Question

I have a config file in my C# class library called MyLibrary.config, in vs 2008.

I created another project, say a simple console app, add reference by “Browsing” the MyLibrary.dll in the bin directory of the class library project, and when I compile, the MyLibrary.config is not including in the bin directory of the output in the console app.

How can I set it so I can include it when I reference the dll?

Cheers

Answer 1

You can’t. Your console application is expecting to find a config file with prefix the same as the name as the console application (MyConsoleApplication.exe -> MyConsoleApplication.exe.config.).

In some situations you can share a config file by using the file attribute on the appSettings element:

<appSettings
    file="path">
</appSettings>

Note that path is relative to the executing assembly.

As a side note, DLLs do not even use the config file that you’ve defined in the project. Again, configuration information is read from the a config file with prefix the same as the executing assembly. Thus, even when MyLibrary.dll tries to yank configuration information out of a config file, it will be reading the config file for the executing assembly, not MyLibrary.dll.config.

For more on how config files work, see MSDN.