-link (Visual Basic)

Causes the compiler to make COM type information in the specified assemblies available to the project that you are currently compiling.

Syntax

-link:fileList  

or

-l:fileList  

Arguments

Remarks

The -link option enables you to deploy an application that has embedded type information. The application can then use types in a runtime assembly that implement the embedded type information without requiring a reference to the runtime assembly. If various versions of the runtime assembly are published, the application that contains the embedded type information can work with the various versions without having to be recompiled. For an example, see Walkthrough: Embedding Types from Managed Assemblies.

Using the -link option is especially useful when you are working with COM interop. You can embed COM types so that your application no longer requires a primary interop assembly (PIA) on the target computer. The -link option instructs the compiler to embed the COM type information from the referenced interop assembly into the resulting compiled code. The COM type is identified by the CLSID (GUID) value. As a result, your application can run on a target computer that has installed the same COM types with the same CLSID values. Applications that automate Microsoft Office are a good example. Because applications like Office usually keep the same CLSID value across different versions, your application can use the referenced COM types as long as .NET Framework 4 or later is installed on the target computer and your application uses methods, properties, or events that are included in the referenced COM types.

The -link option embeds only interfaces, structures, and delegates. Embedding COM classes is not supported.

To set the -link option in Visual Studio, add an assembly reference and set the Embed Interop Types property to true. The default for the Embed Interop Types property is false.

If you link to a COM assembly (Assembly A) which itself references another COM assembly (Assembly B), you also have to link to Assembly B if either of the following is true:

• A type from Assembly A inherits from a type or implements an interface from Assembly B.

• A field, property, event, or method that has a return type or parameter type from Assembly B is invoked.

Use -libpath to specify the directory in which one or more of your assembly references is located.

Like the -reference compiler option, the -link compiler option uses the Vbc.rsp response file, which references frequently used .NET Framework assemblies. Use the -noconfig compiler option if you do not want the compiler to use the Vbc.rsp file.

The short form of -link is -l.

Generics and Embedded Types

The following sections describe the limitations on using generic types in applications that embed interop types.

Generic Interfaces

Generic interfaces that are embedded from an interop assembly cannot be used. This is shown in the following example.

' The following code causes an error if ISampleInterface is an embedded interop type.
Dim sample As ISampleInterface(Of SampleType)

Types That Have Generic Parameters

Types that have a generic parameter whose type is embedded from an interop assembly cannot be used if that type is from an external assembly. This restriction does not apply to interfaces. For example, consider the Range interface that is defined in the Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel assembly. If a library embeds interop types from the Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel assembly and exposes a method that returns a generic type that has a parameter whose type is the Range interface, that method must return a generic interface, as shown in the following code example.

Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel

Class Utility
    ' The following code causes an error when called by a client assembly.
    Public Function GetRange1() As List(Of Range)

End Function

' The following code is valid for calls from a client assembly.
Public Function GetRange2() As IList(Of Range)

    End Function
End Class

In the following example, client code can call the method that returns the IList generic interface without error.

Module Client
    Public Sub Main()
        Dim util As New Utility()

        ' The following code causes an error.
        Dim rangeList1 As List(Of Range) = util.GetRange1()

        ' The following code is valid.
        Dim rangeList2 As List(Of Range) = CType(util.GetRange2(), List(Of Range))
    End Sub
End Module

Example

The following command line compiles source file OfficeApp.vb and reference assemblies from COMData1.dll and COMData2.dll to produce OfficeApp.exe.

vbc -link:COMData1.dll,COMData2.dll -out:OfficeApp.exe OfficeApp.vb  

See also

• Visual Basic Command-Line Compiler
• Walkthrough: Embedding Types from Managed Assemblies
• -reference (Visual Basic)
• -noconfig
• -libpath
• Sample Compilation Command Lines
• Introduction to COM Interop