I've written this simple function to automate the compilation of a single exe assembly with an embedded resource:
Public Shared Function CompileAssembly(ByVal codeProvider As CodeDomProvider,
ByVal isExecutable As Boolean,
ByVal targetFile As String,
Optional ByVal resources As IEnumerable(Of String) = Nothing,
Optional ByVal code As String = "") As CompilerResults
Dim cp As New CompilerParameters
With cp
' Generate an exe or a dll.
.GenerateExecutable = isExecutable
' Set the assembly file name to generate.
.OutputAssembly = targetFile
' Set compiler argument to optimize output.
.CompilerOptions = "/optimize"
' Specify the class that contains the main method of the executable.
If codeProvider.Supports(GeneratorSupport.EntryPointMethod) Then
.MainClass = "MainClass"
End If
' Set the embedded resource file of the assembly.
If codeProvider.Supports(GeneratorSupport.Resources) AndAlso resources IsNot Nothing Then
.EmbeddedResources.AddRange(resources.ToArray)
End If
End With
Return codeProvider.CompileAssemblyFromSource(cp, code)
End Function
The problem is that I need to compile a non-commandline application, a Class like this which I provide a method that should be executed when the app runs:
Dim sourceCode As String =
<a>
Public Class MainClass
Sub MainMethod()
' Do Something when the app is executed...
End Sub
End Class
</a>.Value
but I can't find the way to do it.
I only can compile console applications because the codeprovider seems that needs an entrypoint, so I only be able to compile this, which is not what I want:
Dim Sourcecode As String =
<a>
Module MainModule
Sub Main()
End Sub
End Module
</a>.Value
How I could do this for my needs?.
I just want to share my working CodeDomProvider compiler routine:
Imports System.CodeDom.Compiler
Namespace Tools
Public NotInheritable Class CodeDomUtil
''' <summary>
''' Specifies a <see cref="CompilerParameters"></see> target assembly.
''' </summary>
Public Enum TargetAssembly As Integer
''' <summary>
''' A Command line interface executable.
''' </summary>
Cli = 0
''' <summary>
''' A Graphical user interface executable.
''' </summary>
Gui = 1
''' <summary>
''' A Dynamic-link library.
''' </summary>
Dll = 2
End Enum
''' <remarks>
''' *****************************************************************
''' Title : Compile Assembly (from reaource).
''' Author: Elektro
''' Date : 14-June-2015
''' Usage :
'''
''' Using vbCodeProvider As New Microsoft.VisualBasic.VBCodeProvider
'''
''' Dim resultVB As CompilerResults =
''' CodeDomUtil.CompileAssembly(codeProvider:=vbCodeProvider,
''' targetAssembly:=CodeDomUtil.TargetAssembly.Dll,
''' targetFile:="C:\VB Assembly.dll",
''' resources:={"C:\MyResources.resx"},
''' referencedAssemblies:={"System.dll"},
''' mainClassName:="MainNamespace.MainClass",
''' sourceCode:=<a>
''' Imports System
'''
''' Namespace MainNamespace
'''
''' Public NotInheritable MainClass
'''
''' End Class
'''
''' End Namespace
''' </a>.Value)
'''
''' Dim warnings As IEnumerable(Of CompilerError) =
''' From ce As CompilerError In resultVB.Errors.Cast(Of CompilerError)()
''' Where ce.IsWarning
'''
''' Dim errors As IEnumerable(Of CompilerError) =
''' From ce As CompilerError In resultVB.Errors.Cast(Of CompilerError)()
''' Where Not ce.IsWarning
'''
''' For Each war As CompilerError In warnings
''' Debug.WriteLine(String.Format("{0}| Warning: {1}", war.ErrorNumber, war.ErrorText))
''' Next war
'''
''' For Each err As CompilerError In errors
''' Debug.WriteLine(String.Format("{0}| Error: {1}", err.ErrorNumber, err.ErrorText))
''' Next err
'''
''' End Using
''' -----------------------------------------------------------------
''' Using csCodeProvider As New Microsoft.CSharp.CSharpCodeProvider
'''
''' Dim resultCS As CompilerResults =
''' CodeDomUtil.CompileAssembly(codeProvider:=csCodeProvider,
''' targetAssembly:=CodeDomUtil.TargetAssembly.Dll,
''' targetFile:="C:\C# Assembly.dll",
''' resources:={"C:\MyResources.resx"},
