Embedding DLL's into .exe in in Visual C# 2010

Question

I\'m working on a C# program that uses iTextSharp.dll and WebCam_Capture.dll. When I build the program, it creates executable in the debug folder and it also copies these tw

Answer 1

Add this anonymous function code on the top of our application constructor. This will add dll from embedded resource in same project.

AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += (sender, args) =>
{
    string resourceName = new AssemblyName(args.Name).Name + ".dll";
    string resource = Array.Find(this.GetType().Assembly.GetManifestResourceNames(), element => element.EndsWith(resourceName));

    using (var stream = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream(resource))
    {
        Byte[] assemblyData = new Byte[stream.Length];
        stream.Read(assemblyData, 0, assemblyData.Length);
        return Assembly.Load(assemblyData);
    }
};

Answer 2

You can use ILMerge to merge multiple assemblies together. You've already said you did this, and you've received an error. Though I don't know why, you can use an alternative: if the libraries are open source (and their licenses are compatible with yours), you can download the source code, add it to your project and compile. This will result in a single assembly.

The ILMerge page also lists Jeffrey Richter's blog as yet another alternative to solve your issue:

Many applications consist of an EXE file that depends on many DLL files. When deploying this application, all the files must be deployed. However, there is a technique that you can use to deploy just a single EXE file. First, identify all the DLL files that your EXE file depends on that do not ship as part of the Microsoft .NET Framework itself. Then add these DLLs to your Visual Studio project. For each DLL file you add, display its properties and change its “Build Action” to “Embedded Resource.” This causes the C# compiler to embed the DLL file(s) into your EXE file, and you can deploy this one EXE file.

At runtime, the CLR won’t be able to find the dependent DLL assemblies, which is a problem. To fix this, when your application initializes, register a callback method with the AppDomain’s ResolveAssembly event. The code should look something like this:

AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += (sender, args) => { 
   String resourceName = "AssemblyLoadingAndReflection." + 
       new AssemblyName(args.Name).Name + ".dll"; 
   using (var stream = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly()
                               .GetManifestResourceStream(resourceName)) { 
      Byte[] assemblyData = new Byte[stream.Length]; 
      stream.Read(assemblyData, 0, assemblyData.Length); 
      return Assembly.Load(assemblyData); 
   }   
}; 

Now, the first time a thread calls a method that references a type in a dependent DLL file, the AssemblyResolve event will be raised and the callback code shown above will find the embedded DLL resource desired and load it by calling an overload of Assembly’s Load method that takes a Byte[] as an argument.

Answer 3

I modified Pablo's code a little bit and it worked for me.
It was not getting the DLL's resource name correctly.

IDictionary<string, Assembly> _libs = new Dictionary<string, Assembly>();

public Form1()
{
    AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += new ResolveEventHandler(CurrentDomain_AssemblyResolve);
    InitializeComponent();
}

// dll handler
System.Reflection.Assembly CurrentDomain_AssemblyResolve(object sender, ResolveEventArgs args)
{
    string keyName = new AssemblyName(args.Name).Name;

    // If DLL is loaded then don't load it again just return
    if (_libs.ContainsKey(keyName)) return _libs[keyName];

    using (Stream stream = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly()
           .GetManifestResourceStream(GetDllResourceName("itextsharp.dll")))  // <-- To find out the Namespace name go to Your Project >> Properties >> Application >> Default namespace
    {
        byte[] buffer = new BinaryReader(stream).ReadBytes((int)stream.Length);
        Assembly assembly = Assembly.Load(buffer);
        _libs[keyName] = assembly;
        return assembly;
    }
}

private string GetDllResourceName(string dllName)
{
    string resourceName = string.Empty;
    foreach (string name in Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceNames())
    {
        if (name.EndsWith(dllName))
        {
            resourceName = name;
            break;
        }
    }

    return resourceName;
}

Answer 4

I know that topic is old but i'll write it for future persons that will want to use it.

i base on code by userSteve.

i would suggest to change this.

String thisExe = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().Name;

into this

String thisExe = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().EntryPoint.DeclaringType.Namespace;

that way it would work even if namespace is different than assembly name

also if you want to use DLL from directory you can use it like that (directory Resources as Example)

String resourceName = thisExe + ".Resources." + embeddedAssembly.Name + ".dll";

if you still can't find where place this code in C# Form application paste it inside file "Program.cs" above line:

Application.Run(new Form_1());

and below lines:

Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);

Answer 5

The answer you are looking for:

// To embed a dll in a compiled exe:
// 1 - Change the properties of the dll in References so that Copy Local=false
// 2 - Add the dll file to the project as an additional file not just a reference
// 3 - Change the properties of the file so that Build Action=Embedded Resource
// 4 - Paste this code before Application.Run in the main exe
AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += (Object sender, ResolveEventArgs args) =>
    {
        String thisExe = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().Name;
        System.Reflection.AssemblyName embeddedAssembly = new System.Reflection.AssemblyName(args.Name);
        String resourceName = thisExe + "." + embeddedAssembly.Name + ".dll";

        using (var stream = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream(resourceName))
        {
            Byte[] assemblyData = new Byte[stream.Length];
            stream.Read(assemblyData, 0, assemblyData.Length);
            return System.Reflection.Assembly.Load(assemblyData);
        }
    };

Answer 6

You didn't reference using WPF, but if you are, this could be the cause of your error. If not, ILMerge should work fine for you. If you are using WPF, here is a solution that works well:

http://blogs.interknowlogy.com/2011/07/13/merging-a-wpf-application-into-a-single-exe/