[RESOLVED] Serialization done in DLL won't work in 2nd pgm

[n_minus_one]

I've written one pgm that used byte serialization to save a file. It eventually morphed into a program and a library class (dll) so I could save/retrieve the byte serialization/desrerialization file from a different program that would use the same dll that originally serialized file in the first program.
But, the first program seems to own the serialized file, not the DLL. The first progam is GenerateEventList and has the added reference Imports EventDBS which is the DLL. The second program EventDisplay also has Imports EventDBS to read the file. It produces the exception:

Failed: Unable to find assembly 'GenerateEventList ...'

Is this a build error, do the two programs and the dll need to reside in the same folder or folders?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Merrion]

Does the dll contain a reference to the first application?
This could be a code reference, a namespace or resources etc.

[n_minus_one]

Thanks Merrion. I'm new to VS2010 so I 'm not sure how to check some of your suggestions.

Code references: I think i've checked - the code for EvnetDBS.vb code (the DLL) has no references to GenerateEventList in the code.
Namespace: I have no clue about namespace: what it does, how I check it, its use - nothing.
Resources: Not sure here either what to check for this.

Maybe I haven't declared the DLL properly in the program code?
To include a DLL reference in my program code I have:
0.) Added code: Imports EventDBS in the program code
1.) "Add reference... EventDBS", but in order to get some of the errors to disappear in the code I also had to
2.) "Add an existing item... which again was the EventDBS.vb

May be I haven't written the DLL (EvenetDBS.vb) code properly,

Imports System.IO
Imports System.Runtime.Serialization
Imports System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary

Public Class EventDBS

    <Serializable()> Public Structure EventRec
        Dim EventDate As Date
        Dim AckDate As Date
        Dim EventType As Integer
        Dim Color As Integer
        Dim Freq As Integer
        <VBFixedString(256)> Public Desc As String
    End Structure

    Const BIN_FILE_NAME As String = "EventList"
    Public BIN_PATH_FILE As String = "D:" & "\" & BIN_FILE_NAME  'Environment.CurrentDirectory() 
    Public EventArray(1000) As EventRec

    Public Sub WriteDatFile()
        Dim bf As New BinaryFormatter

        Using fs As New FileStream(BIN_PATH_FILE, FileMode.Create)            
            Try
                bf.Serialize(fs, EventArray)
            Catch ex As SerializationException
                MsgBox("Failed: " & ex.Message)
                Throw
            End Try
        End Using

    End Sub

    Public Sub ReadDatFile()
        Dim bf As New BinaryFormatter

        Using fs As New FileStream(BIN_PATH_FILE, FileMode.Open)
            Try
                EventArray = bf.Deserialize(fs)

            Catch ex As Exception
                MsgBox("Failed: " & ex.Message)
                Throw
            End Try
        End Using
    End Sub
End Class

Maybe some of the Assembly Information for EventDBS is wrong?

Title: ClassLibrary1 <= should this be changed to EventDBS?
Description: <empty>
Company: Microsoft
Product: ClassLibrary1 <= should this be changed to EventDBS?
Copyright: Micosoft 2010
Trademark: <empty>
Assembly Version: 1000
File Version: 1000
GUID: 91513d07-fc1b-4920-9848-b3768dd46a12 <= is this somehow connected?
Neutral Language: (None)

[formlesstree4]

Is the serializable structure in the DLL? If so, both programs need to reference the exact same DLL for it to work.

[n_minus_one]

Thanks Merrion! It indeed was the Namespace giving me grief. What was curious is that the Assembly name also needed to be identical. Hmm, lots of literature about Namespace, not so much about Assembly Names.

I'm thinking that the next project should have all it's programs and dlls in the same folder.

I really appreciate pointing me in the right direction!

Thanks formlesstree4. Your avatar is hilarious.