''' referencedAssemblies:={"System.dll"},
''' mainClassName:="MainNamespace.MainClass",
''' sourceCode:=<a>
''' using System;
'''
''' namespace MainNamespace
''' {
''' class MainClass
''' {
'''
''' }
''' }
''' </a>.Value)
'''
''' Dim warnings As IEnumerable(Of CompilerError) =
''' From ce As CompilerError In resultCS.Errors.Cast(Of CompilerError)()
''' Where ce.IsWarning
'''
''' Dim errors As IEnumerable(Of CompilerError) =
''' From ce As CompilerError In resultCS.Errors.Cast(Of CompilerError)()
''' Where Not ce.IsWarning
'''
''' For Each war As CompilerError In warnings
''' Debug.WriteLine(String.Format("{0}| Warning: {1}", war.ErrorNumber, war.ErrorText))
''' Next war
'''
''' For Each err As CompilerError In errors
''' Debug.WriteLine(String.Format("{0}| Error: {1}", err.ErrorNumber, err.ErrorText))
''' Next err
'''
''' End Using
''' *****************************************************************
''' </remarks>
''' <summary>
''' Compiles a .Net assembly as executable or link library.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="codeProvider">The code provider.</param>
''' <param name="targetAssembly">The kind of assembly to generate.</param>
''' <param name="targetFile">The target file to create.</param>
''' <param name="resources">The embedded resources (if any).</param>
''' <param name="referencedAssemblies">The referenced assemblies (if any).</param>
''' <param name="mainClassName">The code to compile (if any).</param>
''' <param name="sourceCode">The sourcecode to compile (if any).</param>
''' <exception cref="Exception">The current CodeDomProvider does not support resource embedding.</exception>
''' <exception cref="NotImplementedException">Default sourcecode is not implemented for the specified CodeDomProvider. Please, set a sourcecode yourself.</exception>
''' <returns>The results of the compiler operation.</returns>
Public Shared Function CompileAssembly(ByVal codeProvider As CodeDomProvider,
ByVal targetAssembly As TargetAssembly,
ByVal targetFile As String,
Optional ByVal resources As IEnumerable(Of String) = Nothing,
Optional ByVal referencedAssemblies As IEnumerable(Of String) = Nothing,
Optional ByVal mainClassName As String = "MainNamespace.MainClass",
Optional ByVal sourceCode As String = Nothing) As CompilerResults
' Set a default assembly reference.
If referencedAssemblies Is Nothing Then
referencedAssemblies = {"System.dll"}
End If
Dim cp As New CompilerParameters
With cp
' Set compiler arguments.
Select Case targetAssembly
Case CodeDomUtil.TargetAssembly.Gui
.CompilerOptions = "/optimize /target:winexe"
Case Else
.CompilerOptions = "/optimize"
End Select
' Generate an exe or a dll.
.GenerateExecutable = (targetAssembly <> CodeDomUtil.TargetAssembly.Dll)
' Save the assembly as a physical file.
.GenerateInMemory = False
' Generate debug information (pdb).
.IncludeDebugInformation = False
' Set the assembly file name to generate.
.OutputAssembly = targetFile
' Add an assembly reference.
.ReferencedAssemblies.AddRange(referencedAssemblies.ToArray)
' Set a temporary files collection.
' The TempFileCollection stores the temporary files generated during a build in the current directory.
.TempFiles = New TempFileCollection(tempdir:=IO.Path.GetTempPath(), keepFiles:=True)
' Set whether to treat all warnings as errors.
.TreatWarningsAsErrors = False
' Set the level at which the compiler should start displaying warnings.
' 0 - Turns off emission of all warning messages.
' 1 - Displays severe warning messages.
' 2 - Displays level 1 warnings plus certain, less-severe warnings, such as warnings about hiding class members.
' 3 - Displays level 2 warnings plus certain, less-severe warnings, such as warnings about expressions that always evaluate to true or false.
' 4 - Displays all level 3 warnings plus informational warnings. This is the default warning level at the command line.
.WarningLevel = 3
' Set the embedded resource file of the assembly.
