I’m trying to create a Word VSTO Add-in project in Visual Studio 16.6.1 targeting .NET Framework 4.8. I want to use Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Sqlite to access information in a database. However, as soon as I add a class that inherits from DbContext, I can no longer build the project. I get an error reporting:
The "FindRibbons" task failed unexpectedly.
System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'WordAddInTest, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.
WordAddinTest is the name of my project.
I can reproduce this using these minimal steps:
- Create a new Visual Basic project of type Word VSTO Add-in.
- Set the name to WordAddinTest, and the Framework to Framework .NET Framework 4.8.
- Using the Nuget Package Manager, install
Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Sqlite. - Replace the default code in ThisAddIn.vb with the following:
Code:
Imports Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore
Public Class ThisAddIn
Private Sub ThisAddIn_Startup() Handles Me.Startup
End Sub
Private Sub ThisAddIn_Shutdown() Handles Me.Shutdown
End Sub
End Class
Public Class TestClass
Public Property Id As Integer
Public Property Title As String
End Class
Public Class TestContext
'Inherits DbContext
'NOTE: If the line above is excluded, it will compile (but obviously without EntityFramework support)
Public Property TestProperty As DbSet(Of TestClass)
End Class
This will compile, run and debug without problems.
However, uncommenting the line indicated so that TestContext inherits from DbContext, it no longer compiles, and the Error List displays the following error:
The "FindRibbons" task failed unexpectedly.
System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'WordAddInTest, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.
File name: 'WordAddInTest, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null'
Server stack trace:
at System.Reflection.RuntimeAssembly._nLoad(AssemblyName fileName, String codeBase, Evidence assemblySecurity, RuntimeAssembly locationHint, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, IntPtr pPrivHostBinder, Boolean throwOnFileNotFound, Boolean forIntrospection, Boolean suppressSecurityChecks)
at System.Reflection.RuntimeAssembly.nLoad(AssemblyName fileName, String codeBase, Evidence assemblySecurity, RuntimeAssembly locationHint, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, IntPtr pPrivHostBinder, Boolean throwOnFileNotFound, Boolean forIntrospection, Boolean suppressSecurityChecks)
at System.Reflection.RuntimeAssembly.InternalLoadAssemblyName(AssemblyName assemblyRef, Evidence assemblySecurity, RuntimeAssembly reqAssembly, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, IntPtr pPrivHostBinder, Boolean throwOnFileNotFound, Boolean forIntrospection, Boolean suppressSecurityChecks)
at System.Reflection.RuntimeAssembly.InternalLoad(String assemblyString, Evidence assemblySecurity, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, IntPtr pPrivHostBinder, Boolean forIntrospection)
at System.Reflection.RuntimeAssembly.InternalLoad(String assemblyString, Evidence assemblySecurity, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Boolean forIntrospection)
at System.Reflection.Assembly.Load(String assemblyString)
at System.UnitySerializationHolder.GetRealObject(StreamingContext context)
at System.Runtime.Serialization.ObjectManager.ResolveObjectReference(ObjectHolder holder)
at System.Runtime.Serialization.ObjectManager.DoFixups()
at System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.ObjectReader.Deserialize(HeaderHandler handler, __BinaryParser serParser, Boolean fCheck, Boolean isCrossAppDomain, IMethodCallMessage methodCallMessage)
at System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter.Deserialize(Stream serializationStream, HeaderHandler handler, Boolean fCheck, Boolean isCrossAppDomain, IMethodCallMessage methodCallMessage)
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.CrossAppDomainSerializer.DeserializeObject(MemoryStream stm)
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.SmuggledMethodReturnMessage.FixupForNewAppDomain()
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.CrossAppDomainSink.SyncProcessMessage(IMessage reqMsg)
Exception rethrown at [0]:
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.HandleReturnMessage(IMessage reqMsg, IMessage retMsg)
at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PrivateInvoke(MessageData& msgData, Int32 type)
at Microsoft.Build.Framework.ITask.Execute()
at Microsoft.Build.BackEnd.TaskExecutionHost.Microsoft.Build.BackEnd.ITaskExecutionHost.Execute()
at Microsoft.Build.BackEnd.TaskBuilder.<ExecuteInstantiatedTask>d__26.MoveNext()
WRN: Assembly binding logging is turned OFF.
To enable assembly bind failure logging, set the registry value [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Fusion!EnableLog] (DWORD) to 1.
Note: There is some performance penalty associated with assembly bind failure logging.
To turn this feature off, remove the registry value [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Fusion!EnableLog]. WordAddInTest
Noting the advice at the end about Fusion Logging, if I set that registry value it adds the following information:
=== Pre-bind state information ===
LOG: DisplayName = WordAddInTest, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null
(Fully-specified)
LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/applications/programming/Visual Studio 2019 Community/MSBuild/Current/Bin/
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL
Calling assembly : (Unknown).
===
LOG: This bind starts in default load context.
LOG: Using application configuration file: C:\applications\programming\Visual Studio 2019 Community\MSBuild\Current\Bin\MSBuild.exe.Config
LOG: Using host configuration file:
LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config.
