C# Using Multiple Files in ASP.NET

Question

I have a file, Tools.cs, with a class in it, Tools. I use another file, Default.cs, as the codebehind to my Default.aspx. I've tried all of the below to use the tools file in the default file, but nothing works. How can I do this?

using Tools;
using Global.Tools; //Added namespace Global to my tools class
using Global;

EDIT: To be more throrough, here's some code.

//Tools.cs
namespace Global{
    public sealed class Tools{
     //Tools stuff
    }
}

//Default.cs

using System;
using System.Web.UI;
using Global; 

namespace Home{
    public class Default :Page{
        //Page stuff
    }
}

and I get the error:

Description: An error occurred during the compilation of a resource required to service this request. Please review the following specific error details and modify your source code appropriately.

Compiler Error Message: CS0246: The type or namespace name 'Global' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

I would strongly recommend using a namespace called something other than "Global". — mo.
– mo., Commented Feb 23, 2012 at 19:17
+1 Normally you will want to name namespace, parameter, property to something not a keyword or commonly use in programming language. — King Chan
– King Chan, Commented Feb 23, 2012 at 19:21
Yeah, in the final code I plan to. This doesn't fix anything though. The issue is, I believe, the Tools.cs isn't building. I'm doing all of this in notepad++ on a shared folder that reconciles to our webserver. — steventnorris
– steventnorris, Commented Feb 23, 2012 at 19:24

score 3 · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-23 19:15:36Z

3

The using directive isn't for files, it's for namespaces.

using YourToolsNamespace;

Where YourToolsNamespace is what contains your Tools class.

Edit: you will also need to have this in your project references. For instance, you can reference your code library from the GAC, another project, or a specific location. Right-click on references and find your assembly there.

edited Feb 23, 2012 at 19:15

answered Feb 23, 2012 at 19:09

user596075

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9 Comments

steventnorris Over a year ago

Yes, I know this. I've added the namespace Global around my class. But there has to be a reference to the file somehow, or the namespace isn't recognized. I've edited the above post to include a more thorough example and error code.

kaj Over a year ago

If you type "Global." (without quotes) does the intellisense recognise Tools as within that namespace? Are both classes in the same project? Is there any scope definition on Tools e.g. private/public?

steventnorris Over a year ago

There is no intellisense, no right click on references, or anything like that. I'm building this as raw files in notepad++ without any bells or whistles due to a lack of software. How do I add the reference so it knows to compile the Tools.cs so that the namespace is even visible?

user596075 Over a year ago

@steventnorris Do you not have the ability to download the free version of Visual C#? It'll save you a lot of heartache.

user596075 Over a year ago

@steventnorris I won't keep beating a dead horse, but Visual C# is free and you can easily install Visual Studio on top of it no problem.

|

Juan Ayala · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-23 19:50:39Z

1

If you are trying to reference it within the Default.aspx, edit your web.config

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<configuration>
    <system.web>
        <pages>
            <compilation debug="true" targetFramework="4.0" />
            <namespaces>
                <add namespace="WebApplication1.SubNamespace"/>
            </namespaces>
        </pages>
    </system.web>
</configuration>

and your class may look like this:

namespace WebApplication1.SubNamespace
{
    public static class Class1
    {
        public static string value { get { return "hello world!!"; } }
    }
}

this will make it referable within aspx markup like this:

<form id="form1" runat="server">
<div>
    <%= Class1.value %>
</div>
</form>

edited Feb 23, 2012 at 19:50

answered Feb 23, 2012 at 19:13

Juan Ayala

3,5482 gold badges22 silver badges25 bronze badges

5 Comments

steventnorris Over a year ago

Where can I find the web.config?

Juan Ayala Over a year ago

Its in the root of your web project. Is this your first .NET web app? :-)

steventnorris Over a year ago

No, it's the third or so, but I'm creating everything by hand so I have no web.config unless I make it (no Visual Studio yet. Waiting on an IS install so my hands are tied.)

