Create a Tool to Get the Full Name of an Assembly

Title: Create a Tool to Get the Full Name of an Assembly

Details: Here is a wonderful way to create a tool to get the full name of an assembly provided by Microsoft ( original link ). Create a command line project and name it as GetAssemblyName using the below code. Below are few screenshots how it looks like ( output ) after you create it.

#1 Adding the tool to the External Tools on your Visual Studio 2010

#2 Linking the Tool

#3 Using the tool and output

Code:

using System;
using System.Reflection;
using System.IO;

namespace GetAssemblyName
{
    class Program
    {
        static void PrintUsage()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Usage: GetAssemblyName.exe \n");
            Console.WriteLine(@"Example: GetAssemblyName.exe C:\MyAssembly.dll");
            Console.Read();
        }

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            if (args.Length < 1 || args[0] == "?")
            {
                PrintUsage();
                return;
            }
            
            string filename = args[0];

            try
            {
                AssemblyName an = AssemblyName.GetAssemblyName(filename);
                Console.WriteLine("Fully specified assembly name:\n");
                Console.WriteLine(an.ToString());
            }
            catch (FileNotFoundException)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Cannot locate the assembly. Check the path and try again.");
            }

            Console.Read();
        }
    }
}

To add a Get Assembly Full Name item to the Tools menu

• In Visual Studio, select External Tools from the Tools menu.



• In the External Tools dialog, click Add and enter Get Assembly Full Name for the Title.



• Fill the Command textbox by browsing to GetAssemblyName.exe.



• In the Arguments textbox, type the following (which is case sensitive): $(TargetPath)



• Enable the Use Output window checkbox. Click OK.



• The new command is added to the Tools menu.

Technorati Tags: Tools,Visual Studio 2010