LOG: Policy not being applied to reference at this time (private, custom, partial, or location-based assembly bind).
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/applications/programming/Visual Studio 2019 Community/MSBuild/Current/Bin/WordAddInTest.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/applications/programming/Visual Studio 2019 Community/MSBuild/Current/Bin/WordAddInTest/WordAddInTest.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/applications/programming/Visual Studio 2019 Community/MSBuild/Current/Bin/WordAddInTest.EXE.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/applications/programming/Visual Studio 2019 Community/MSBuild/Current/Bin/WordAddInTest/WordAddInTest.EXE. WordAddInTest
Visual Studio is looking for my Add-in DLL in the MSBuild directory.
Is it just not possible to use Entity Framework in a VSTO Add-in project? Is there another logical explanation for why it can’t compile? I haven’t been able to find any other reports of the same problem, and I can’t imagine I’m the first person to try it.
I realize there is more required to actually use the EntityFramework to access a database, but this is a compilation error, so it isn’t even getting that far.
Thank you for any help that can be provided.
UPDATE:
Following is .vbproj (equivalent of .csproj) file in case it can shed some light on identifying/solving the issue:
<Project ToolsVersion="16.0" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props" Condition="Exists('$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props')" />
<!--
This section defines project-level properties.
AssemblyName
Name of the output assembly.
Configuration
Specifies a default value for debug.
OutputType
Must be "Library" for VSTO.
Platform
Specifies what CPU the output of this project can run on.
NoStandardLibraries
Set to "false" for VSTO.
RootNamespace
In C#, this specifies the namespace given to new files. In VB, all objects are
wrapped in this namespace at runtime.
-->
<PropertyGroup>
<ProjectTypeGuids>{BAA0C2D2-18E2-41B9-852F-F413020CAA33};{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}</ProjectTypeGuids>
<Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
<Platform Condition=" '$(Platform)' == '' ">AnyCPU</Platform>
<ProjectGuid>{A4902970-1F65-45A0-AED0-5B3398DFE0CD}</ProjectGuid>
<OutputType>Library</OutputType>
<NoStandardLibraries>false</NoStandardLibraries>
<RootNamespace>WordAddinTest</RootNamespace>
<AssemblyName>WordAddinTest</AssemblyName>
<LoadBehavior>3</LoadBehavior>
<TargetFrameworkVersion>v4.8</TargetFrameworkVersion>
<DefineConstants>VSTO40</DefineConstants>
<BootstrapperEnabled>true</BootstrapperEnabled>
<BootstrapperComponentsLocation>HomeSite</BootstrapperComponentsLocation>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<BootstrapperPackage Include="Microsoft.VSTORuntime.4.0">
<Visible>False</Visible>
<ProductName>Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime %28x86 and x64%29</ProductName>
<Install>true</Install>
</BootstrapperPackage>
</ItemGroup>
<PropertyGroup>
<!--
OfficeApplication
Add-in host application
-->
<OfficeApplication>Word</OfficeApplication>
</PropertyGroup>
<!--
This section defines properties that are set when the "Debug" configuration is selected.
DebugSymbols
If "true", create symbols (.pdb). If "false", do not create symbols.
DefineConstants
Constants defined for the preprocessor.
EnableUnmanagedDebugging
If "true", starting the debugger will attach both managed and unmanaged debuggers.
Optimize
If "true", optimize the build output. If "false", do not optimize.
OutputPath
Output path of project relative to the project file.
WarningLevel
Warning level for the compiler.
-->
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
<DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
<DebugType>full</DebugType>
<Optimize>false</Optimize>
<OutputPath>bin\Debug\</OutputPath>
<EnableUnmanagedDebugging>false</EnableUnmanagedDebugging>
<DefineConstants>$(DefineConstants);DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
<WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
</PropertyGroup>
<!--
This section defines properties that are set when the "Release" configuration is selected.
DebugSymbols
If "true", create symbols (.pdb). If "false", do not create symbols.
DefineConstants
Constants defined for the preprocessor.
EnableUnmanagedDebugging
If "true", starting the debugger will attach both managed and unmanaged debuggers.
Optimize
If "true", optimize the build output. If "false", do not optimize.
OutputPath
Output path of project relative to the project file.
WarningLevel
Warning level for the compiler.
-->
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
<DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
<Optimize>true</Optimize>
<OutputPath>bin\Release\</OutputPath>
<EnableUnmanagedDebugging>false</EnableUnmanagedDebugging>
<DefineConstants>$(DefineConstants);TRACE</DefineConstants>
<WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
</PropertyGroup>
<!--
This section specifies references for the project.
