Get executing assembly name from referenced DLL in C#

Question

What is the best way to get the application name (i.e MyApplication.exe) of the executing assembly from a referenced class library in C#?

I need to open the application's app.config to retrieve some appSettings variables for the referenced DLL.

Answer 1

string exeAssembly = Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().FullName;

Answer 2

If you want to get the current appdomain's config file, then all you need to do is:

ConfigurationManager.AppSettings....

(this requires a reference to System.Configuration of course).

To answer your question, you can do it as Ray said (or use Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().FullName) but I think the problem is easier solved using ConfigurationManager.

Answer 3

You should never couple your libraries to a consumer (in this case Web, WinForm or WCF app). If your library needs configuration settings, then GIVE it to the library. Don't code the library to pull that data from a consumer's config file. Provide overloaded constructors for this (that's what they are for). If you've ever looked at the ConfigurationManager.AppSettings object, it is simply a NameValueCollection. So create a constructor in your library to accept a NameValueCollection and have your consumer GIVE that data to the library.

//Library public class MyComponent { //Constructor public MyComponent(NameValueCollection settings) { //do something with your settings now, like assign to a local collection } }

//Consumer class Program { static void Main(string[] args) { MyComponent component = new MyComponent(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings); } }

Answer 4

To get the exact name without versions, etc. use:

string appName = Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().GetName().Name;

Works with .NET v1.1 and later.