Cannot get assembly version for footer
I'm using the automatic build versioning mentioned in this question (not the selected answer but the answer that uses the [assembly: AssemblyVersion("1.0.*")] technique). I'm doing this in the footer of my Site.Master file in MVC 2. My code for doing this is as follows:
<div id="footer">
<a href="emailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> - Copyright © 2005-<%= DateTime.Today.Year.ToString() %>, foo LLC. All Rights Reserved.
- Version: <%= Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().GetName().Version.ToString() %>
</div>
The exception I get is a Object reference not set to an instance of an object because GetEntryAssembly() returns NULL. My other options don't work either. GetCallingAssembly() always returns "4.0.0.0" and GetExecutingAssembly() always returns "0.0.0.0". When I go look at my DLLs, everything is versioning as I would expect. But I cannot figure out how to access it to display in my footer!!
Answer
That's because Assembly.GetEntryAssembly() is returning null: there is no "entry" assembly in an ASP.NET site (because the .NET framework is hosted in the w3wp.exe process). Assembly.GetEntryAssembly() is used to get the .exe assembly that you launched from (usually in a console or Windows application)
The reason Assembly.GetAssembly(this.GetType()) is returning an assembly with version "0.0.0.0" is because ASP.NET compiles your Site.Master file into a temporary assembly under your "ASP.NET Temporary Files" folder. this is a reference to the "generated" class.
Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly() is basically the same as Assembly.GetAssembly(this.GetType()) (except it also works when there is no "this" (e.g. in static methods).
The best way would be use explicity use a type that you know exists in the assembly you're after. As an example, I assume your "Site.Master" has a code-behind file that is compiled into the assembly. You can use that instead:
Assembly.GetAssembly(typeof(Site)).GetName().Version.ToString()
(assuming the name of the class is Site)