How can the Wcf Test Client be used without Visual Studio?

Question

When WcfTestClient.exe is copied to another machine by itself, runtime errors prevent you from connecting to a WCF service, for example:

System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or Assembly 'Microsoft.Build.Utilities.Core, Version=15.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.

How can this tool be used without installing Visual Studio?

This is a valid question working professionals wind up needing the answer to over and over. Any suggestions on how to reduce the broad nature of the question instead of closing something with such value? — Shaun Wilson, May 12 '16 at 18:13

score 20 · Answer 1 · edited Oct 05 '15 at 17:28

To run WCFTestClient.exe as a standalone appplication (without install a full version of Visual Studio 2010):

Create a directory in the dest. machine and copy wcftestclient.exe there (only that file).
Copy Microsoft.VisualStudio.VirtualTreeGrid.dll (version 10) from file below to same directory of wcftestclient.exe in the dest. machine.
```
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly\GAC_MSIL\Microsoft.VisualStudio.VirtualTreeGrid\v4.0_10.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a
```

You would create in your destination machine the following two registry keys:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\WinSDK-NetFx40Tools-x64]
"InstallationFolder"="\"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\WinSDK-NetFx40Tools-x86]
"InstallationFolder"="\"

Step note: You could export them from your development machine (maybe you could find another version, but please try with v7.0A first).

Then you will need copy from:
```
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\Bin\NETFX 4.0 Tools\svcutil.exe
```
to your destination machine (same directory as wcftestclient.exe)

Step note: Is important this version of svcutil.exe
Run wcftestclient.exe

Final notes: You will need only two .exe files and one .dll (wcftestclient.exe, svcutil.exe and Microsoft.VisualStudio.VirtualTreeGrid.dll) to run the application.

^{More information}

The zip from the download link doesn't need a registry edit and contains the following files: WcfSvcHost.exe.config, Microsoft.VisualStudio.VirtualTreeGrid.dll, _System.Data.dll_, WcfTestClient.chm, SvcUtil.exe, WcfTestClient.exe.config, WcfSvcHost.exe, SvcUtil.exe.config, WcfTestClient.exe, WcfSvcHost.chm — ofthelit, Mar 07 '17 at 11:02
I followed the instructions and it worked without the registry edit. — maf-soft, May 30 '17 at 19:21

score 15 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 05 '14 at 12:39

15

The above mentioned link doesn't work anymore. New page that contains a link: https://community.dynamics.com/crm/b/workandstudybook/archive/2014/06/03/standalone-wcftestclient.aspx

answered Sep 05 '14 at 12:39

Benj

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@Benj: this should have been a comment. – Erik Kaplun Oct 06 '15 at 18:45

score 8 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 07 '15 at 12:38

8

The direct link of file Benj pointed, is https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=4CF16D17C29C8F61!1580&authkey=!ADkPUmhfdAQS5Hg&ithint=file%2c.zip

answered Jan 07 '15 at 12:38

lomec

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This may serve better as a comment or even edit to Benj's answer, rather than a standalone one. It doesn't really provide additional value to the existing answers to this question. – Serlite Oct 05 '15 at 21:02
By the way, .NET 3.5 is required to run the full WcfTestClient.exe. – Tomex Ou Apr 13 '21 at 02:40

How can the Wcf Test Client be used without Visual Studio?

3 Answers3

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