Juan Ayala Over a year ago

oh ok :-) you are notepadding it I guess. I added the basic file to the answer. hope it helps!

steventnorris Over a year ago

Thanks. I think it's a build problem now though, based on some research. I see namespace references, but my problem is the Tools.cs isn't even compiling into a workable dll i believe.

Alex Mendez · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-23 20:09:15Z

1

Make sure your Tools class is set to compile in the Properties --> Build Action.

Also, to use it you may have to do something like this:

_Default.cs

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using ThisWorks.Fine;

public partial class _Default : System.Web.UI.Page
{
    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        Tools tools = new Tools();
    }
}

And

Tools.cs

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;

namespace ThisWorks.Fine
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Summary description for Tools
    /// </summary>
    public class Tools
    {
        public Tools() { }
        //Tools stuff
    }
}

edited Feb 23, 2012 at 20:09

answered Feb 23, 2012 at 19:16

Alex Mendez

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7 Comments

steventnorris Over a year ago

How do I set it to build? I'm using notepad++ to create this files raw. See above code edit for reference.

Alex Mendez Over a year ago

@steventnorris - If you are using notepad++ to create the files, how are you compiling? Can you post the command that you are using to compile the code?

steventnorris Over a year ago

The server compiles on the fly thus far using the codebehind and src tags. I could create a config file to compile maybe so i don't have to command line compile everthing every time???

Alex Mendez Over a year ago

@steventnorris - Please look at my changed code. It seems to work for me when i changed the namespace from Global to ThisWorks.Fine.

steventnorris Over a year ago

I'd imagine you're using an IDE like vis studio or something that compiles the .cs into a .dll and places it in the correct folder for you. I do not have this luxury right now, unfortunately. Is there a config file I can create to force the .cs to build to a .dll at the server level, just like the codebehind and src directives do?

|

Brad Falk · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-23 19:11:16Z

0

Make sure your Tools class is public.

answered Feb 23, 2012 at 19:11

Brad Falk

1963 bronze badges

2 Comments

Brad Falk Over a year ago

Ah, I see - sorry, I don't have experience creating applications outside of Visual Studio in this manner. By the way, there are free versions of Visual Studio: microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/products/2010-editions/express

steventnorris Over a year ago

Waiting on a clerance for spending. I'll have vis studio soon hopefully.

mo. · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-23 19:13:05Z

0

C# uses namespaces to separate classes. If you put both classes inside the same namespace, they'll be accessable to each other. Otherwise, use a using declaration as in your answer, but specify the namespace, not the filename.

//Tools.cs
namespace MyApp.CoreLogic
{
  class Tools
  {
    ...
  }
}

Then...

//Default.cs
namespace MyApp.FrontEnd
{
  using MyApp.CoreLogic

  class Default : Page
  {
    ...
  }
}

answered Feb 23, 2012 at 19:13

mo.

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Comments

kaj · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-23 19:28:21Z

0

OK, since you're developing in Notepad++ are you compiling using csc?

The syntax for the compilation should be something like:

csc /t:library /out:MyCodeLibrary.dll Tools.cs Default.cs

To see the options for csc look at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379563%28v=VS.80%29.aspx

Note that you can download Visual Studio Express for free and it'll make you much more productive and reduce the confusion in cases such as this.

answered Feb 23, 2012 at 19:28

kaj

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2 Comments

steventnorris Over a year ago

Hmm, I'm using a shared folder though, so my command line run wouldn't be on the server (not a server admin at the moment). Is there a config file that can be created to tell the server to compile itself?

kaj Over a year ago

I'm not aware of how this can be done remotely. But the source code shouldn't usually be on the server, only the aspx files and the compiled dll - you can create your project locally and then push it to the server to run. For a web project using Visual Studio you can run a local development web server, which will make you much more productive than developing in Notepad. Look at msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms228041%28v=VS.85%29.aspx for how to develop ASP.NET; it may give you some assistance.

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