How to: Embed Type Libraries as Win32 Resources in .NET-Based Applications

You can package a type library as a separate file or embed it as Win32 resource file within a .NET-based application. Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 performed this task for you automatically; however, when using Microsoft Visual Basic 2005, you must embed your type library manually.

To embed a type library as a Win32 resource in a .NET-based application

1. Compile your managed application as a library file. For example, to create an assembly for an application called MyApp, type the following command at the command prompt:

   vbc /t:library MyApp.vb
   

   csc /t:library MyApp.cs
   

2. Export a type library file from your assembly using the Type Library Exporter (Tlbexp.exe). At the command prompt, type the following command:

   tlbexp MyApp.dll /out:mytypelib.tlb
   

3. Create a resource script that contains the following statement:

   1 typelib "mytypelib.tlb"
   

   For this example, the script file name is myresource.rc.

4. Compile the script using the Microsoft Windows Resource Compiler (Rc.exe). At the command prompt, type the following command:

   rc myresource.rc
   

   Rc.exe produces the myresource.res resource file.

5. Compile the source file again and specify the resource file. At the command prompt, type the following command:

   vbc /t:library MyApp.vb /win32resource:myresource.res
   

   csc /t:library MyApp.cs /win32resource:myresource.res
   

See Also

Concepts

Packaging an Assembly for COM

Exposing .NET Framework Components to COM