 programs.  Just the stored functions.

Can anyone help me with this one?

Thanks,

ssteeves

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Asked On
2003-10-08 at 06:47:20ID20760596
Tags

share

,

functions

,

projects

Topic

.NET

Participating Experts
7
Points
350
Comments
19

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Answers

 

by: jef06Posted on 2003-10-08 at 07:00:28ID: 9513351

You can use .Net Framework Enterprise Services

The best sample are From software Legend Juval Lowy

he has sample very well explain.

http://www.idesign.net/idesign/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=5&tabid=8

Check out Enterprise Services section

 

by: ssteevesPosted on 2003-10-08 at 07:18:07ID: 9513480

Wow...the topics on that page look a bit...advanced.  There were these examples under the "Enterprise Services" category:

 Loosely-coupled events: persistent subscriber
 Loosely-coupled events: transient subscriber
 Object pooling
 Queued components
 Transactional ASP.NET pages
 Transactional component
 Transactional context utility
 Transactional web services
 Transactions and Windows Forms
 Unified security model
 Utilities and helper classes

Any idea where I should start?

 

by: Joe_GriffithPosted on 2003-10-08 at 07:20:42ID: 9513498

You might consider simply linking the source code for the common routines into each project.  When you add an existing item to a project a file selection dialog shows up so you can select the existing file to be added.  If you select the file and click the open button a copy of the file is added to your project.  But if you select the file and click the little down arrow on the open button a menu is displayed that allows you to link the file into your project.  The original file stays whereever it is and multiple projects can be linked to the same file.  Changes made to the file will then be reflected in every project.

 

by: Joe_GriffithPosted on 2003-10-08 at 07:22:09ID: 9513511

If you had a common DLL in VB6 why not do the same thing in .NET?

 

by: ssteevesPosted on 2003-10-08 at 07:23:41ID: 9513519

Also, the examples on that page are in C#.  I need to do this in VB.NET, so I'm not sure how usefull those examples will be...

 

by: ssteevesPosted on 2003-10-08 at 07:32:13ID: 9513561

Well, I tried using the DLL in .NET.  The problem is this:

The DLL is located on our LAN.  I start a new .NET project, and add a reference to that DLL.  Then, when I deply the new application on our lan, and run it on another PC, I find that it's now looking for that DLL on the hard drive.  For some reason, VB.NET copies that DLL file that I reference to my HD instead of leaving it on the LAN...

 

by: morphinexPosted on 2003-10-08 at 08:13:43ID: 9513862

Have you tried looking into the "property" of your project with the referenced DLL that you want to utilize?  For example, under a solution, there can be many projects.  Under each project, each have its own property.  Within the property page, you'd find "References Path."  Stick in the common network path to search in for your project.

Hope this helps

 

by: bacon7181Posted on 2003-10-08 at 08:22:37ID: 9513917

 

by: ssteevesPosted on 2003-10-08 at 08:32:19ID: 9513990

Let me bounce this problem off you guys for a second.  Taking into account what Joe_Griffith said about linking to a source file...

I just tried creating a class project, and I added a simple function.  It just displays a message.  I placed that class project on the LAN.

I then created a new VB.NET Application.  I linked to the class I created using the linking method that Joe_Griffith mentioned.  The project then seemed to work.

HOWEVER,

If I now go back into my Class project, and modify that function, the windows EXE file for my application doesn't recognize the changes in the class function.  But if I go back into the VB.NET environment, it does.

So, anyone know why the compiled EXE doesn't use the new updated class file even though it's linked?  Or, does anyone know how I can add the class at runtime?  

Am I on the right track here?

 

by: bacon7181Posted on 2003-10-08 at 08:36:00ID: 9514015

Your problem stems from the solution to DLL Hell.

If a DLL changes and breaks an interface all applications that use that DLL will break.

So, .NET uses strong referencing making sure that your application gets the proper _version_ of the dll its referencing.  If you cange the DLL, its version changes your application doesnt get it.   I dont know the proper way to work around this but that is here your problem comes from.

 

by: ssteevesPosted on 2003-10-08 at 08:42:29ID: 9514066

Given the explaination of what I want to do, (ie Create functions on the LAN in one file, that can be shared by multiple projects), should I continue to use a DLL, or is there a better way, say by using Classes?

 

by: bacon7181Posted on 2003-10-08 at 08:52:18ID: 9514156

I believe the best way to go is a DLL.  I'm just not sure how to get around the versioning.

You will likely need to use late binding and use the Assembly.LoadFrom() method to specify the path of the DLL.  This is explained in that article I posted a link to above.

Thats my opinion.  There might be better ways to do what you want but I dont know them (yet).

 

by: bacon7181Posted on 2003-10-08 at 08:53:30ID: 9514160

Btw, I know the article uses an HTTP server as the source of the DLL but you can just as easily specify a network path or a local path.

 

by: jef06Posted on 2003-10-08 at 09:19:56ID: 9514374

I really think using enterprise services is the best approach for your problem.

you don't have to reinvent the wheel avery thing is built in.

go buy this book
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1861006179/002-9945281-3635212?v=glance

i didn't read it.

$10 used, good investment.

 

by: ssteevesPosted on 2003-10-08 at 11:16:26ID: 9515139

Okay, I need some more help here...

I have my ClassLibrary dll created, and stored on our LAN.  Lets say it's at S:\ClassLibrary.dll

On Load of my project, I want to load this DLL.  Then I want to be able to access it's functions.  For example, x.PrintMessage

Can anyone provide code to do this?  I've exhaused all previous suggestions...

Thanks,

ssteeves

 

by: malharonePosted on 2003-10-08 at 11:29:30ID: 9515233

use namespaces!!
have a project called "SharedLibrary"
in this project, put all the shared stuff
e.g.

' class Employee
Namespace SharedLibrary.Classes
  public class Employee
         ..
   end class
end namespace

Namespace SharedLibrary.Classes
  public class Client
         ..
   end class
end namespace


----------------
right click on the project where you wanto use this library, ADD REFERENCE. go to PROJECTS tab. it'll list the projects you have in your current solution (e.g. "SHARED_LIBRARY" project. if not you'll have to browse it). click the project in the list, click SELECT to "import" it. and click OK.

in the project where this shared stuff is being used,
type ..

imports SharedLibrary.classes
public class MyMainForm
   dim emp as new Employee()  '<--- this references the employee class in the namespace SharedLibrary.Classes.Employee
end class


hope this helps

malhar

 

by: inxniPosted on 2003-10-09 at 00:22:53ID: 9518841

try considering webservice, all you need is url of webservice in your app.config

 

by: TheLearnedOnePosted on 2004-01-13 at 10:10:49ID: 10106394

No comment has been added lately, so it's time to clean up this TA.
I will leave the following recommendation for this question in the Cleanup topic area:

Split: jef06 {http:#9513351} & Joe_Griffith {http:#9513498} & bacon7181 {http:#9514156} & malharone {http:#9515233}

Please leave any comments here within the next seven days.
PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS COMMENT AS AN ANSWER!

TheLearnedOne
EE Cleanup Volunteer

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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