If codeProvider.Supports(GeneratorSupport.Resources) AndAlso (resources IsNot Nothing) Then
.EmbeddedResources.AddRange(resources.ToArray)
ElseIf (Not codeProvider.Supports(GeneratorSupport.Resources)) AndAlso (resources IsNot Nothing) Then
Throw New Exception(message:="The current CodeDomProvider does not support resource embedding.")
End If
' Specify the class that contains the main method of the executable.
If codeProvider.Supports(GeneratorSupport.EntryPointMethod) Then
.MainClass = mainClassName
If (TypeOf codeProvider Is Microsoft.VisualBasic.VBCodeProvider) AndAlso
(String.IsNullOrEmpty(sourceCode)) AndAlso
.GenerateExecutable Then
sourceCode =
<a>
Imports System
Namespace MainNamespace
Module MainClass
Sub Main()
End Sub
End Module
End Namespace
</a>.Value
ElseIf (TypeOf codeProvider Is Microsoft.VisualBasic.VBCodeProvider) AndAlso
(String.IsNullOrEmpty(sourceCode)) AndAlso
Not .GenerateExecutable Then
sourceCode =
<a>
Imports System
Namespace MainNamespace
Public NotInheritable MainClass
End Class
End Namespace
</a>.Value
ElseIf (TypeOf codeProvider Is Microsoft.CSharp.CSharpCodeProvider) AndAlso
(String.IsNullOrEmpty(sourceCode)) AndAlso
.GenerateExecutable Then
sourceCode =
<a>
using System;
namespace MainNamespace
{
class MainClass
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
}
}
}
</a>.Value
ElseIf (TypeOf codeProvider Is Microsoft.CSharp.CSharpCodeProvider) AndAlso
(String.IsNullOrEmpty(sourceCode)) AndAlso
Not .GenerateExecutable Then
sourceCode =
<a>
using System;
namespace MainNamespace
{
class MainClass
{
}
}
</a>.Value
ElseIf String.IsNullOrEmpty(sourceCode) Then
Throw New NotImplementedException(message:="Default sourcecode is not implemented for the specified CodeDomProvider. Please, specify a sourcecode.")
End If
End If
End With
Return codeProvider.CompileAssemblyFromSource(cp, sourceCode)
End Function
''' <remarks>
''' *****************************************************************
''' Title : Compile Assembly (from file).
''' Author: Elektro
''' Date : 14-June-2015
''' Usage :
'''
''' Using vbCodeProvider As New Microsoft.VisualBasic.VBCodeProvider
'''
''' Dim resultVB As CompilerResults =
''' CodeDomUtil.CompileAssembly(codeProvider:=vbCodeProvider,
''' targetAssembly:=CodeDomUtil.TargetAssembly.Dll,
''' sourceFile:="C:\SourceCode.vb",
''' targetFile:="C:\VB Assembly.dll",
''' resources:={"C:\MyResources.resx"},
''' referencedAssemblies:={"System.dll"},
''' mainClassName:="MainNamespace.MainClass")
'''
''' Dim warnings As IEnumerable(Of CompilerError) =
''' From ce As CompilerError In resultVB.Errors.Cast(Of CompilerError)()
''' Where ce.IsWarning
'''
''' Dim errors As IEnumerable(Of CompilerError) =
''' From ce As CompilerError In resultVB.Errors.Cast(Of CompilerError)()
''' Where Not ce.IsWarning
'''
''' For Each war As CompilerError In warnings
''' Debug.WriteLine(String.Format("{0}| Warning: {1}", war.ErrorNumber, war.ErrorText))
''' Next war
'''
''' For Each err As CompilerError In errors
''' Debug.WriteLine(String.Format("{0}| Error: {1}", err.ErrorNumber, err.ErrorText))
''' Next err
'''
''' End Using
''' -----------------------------------------------------------------
''' Using csCodeProvider As New Microsoft.CSharp.CSharpCodeProvider
'''
''' Dim resultCS As CompilerResults =
''' CodeDomUtil.CompileAssembly(codeProvider:=csCodeProvider,
''' targetAssembly:=CodeDomUtil.TargetAssembly.Dll,
''' sourceFile:="C:\SourceCode.cs",
''' targetFile:="C:\CS Assembly.dll",
''' resources:={"C:\MyResources.resx"},
''' referencedAssemblies:={"System.dll"},
''' mainClassName:="MainNamespace.MainClass")
'''
''' Dim warnings As IEnumerable(Of CompilerError) =
''' From ce As CompilerError In resultCS.Errors.Cast(Of CompilerError)()
''' Where ce.IsWarning
'''
''' Dim errors As IEnumerable(Of CompilerError) =
''' From ce As CompilerError In resultCS.Errors.Cast(Of CompilerError)()
