Question plugin architecture deployment question

[adshocker]

hi all,

i created a plug-in architecture type application... there's a main application (executable) that loads dlls into it at runtime.

now i'm at a point where i need to test deploy this over the intranet via click once.. problem i'm having is that how do i attach the dlls since it publish wizard will not do this automatically because i'm not referencing these dlls at design time.

i'd appreaciate any help.

thanks.

 

[JohnH]

from one of my previous replys:

You can add files and folders to the solution (Solution Explorer/menu, "add existing") and set Build Action (Content) and copy mode (Copy always/if newer) for those files. Doing that the files will be copied to output directory when solution is compiled for debug and included in setup/ClickOnce (as part of "application files") when deployed to other computers.

 

[adshocker]

hi,

is this the only way...?

one reason i don't like to add the files to my solution at design time is that because i wanted to make my application flexible at runtime wherein everytime i needed to create a dll, i just copy it to a specific folder that the main executable application looks at and then use the database to store commands to be executed by it.

thanks.

 

[JohnH]

So what are you asking actually, you want to "attach the dlls", but not attach them to your applications deployment, so attach them to what?

 

[adshocker]

The main application will be loading them at runtime from a specific location.

 

[JohnH]

You should be able to do that with a Setup project (msi installer), not with ClickOnce.