Deploying custom dll's in SharePoint 2010 - sharepoint

I'm new to SharePoint and trying to get my head around this. I have a simple Web Part project. I also have a custom Data layer project that uses the Microsoft Enterprise Library for data access. In the Web Part project, I am adding a reference to the Data layer project's assembly. I specified in the Package of the Web Part project that I want my Data layer's assembly to be deployed. I can verify this works by using standard ADO.NET classes and not the custom MS library. If I deploy to the SharePoint server (which I have 100% access to) using the Enterprise Library, I get the error message:
"Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Data"
What steps do I need to take to ensure this project and all future projects on the server can easily gain access to the Enterprise Library for data access?
Thanks!

You did everything correct until a certain point: Deployment.
When deploying external DLLs, which shall also be put into the GAC or somewhere else, you need to package them with the WSP aswell. This has become very easy with Visual Studio 2010:
Open your Package
Click on "Advanced" (on the bottom)
Add your external DLL and maybe even SafeControls for the web.config

Related

.NET Core / .NET 6: Creating a TLB or DLL that can be added as reference in VBA

I am trying to do basically what it says in the title: I have created a class library (dll) using .NET 6.0 and I would like to add that as a reference in an Excel/Access VBA document. I diligently followed the steps here:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/native-interop/expose-components-to-com
No matter what I try, I cannot add the resulting dll as a reference in Excel. I just keep getting the message: 'Can't add reference to the specified file'.
A bit more info: I am able to create the Assembly.comhost.dll file, and I think I have done everything correctly, but no joy.
This is rather frustrating, as doing this in .NET Framework is but a click of a couple of checkboxes. In .NET Core (.NET 6) It seems to be a bit of a nightmare. Also, being able to create a tlb from the dll was always a perfect confirmation that you would be able to add your reference in Excel.
ANY help is most welcome!
Thanks!
in the tutorial you hav ementioned, ther is a topic "Register the COM host for COM". here a file named "ProjectName.comhost.dll" is used to register the assembly to the registry as a COM type library.
After doing this, i could the assembly in VBS with the fowing conde:
set projectObject = CreateObject("ProjectNamespace.ProjectClass")
newValue = projectObject.ComputeNewValue("abc")
Right now, I was not able to establish a reference to that type library in my Excel 2016, but the code sample works in VBA as well.
I could also in VBA
Set projectObject = CreateObject("COMServer.Server")
MsgBox projectObject.ComputePi()
with this repository : https://github.com/dotnet/samples/tree/main/core/extensions/COMServerDemo
But that works only with Registered COM not with RegFree COM (Go check README).
Not every component is a suitable candidate for use under Reg-Free COM. A component is not considered suitable if any of the following are true:
The component is an out-of-process (ActiveX EXE) server. Only DLLs
are supported.
The component is a system component or part of the operating system,
such as XML, Data Access, Internet Explorer, or DirectX® components.
For example, you should not attempt to isolate components such as
Microsoft XML (MSXml.dll) or Microsoft Internet Controls
(SHDocVw.dll). These components are either part of the operating
system, or can be installed with a separate redistributable package.
The component is part of an application, such as Microsoft Office.
For example, you should not attempt to isolate components such as the
Microsoft Word Object Model or Microsoft Excel Object Model. These
two components are part of Office and can only be used on a machine
that has the full Office product installed on it.
The component is intended for use as an add-in or a snap-in, such as
an Office add-in or a control in a Web browser. Such components
typically require some kind of registration scheme defined by the
hosting environment that is beyond the scope of the manifest itself.
The other problem is an arbitrary application may not be designed to
recognize isolated components, as it probably doesn't have a way to
reference your component through a manifest.
The component manages a shared physical or virtual system resource.
For example, it could manage some kind of data connection shared
between multiple applications or a device driver for a print spooler.
Source : https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/cc08575d-3506-4a0f-a9e2-f23c2162ad38/using-net-excel-addin-with-registrationfree-com?forum=innovateonoffice
But I couldn't find a way to add it in Excel as a reference.

How to Call Custom .dll in SharePoint?

I am trying add new function inside my SharePoint and I created HTML code and it will call .dll file where I download it. However, when I run project standalone outside SharePoint it works. However, inside SharePoint code (HTML) when I add assembly to my .dll , it shows not found.
I tried adding it in SafeControl in web.config bug still same issue.
I place .dll in all places where other SharePoint .dll are there but still the same problem.
I am not sure if I understood what you trying to accomplish but I suspect you are using some SharePoint on-prem and you deploy some kind of solution (webpart or other) to a site were you want to use an external dll. If that is the case you need to create some kind of empty sharepoint farm project (or use one of the existing farm solutions) and add an external dll to it so it will be deployed to GAC. When an dll is in Global Assembly Cache then we may use it in all places in SharePoint.
Here I found some blog post how to add a external dll to GAC
I hope this will be of any help
When the project is running inside the SP server, it's different from when it's starting outside the farm. You need to ensure the dll has been copied to gac, or the server cannot find it.
If you're developing a custom WCF in SP on-premise, you may take a reference of below demo:
Custom WCF
More reference:
https://blog.mastykarz.nl/including-additional-assemblies-wsp-visual-studio-sharepoint-development-tools/
BR

SharePoint Designer 2010 Workflow Error: Could not deserialize object. The type could not be resolved

In development environment I have SharePoint Workflow created in SharePoint Designer. This workflow using custom activity created in Visual Studio.
After deployment web (Import-SPWeb Export-SPWeb) in production i've got error when tring to open my worklow within Designer.
Could not deserialize object. The type 'MyTypeHere' could not be resolved.
I've trying to reinstall solution and clear SharePoint Designer cache in application data. In workflow's xoml i specify right full namespace of my assembly with custom activity and this assembly exist in GAC.
Problem solved. I could not figure out how, but works fine now. 100% server was not restarted. May be it is because farm configuration and web.configs. Use feature activation to be sure that you control .config files.