''' Where Not ce.IsWarning
'''
''' For Each war As CompilerError In warnings
''' Debug.WriteLine(String.Format("{0}| Warning: {1}", war.ErrorNumber, war.ErrorText))
''' Next war
'''
''' For Each err As CompilerError In errors
''' Debug.WriteLine(String.Format("{0}| Error: {1}", err.ErrorNumber, err.ErrorText))
''' Next err
'''
''' End Using
''' *****************************************************************
''' </remarks>
''' <summary>
''' Compiles a .Net assembly as executable or link library.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="codeProvider">The code provider.</param>
''' <param name="targetAssembly">The kind of assembly to generate.</param>
''' <param name="sourceFile">The source file to compile.</param>
''' <param name="targetFile">The target file to create.</param>
''' <param name="resources">The embedded resources (if any).</param>
''' <param name="referencedAssemblies">The referenced assemblies (if any).</param>
''' <param name="mainClassName">The code to compile (if any).</param>
''' <exception cref="Exception">The current CodeDomProvider does not support resource embedding.</exception>
''' <returns>The results of the compiler operation.</returns>
Public Shared Function CompileAssembly(ByVal codeProvider As CodeDomProvider,
ByVal targetAssembly As TargetAssembly,
ByVal sourceFile As String,
ByVal targetFile As String,
Optional ByVal resources As IEnumerable(Of String) = Nothing,
Optional ByVal referencedAssemblies As IEnumerable(Of String) = Nothing,
Optional ByVal mainClassName As String = "MainNamespace.MainClass") As CompilerResults
' Set a default assembly reference.
If referencedAssemblies Is Nothing Then
referencedAssemblies = {"System.dll"}
End If
Dim cp As New CompilerParameters
With cp
' Set compiler arguments.
Select Case targetAssembly
Case CodeDomUtil.TargetAssembly.Gui
.CompilerOptions = "/optimize /target:winexe"
Case Else
.CompilerOptions = "/optimize"
End Select
' Generate an exe or a dll.
.GenerateExecutable = (targetAssembly <> CodeDomUtil.TargetAssembly.Dll)
' Save the assembly as a physical file.
.GenerateInMemory = False
' Generate debug information (pdb).
.IncludeDebugInformation = False
' Set the assembly file name to generate.
.OutputAssembly = targetFile
' Add an assembly reference.
.ReferencedAssemblies.AddRange(referencedAssemblies.ToArray)
' Set a temporary files collection.
' The TempFileCollection stores the temporary files generated during a build in the current directory.
.TempFiles = New TempFileCollection(tempdir:=IO.Path.GetTempPath(), keepFiles:=True)
' Set whether to treat all warnings as errors.
.TreatWarningsAsErrors = False
' Set the level at which the compiler should start displaying warnings.
' 0 - Turns off emission of all warning messages.
' 1 - Displays severe warning messages.
' 2 - Displays level 1 warnings plus certain, less-severe warnings, such as warnings about hiding class members.
' 3 - Displays level 2 warnings plus certain, less-severe warnings, such as warnings about expressions that always evaluate to true or false.
' 4 - Displays all level 3 warnings plus informational warnings. This is the default warning level at the command line.
.WarningLevel = 3
' Set the embedded resource file of the assembly.
If codeProvider.Supports(GeneratorSupport.Resources) AndAlso (resources IsNot Nothing) Then
.EmbeddedResources.AddRange(resources.ToArray)
ElseIf (Not codeProvider.Supports(GeneratorSupport.Resources)) AndAlso (resources IsNot Nothing) Then
Throw New Exception(message:="The current CodeDomProvider does not support resource embedding.")
End If
' Specify the class that contains the main method of the executable.
If codeProvider.Supports(GeneratorSupport.EntryPointMethod) Then
.MainClass = mainClassName
End If
End With
Return codeProvider.CompileAssemblyFromFile(cp, {sourceFile})
End Function
End Class
End Namespace