Can't properly add .dll reference in VS Code

Question

I'm trying to add and use shell32.dll to my console project in VS Code. I put it to root folder of project, ..\bin and ..\bin\Debug. I made dotnet restore. Code in my .csproj file is:

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
    <TargetFramework>netcoreapp3.1</TargetFramework>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Reference Include="Shell32">
      <HintPath>shell32.dll</HintPath>
      <SpecificVersion>False</SpecificVersion>
    </Reference>
  </ItemGroup>
</Project>

But when I add using Shell32; to Program.cs it is giving error "The type or namespace name 'Shell32' could not be found". Please advise what am I doing wrong?

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 28 '20 at 12:04

0

You the COM reference to add Microsoft Shell Controls and Automation instead of referencing the actuall Shell32.dll.

Sample XML:

<ItemGroup>
    <COMReference Include="Shell32.dll">
      <Guid>50a7e9b0-70ef-11d1-b75a-00a0c90564fe</Guid>
      <VersionMajor>1</VersionMajor>
      <VersionMinor>0</VersionMinor>
      <WrapperTool>tlbimp</WrapperTool>
      <Lcid>0</Lcid>
      <Isolated>false</Isolated>
    </COMReference>
  </ItemGroup>

answered Aug 28 '20 at 12:04

EylM

5,967
2
16
28

And how can I reference it in VS Code? I find only how to add reference in Visual Studio. – Dork Aug 28 '20 at 13:00
Copy paste the XML I posted instead of . – EylM Aug 28 '20 at 13:01
I did that, and still getting error "The type or namespace name 'Shell32' could not be found when trying to use it. – Dork Aug 28 '20 at 13:08
Ok. I ended using WindowsAPICodePack to get my task with shell done. – Dork Aug 28 '20 at 15:02

Can't properly add .dll reference in VS Code

1 Answers1