How to use references when compiling c# code via command line

Question

Could anyone help me compile via command line some c# files? I have 4 files to compile, Main, Form1 (which uses 2.cs file) and another class used in the project.

I would like to compile this project in command line so I could add the /t:library switch (like in this tutorial: http://dotnetslackers.com/articles/csharp/WritingAnActiveXControlInCSharp.aspx).

However after using "csc /t:library Program1.cs MainForm.cs MainForm.Designer.cs EigenObjectRecognizer.cs" I get missing assembly reference errros such as these:

\Project\FaceRecProOVaspVer\FaceRecProOV\MainForm.cs(14,15): error CS0234: The type or namespace name 'Structure' does not exist
    in the namespace 'Emgu.CV' (are you missing an assembly reference?)

I do have installed EMGU binaries installed. I would think I need to use some .dll's from that folder like EMGU.CV.dll?

When you have a Main and a Form1 you most likely do not want /t:library — Henk Holterman
– Henk Holterman, Commented May 11, 2012 at 21:57

Alexei Levenkov · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-11 22:21:51Z

12

To reference a library on the command line you need to use the /r: compiler option and pass the relative path to the library. Assuming it's in the same directory you can do the following

csc /r:EMGU.CV.dll /t:library Program1.cs MainForm.cs MainForm.Designer.cs EigenObjectRecognizer.cs

Documentation: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/yabyz3h4. Short version of documentation available directly from command line by specifying /?: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\csc /?

edited May 11, 2012 at 22:21

Alexei Levenkov

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answered May 11, 2012 at 21:56

JaredPar

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4 Comments

Iuli Over a year ago

Thank you kindly. How would I add more than 1 .dll library reference? I tried just placing the next one in continuation, but I get an error. I used csc /r:Emgu.CV.Dll Emgu.CV.UI.dll. Would the correct syntax be adding /r: to every library?

JaredPar Over a year ago

@luli yes you'd need to add a /r: for every library you want to reference

informatik01 Over a year ago

@luli Actually you can use semi-colon to separate multiple dll files. It is described in the "Referencing External Assemblies Using /reference" section of the following article on MSDN: Working with the C# 2.0 Command Line Compiler. Although it refers to C# 2.0, but hopefully csc.exe in modern versions still has this feature.

Shameel Mohamed Over a year ago

What if I want to add a reference to an already available assembly, specifically System.Printing. How should the command line be?

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