How to stop WCF Test Client from randomly start when debugging?

Question

We have a WCF service (setup to use IIS Express in VS2010 SP 1) that we start up for debugging.

Most (95%) of the time it will just startup and sit there running/waiting. 5% of the time though it will decide to start the WCF Test Client which if you close ends the service.

Is there anything we can do so the test client doesn't load ever? It's a bit annoying..

This happens if you start the application when working on the service (service is your active opened file). — Ladislav Mrnka, Apr 13 '11 at 21:23
I have this issue even though i don't have any WCF projects in my solution at all. My startup project is an MVC web app. — Russell Horwood, Mar 08 '17 at 12:34

score 17 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 14 '11 at 22:39

17

This happens if you start the application when working on the service (service is your active opened file).

answered Apr 14 '11 at 22:39

Ladislav Mrnka

360,892
59
660
670

1

Thanks. This was the exact problem I was having. No wonder it was so random hah.. – Shane Courtrille Apr 15 '11 at 01:21

Gordon Glas · Answer 2 · 2012-08-30T21:30:39.607

If you want to use an .svc file as the start page, but don't want the WCF Test Client to pop up when you run your project, you can:

right click project -> unload project

right click project -> edit project.csproj

add the following (or set it to False if it already exists):

<EnableWcfTestClientForSVCDefaultValue>False</EnableWcfTestClientForSVCDefaultValue>

within:

<ProjectExtensions>
  <VisualStudio>
    <FlavorProperties GUID="{349c5851-65df-11da-9384-00065b846f22}">
      <WebProjectProperties>
        ...
        <EnableWcfTestClientForSVCDefaultValue>False</EnableWcfTestClientForSVCDefaultValue>
      </WebProjectProperties>
    </FlavorProperties>
  </VisualStudio>
</ProjectExtensions>

Then obviously set your start page to your .svc file. If that still brings up the WCF Test Client, make sure there isn't a setting overriding it within the .csproj.user file, like so:

<EnableWcfTestClientForSVC>True</EnableWcfTestClientForSVC>

(Or you can set this field to false in .csproj.user instead of setting the other one in the .csproj file. That way, you don't force the same setting for other developers, whichever works for you).

I have confirmed this works with Visual Studio 2010 and 2012.

Thanks for outlining these steps so well. Just followed them and it saved me from throwing objects at my monitor in frustration. — cobolstinks, Oct 04 '12 at 20:20

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 17 '12 at 08:34

3

In my experience, if the startup project is the WCF Service project AND you have set a .svc file as the start page, you get the WCF test client when starting debugging.

If you don't have a start page, the WCF test client is not automatically launched.

answered Feb 17 '12 at 08:34

Timores

14,439
3
46
46

Thank you! That's been driving me up the wall for the last hour. – GrandMasterFlush Jul 16 '12 at 14:09

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 22 '13 at 13:05

Its caused your actual context in solution items in moment of launching.
You can fix this issue with setting StartAction for your WCF service project.

Right click on your WCF project in solution overview -> Properties -> Web -> StartAction
I'm using opinion "Specific page" and setting it to Default.aspx
If you let it as "CurentPage" then if you are launching your project while previewing some .svc file, WCF Test client will be launched

How to stop WCF Test Client from randomly start when debugging?

4 Answers4