SvcUtil.exe vs Add Reference

Question

Why would someone use SvcUtil.exe when Add Service Reference in VS.NET provides all the proxy classes you'll need?

But if you do, you probably won't use SvcUtil.exe? Also, these proxies are C# classes. So what else are they using if not VS.NET? — 4thSpace, Nov 15 '12 at 17:24
`csc` `MonodDevelop` `SharpDevelop`. I may also use it to later modify the proxy classes according to some custom needs. — L.B, Nov 15 '12 at 17:28

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:51

3

Sometimes Add Service Reference in VS fails to create a useful proxy. Instead it gives you an empty Reference.cs details here and here file. I've created a series of bat files to call SvcUtil.exe to generate the proxy classes.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:51

Community

1
1

answered Nov 15 '12 at 17:33

gbanfill

2,216
14
21

1

+1 but also, svcutil will sometimes let you see error messages that would be hidden by "Add Service Reference". – John Saunders Nov 17 '12 at 02:36
@JohnSaunders: VS 2019 finally shows those errors, but only creates clients for .NET Core. – Nick Westgate Dec 07 '20 at 04:48

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 17 '12 at 02:33

Both svcutil.exe & 'Add Service reference' will use the same proxy generation code underneath. Think of 'Add service reference' as a UI way to generate proxy where it pre-populates a set of switches that you will have to do in svcutil command line. For example when you add service reference in VS the UI lets you to reuse types from referenced assemblies, specify the kind of proxy to be generated (sync-async / task based etc). svcutil will also be useful if you want to automate service reference generation.

SvcUtil.exe vs Add Reference

2 Answers2

Linked