How to get a product key token from a library file programatically?

I am creating a SharePoint solution project that will install the Telerik dll files into the GAC and write the appropriate lines into the webconfig upon feature activation. My question is, is there a way to get the product key token, version, and culture info of a dll programatically. I have used the System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly() before to get the embedded resources, such as a javascript file, and add it to the appropriate folder. Would this be the same way to get the dll file, and if so what would I do to get the assembly info of an embedded assembly? Thanks for any direction.
See this related question.
Out of curiosity, where in your web.config are you adding references to Telerik DLLs? I recently did a project that uses the Telerik Silverlight controls. While I had to configure the web.config to support the .Net 3.5 framework, I did not have to add anything specifically for the Telerik DLLs as their controls were all wrapped within my custom Web Parts.

best content on how to deploy and share a VSTO solution

with the push to leverage visual studio and dotnet with office based solutions, especially excel, where is the best article or information on how having office sheet with additional binaries and assemblies is sharable.
Do this external code get packaged with the spreadsheet
what if people start emailing the spreadsheet around. Is there any overhead of this additional assemblies. Is there risk of the binaries getting detached from the spreadsheet
It seems like microsoft has been pushing VSTO for over 5 years now but you read lots of mixed reviews and issues. Are we at the point where companies that do large VBA excel solutions can fully migrate over to dotnet without any real worries?
First of all, I want to answer your question on whether or not VSTO is ready for larger implementations. The answer is YES! Especially if the alternative is VBA. You have the entire .Net framework available, you can use web services, ADO.Net (better still, with the enterprise library). You can still write code that looks a lot like VBA, but is much more powerful. You can get more information by reading Walkthrough: Creating Your First Document-Level Customization for Excel. This page will give you an idea of what VSTO features are available to you.
Now, to answer your question on deployment.
It depends on whether you are making an Add-In or a document level customization. If its an Add-In, then you must install it on each client, and any passing around of documents will not effect that (Add-Ins are at the application level, and not at the individual document level).
I assume that you are talking about a document level customization, so I will center my answer around that.
When you create a document level customization, the assemblies are not loaded into the excel file (as they are with VBA). Instead, a document property is added telling the application that this document contains a manifest file (and tells it of the manifest file's location). The manifest file contains links to the assembly that makes up your customization.
As with any .Net application, there are sometimes other (referenced) assemblies that also need to be deployed. Not always are these assemblies in the GAC, so they would have to be located in the same folder as your executing assembly (in this case, your customization assembly). You don't necessarily have to place your assemblies in the same location as your excel file, though.
There are a few ways you can deploy the customization.
You can store all of the assemblies and the excel file in a folder and run the application that way (if the excel file is passed around, the users must pass around the entire folder).
You can run an setup program that installs the assemblies to a specific folder on the users computer, and specifies the manifest at that location (if the excel file is passed around, the users must also pass around the setup program).
You can install the assemblies in a network location and specify in the document properties, that the manifest and the assemblies are all at that network location (if the excel file is passed around, nothing needs to be passed along with it - but there are security settings that need to be made. Read this page for more information).
Any way that you decide to do this, here is the page you need to read in order to understand the document properties that enable the customization.
You need to make sure all of your users have the prerequisites installed. The easiest way to do this is to give them all a setup program. If you create a setup project for your customization, you can setup the bootstrapper to automatically install the prerequisites. You can also do this if you use ClickOnce to install the customization. This page will give you all the information you need to know regarding deployment.
Here are some other helpful links you will need to see:
Application Manifests for Office Solutions (2007 System)
Deployment Manifests for Office Solutions (2007 System)
Application and Deployment Manifests in Office Solutions
I hope this helps. Once you read all of this information, I think you'll agree that VSTO is a much better choice than VBA. You just have to plan your deployment carefully.
I created a Excel add-on and deployed it to a server. Then I passed around two links, the setup.exe file and the link to the actual Workbook. The workbook file never changed - it's purpose was to open and load the add-on which was now in the user's Add/Remove Programs. The add-on itself would check for updates on startup.
So if they start emailing the workbook around, great! I believe in theory, the workbook would download the add-on if it was missing, but I don't have a fresh computer around to test that. If it doesn't, it's just a simply exe to install (which will update on launch anyhow, so outdated isn't an issue).
For document-level deployment, I recommend the following three links:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms268758(v=vs.90).aspx
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff937654.aspx
How do you assign the Assembly Location of an Excel VSTO Installation?
Unlike application-level solution, document-level has 2 special properties: _AssemblyLocation and_AssemblyName, which indicate the *.vsto position. To set these properties by install path, a custom action project should be created to record the target path when installing, and packaged together with setup.exe. Then you could put your excel file anywhere (on local machine) and open it in the correct way.

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