/vbruntime

Specifies that the compiler should compile without a reference to the Visual Basic Runtime Library, or with a reference to a specific runtime library.

/vbruntime:{ - | + | * | path }

Arguments

• -
  Compile without a reference to the Visual Basic Runtime Library.

• +
  Compile with a reference to the default Visual Basic Runtime Library.

• *
  Compile without a reference to the Visual Basic Runtime Library, and embed core functionality from the Visual Basic Runtime Library into the assembly.

• path
  Compile with a reference to the specified library (DLL).

Remarks

The /vbruntime compiler option enables you to specify that the compiler should compile without a reference to the Visual Basic Runtime Library. If you compile without a reference to the Visual Basic Runtime Library, errors or warnings are logged on code or language constructs that generate a call to a Visual Basic runtime helper. (A Visual Basic runtime helper is a function defined in Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll that is called at runtime to execute a specific language semantic.)

The /vbruntime+ option produces the same behavior that occurs if no /vbruntime switch is specified. You can use the /vbruntime+ option to override previous /vbruntime switches.

Most objects of the My type are unavailable when you use the /vbruntime- or vbruntime:path options.

Embedding Visual Basic Runtime core functionality

The /vbruntime* option enables you to compile without a reference to a runtime library. Instead, core functionality from the Visual Basic Runtime Library is embedded in the user assembly. You can use this option to enable your application to run on platforms that do not contain the Visual Basic runtime.

The following runtime members are embedded:

• Conversions class

• AscW(Char) method

• AscW(String) method

• ChrW(Int32) method

• vbBack constant

• vbCr constant

• vbCrLf constant

• vbFormFeed constant

• vbLf constant

• vbNewLine constant

• vbNullChar constant

• vbNullString constant

• vbTab constant

• vbVerticalTab constant

• Some objects of the My type

If you compile using the /vbruntime* option and your code references a member from the Visual Basic Runtime Library that is not embedded with the core functionality, the compiler returns an error that indicates that the member is not available.

Referencing a specified library

You can use the path argument to compile with a reference to a custom runtime library instead of the default Visual Basic Runtime Library.

If the value for the path argument is a fully qualified path to a DLL, the compiler will use that file as the runtime library. If the value for the path argument is not a fully qualified path to a DLL, the Visual Basic compiler will search for the identified DLL in the current folder first. It will then search in the path that you have specified by using the /sdkpath compiler option. If the /sdkpath compiler option is not used, the compiler will search for the identified DLL in the .NET Framework folder (%systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\versionNumber).

Example

The following example shows how to use the /vbruntime option to compile with a reference to a custom library.

vbc /vbruntime:C:\VBLibraries\CustomVBLibrary.dll

See Also

Reference

Sample Compilation Command Lines (Visual Basic)

/sdkpath

Other Resources

Visual Basic Core – New compilation mode in Visual Studio 2010 SP1

Visual Basic Command-Line Compiler

Change History

Date	History	Reason
October 2011	Added information about objects of the My type.	Information enhancement.
March 2011	Added the /vbruntime* option.	SP1 feature change.