Debugging .NET assemblies built outside of Dev Studio

Question

I have a .NET project which references another assembly that is built outside of the solution.

I have all of the source code to the other assembly - but I can only add it as a ".DLL" reference rather than adding the actual project as a dependency.

The problem is that when I step into the external code, the debugger "steps over" it.

How do I enable "source code" debugging for the external .NET assembly.

Answer 1

If you can have the source code open in another visual studio, once you have started you application you can attach VS to that other process. Ten you can set a breakpoint in that source code and debug from there.

Answer 2

In Tools / Options / Debugging / General, there's an option called "Enable Just my code (Managed Only)". Turn it off.

Answer 3

If you have the dll and want to step into the binary, you would need the dll's pdb file.
About debugging .Net source in this article