-->
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="Accessibility" />
<Reference Include="System" />
<Reference Include="System.Data" />
<Reference Include="System.Drawing" />
<Reference Include="System.Windows.Forms" />
<Reference Include="System.Xml" />
<Reference Include="System.Core" />
<Reference Include="System.Xml.Linq" />
<Reference Include="System.Data.DataSetExtensions" />
<Reference Include="Microsoft.CSharp" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Tools.v4.0.Framework, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
<Private>False</Private>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.VisualStudio.Tools.Applications.Runtime, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
<Private>False</Private>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Tools, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
<Private>False</Private>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Tools.Common, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
<Private>False</Private>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Tools.Word, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
<Private>False</Private>
</Reference>
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Tools.Common.v4.0.Utilities, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
<Private>True</Private>
</Reference>
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="Office, Version=15.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=71e9bce111e9429c">
<Private>False</Private>
<EmbedInteropTypes>true</EmbedInteropTypes>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word, Version=15.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=71e9bce111e9429c">
<Private>False</Private>
<EmbedInteropTypes>true</EmbedInteropTypes>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="stdole, Version=7.0.3300.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a">
<Private>False</Private>
</Reference>
</ItemGroup>
<!--
This section defines the user source files that are part of the project.
A "Compile" element specifies a source file to compile.
An "EmbeddedResource" element specifies an .resx file for embedded resources.
A "None" element specifies a file that is not to be passed to the compiler (for instance,
a text file or XML file).
The "AppDesigner" element specifies the directory where the application properties files
can be found.
-->
<ItemGroup>
<Compile Include="Model.cs" />
<Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs">
<SubType>Code</SubType>
</Compile>
<EmbeddedResource Include="Properties\Resources.resx">
<Generator>ResXFileCodeGenerator</Generator>
<LastGenOutput>Resources.Designer.cs</LastGenOutput>
<SubType>Designer</SubType>
</EmbeddedResource>
<Compile Include="Properties\Resources.Designer.cs">
<AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
<DependentUpon>Resources.resx</DependentUpon>
</Compile>
<None Include="WordAddinTest_TemporaryKey.pfx" />
<None Include="Properties\Settings.settings">
<Generator>SettingsSingleFileGenerator</Generator>
<LastGenOutput>Settings.Designer.cs</LastGenOutput>
</None>
<Compile Include="Properties\Settings.Designer.cs">
<AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
<DependentUpon>Settings.settings</DependentUpon>
</Compile>
<Compile Include="Ribbon1.cs" />
<Compile Include="ThisAddIn.cs">
<SubType>Code</SubType>
</Compile>
<None Include="ThisAddIn.Designer.xml">
<DependentUpon>ThisAddIn.cs</DependentUpon>
</None>
<Compile Include="ThisAddIn.Designer.cs">
<DependentUpon>ThisAddIn.Designer.xml</DependentUpon>
</Compile>
<AppDesigner Include="Properties\" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<EmbeddedResource Include="Ribbon1.xml" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Sqlite">
<Version>3.1.4</Version>
</PackageReference>
<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Tools">
<Version>3.1.4</Version>
<IncludeAssets>runtime; build; native; contentfiles; analyzers; buildtransitive</IncludeAssets>
<PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
</PackageReference>
</ItemGroup>
<PropertyGroup>
<VisualStudioVersion Condition="'$(VisualStudioVersion)' == ''">10.0</VisualStudioVersion>
<VSToolsPath Condition="'$(VSToolsPath)' == ''">$(MSBuildExtensionsPath32)\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v$(VisualStudioVersion)</VSToolsPath>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup>
<SignManifests>true</SignManifests>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup>
<ManifestKeyFile>WordAddinTest_TemporaryKey.pfx</ManifestKeyFile>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup>
<ManifestCertificateThumbprint>002EE54C6C297029AF8A7691A5DAC8F51DACA96A</ManifestCertificateThumbprint>
</PropertyGroup>
<!-- Include the build rules for a C# project. -->
<Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
<!-- Include additional build rules for an Office application add-in. -->
<Import Project="$(VSToolsPath)\OfficeTools\Microsoft.VisualStudio.Tools.Office.targets" Condition="'$(VSToolsPath)' != ''" />
<!-- This section defines VSTO properties that describe the host-changeable project properties. -->
<ProjectExtensions>
<VisualStudio>
<FlavorProperties GUID="{BAA0C2D2-18E2-41B9-852F-F413020CAA33}">
<ProjectProperties HostName="Word" HostPackage="{29A7B9D7-A7F1-4328-8EF0-6B2D1A56B2C1}" OfficeVersion="15.0" VstxVersion="4.0" ApplicationType="Word" Language="cs" TemplatesPath="" DebugInfoExeName="#Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\InstallRoot\Path#WINWORD.EXE" DebugInfoCommandLine="/x" AddItemTemplatesGuid="{51063C3A-E220-4D12-8922-BDA915ACD783}" />
<Host Name="Word" GeneratedCodeNamespace="WordAddinTest" IconIndex="0">
<HostItem Name="ThisAddIn" Code="ThisAddIn.cs" CanonicalName="AddIn" CanActivate="false" IconIndex="1" Blueprint="ThisAddIn.Designer.xml" GeneratedCode="ThisAddIn.Designer.cs" />
</Host>
</FlavorProperties>
</VisualStudio>
</ProjectExtensions>
</Project>
