Referencing a library

[Homero]

Hi,

I'm having a problem with reference.

I have created an addin (let's call it FirstAddin.dll) that runs
properly in excel with its .xll and .dna file.

Then, afterwards, I created another .dll (let's call it
SecondAddin.dll) that uses a function of FirstAddin.dll (with
reference set at the C# code). And the .dna file was like this:
<DnaLibrary RuntimeVersion="v4.0" ShadowCopyFiles="true">
<ExternalLibrary Path="C:\CompletePath\SecondAddin.dll" />
</DnaLibrary>

When I tried to use it at excel, nothing happened. And it didn't stop
at the debug breakpoint I set either. But, if I comment the line where
I use the function of FirstAddin.dll everything runs properly.

Then, I tried to put the reference in the .dna file like this:
<DnaLibrary RuntimeVersion="v4.0" ShadowCopyFiles="true">
<Reference Path="FirstAddin.dll"/>
<ExternalLibrary Path="C:\CompletePath\SecondAddin.dll" />
</DnaLibrary>

But I got the same result.

Then I tryed to pack them into a single .xll using this code:
<DnaLibrary RuntimeVersion="v4.0" ShadowCopyFiles="true">
<Reference Path="FirstAddin.dll" pack="true"/>
<ExternalLibrary Path="C:\CompletePath\SecondAddin.dll" />
</DnaLibrary>

I get this result of packing:
C:\CompletePath>ExcelDnaPack.exe SecondAddin.dna /
Y
Using base add-in SecondAddin.xll
-> Updating resource: Type: ASSEMBLY_LZMA, Name:
EXCELDNA.INTEGRATION, Length
: 37902
-> Updating resource: Type: DNA, Name: __MAIN__, Length: 422
Completed Packing SecondAddin-packed.xll.

But the same thing happen:. I can't use my function on the FirstAddin.

I've also tried putting the complete path of FirstAddin.dll, to change
Reference Path for Reference Name and for Reference AssemblyPath, but
nothing helped.

I don't know what else to do. Can you help me with this?

Regards,

Homero

[Tjaart van Wijck]

Homero,

The first thing I can think of is to check that the second add-in has a 'using' statement for the first.

Regards,
Tjaart

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[Homero]

Tjaart,

I have already put the 'using' statement referencing the second addin,
or the dll wouldn't even compile.

I don't know if this changes anything (I don't think so), but the
function I'm trying to use is an extension method (especifically of
ExcelReference).

Any other idea?

Regards,

Homero

[Govert van Drimmelen]

Hi Homero,

Your packing does not pack FirstAddIn.dll because xml attributes are
case sensitive, and you need to say Pack="true" with a capital 'P'.
(Sorry - we really need a configuration tool that will eliminate these
kind of errors. Any volunteers?)

But that's not your initial question...
Are you trying to make a single add-in exposing both FirstAddIn.dll
and SecondAddIn.dll?
In this case you can just put both into the TheAddin.dna file as
ExternalLibraries:

<DnaLibrary RuntimeVersion="v4.0" ShadowCopyFiles="true">

<ExternalLibrary Path="FirstAddin.dll" />
<ExternalLibrary Path="SecondAddin.dll" />
</DnaLibrary>

Then your call from SecondAddin.dll to the FirstAddin.dll will work
fine.

Otherwise, SecondAddin should work fine if it is compiled with a
reference to FirstAddin.dll, and if FirstAddin.dll is in the same
directory as SecondAddIn.xll.
If you want to tell Excel-DNA to find FirstAddIn.dll elsewhere, you
can add a <Reference Path="C:\CompletePath\FirstAddIn.dll" /> into the
SecondAddIn.dna file.
To pack FirstAddIn.dll into SecondAddIn.xll, you are doing the right
thing - you just need the upper-case 'Pack' attribute.


[AFAIK, extension methods are resolved at compile time, so that's not
likely to be the issue.]

-Govert

[Homero]

Hi Govert,

thanks for your time and attention.

I discovered that I was forgetting to put some other dll's (to which
FirstAddIn made reference) in the same directory as SecondAddIn.xll .

Homero