Question

I have the following powershell script:

# C-Sharp source for taking our screenshot
$Source = @" 
using System;
using System.Linq;

namespace Testing
{
    public static class TestClass
    {
        public static void DoTest()
        {
             var myLinq = "hello world";
        }
    }
}
"@

$assem = @("System.Core")
$null = Add-Type -ReferencedAssemblies $assem -TypeDefinition $Source -Language Csharp

If I run this via powershell.exe powershell.exe C:\test.ps1 I get the following error:

Cannot add type. There were compilation errors. c:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\c9er05ba.0.cs(10) : The type or n
amespace name 'var' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

c:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\c9er05ba.0.cs(9) :         {

c:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\c9er05ba.0.cs(10) : >>>              var myLinq = "hello world";

c:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\c9er05ba.0.cs(11) :   }

However, if I copy and paste this script into PowerGUI it runs just fine.

The closest link I could find that was helpful was this one. So I tried changing my -language parameter to be csharpversion3, but now I get this:

Cannot add type. There were compilation errors. (0) : An assembly with the same identity 'System.Core, Version=3.5.0.0, Cul
ture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089' has already been imported. Try removing one of the duplicate references.

(1) : using System;

Any ideas how I can get this script to run properly?

Answer 1

Stick with the -language csharpversion3 but drop the -ReferencedAssemblies $assem bit – that’s what’s giving you the duplicate import.

I also had to add -IgnoreWarnings to get your fragment to compile, but I guess that’s because you’re not posting the whole example.

In summary, the command:

Add-Type  -TypeDefinition $Source -Language CsharpVersion3 -IgnoreWarnings

will compile that code without error.