Description

This error occurs when a .NET project uses a file reference instead of a project reference to an OpenSpan project. If you add the reference to the OpenSpan assembly (built OpenSpan project file), the project will lack the required OpenSpan native files.

Solution

When referencing an OpenSpan project, the recommended procedure is to include the OpenSpan project in the same solution which contains your .NET project and then add a reference to the project.

For example, suppose you want to use the Windows and Web applications and corresponding controls that have been interrogated in an OpenSpan project: OSCalcGoogleInt.osproj. Do the following to reference the project:

1. Create or open the solution containing your main, .NET project.
2. Right-click on the solution in the Solution Explorer and select Add | Existing Project. The Add Existing Project dialog displays.
3. Navigate to the location of the OpenSpan project that you want to reference and select the .osproj file (e.g., OSCalcGoogleInt.osproj). Click Open to add the project and dismiss the Add Existing Project dialog. The OpenSpan project along with all of the project items and references displays in the Solution Explorer.
4. Midify the Project Properties for the OpenSpan project so that a deployment package is not created when the project is built. To do this, right-click on the OpenSpan project and select Properties from the local menu. Then, open the Deployment tab and set the Create Deployment Package property to False.
5. Save the solution.
6. Build the OpenSpan project. Right-click on the project in the Solution Explorer and select Build from the local menu. Build messages display and the build status "Build Succeeded" displays on the status bar if the process completed without error.
7. Add the OpenSpan project as a reference to the main .NET project. Right-click on the .NET project in the Solution Explorer and select "Add Reference....". The Add Reference dialog displays.
8. Open the Projects tab and highlight the OpenSpan project you just built. Click OK to add the reference. The Add Reference dialog closes and the OpenSpan project is listed under the References in the Solution Explorer for the .NET project.
9. The .NET project will require the OpenSpan assemblies used by the referenced OpenSpan project. Add the required OpenSpan assemblies from the OpenSpan Studio installation folder (for the OpenSpan Plug-in, the default folder location is: C:\Program Files\OpenSpan\OpenSpan Plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008). To add the OpenSpan assemblies, return to the Add Reference dialog (right-click on the .NET project and select "Add Reference").
10. In the Add Reference dialog, select the Browse tab and then navigate to the OpenSpan Plug-in installation folder.
11. Select the OpenSpan assemblies that apply for the referenced OpenSpan project (listed under the OpenSpan Project -> References in the Solution Explorer. At a minimum, you will need to add the following:
    • OpenSpan.dll
    • OpenSpan.Adapters.dll
    • Assemblies for specific adapters (e.g., OpenSpan.Adapters.Web.dll)
12. Build the project.

If you are missing any other assemblies required by the OpenSpan project, build errors will notify you of the specific missing assemblies. Return to the Add Reference - Browse tab and add the missing assemblies.

Work Around

If you are not able to reference the OpenSpan project file, you can reference the built OpenSpan project file, however, you will need to manually copy all of the OpenSpan native files required for the OpenSpan project. Copy these files from the final build output folder for the referenced OpenSpan project to the output folder for your project.