C# Reflection: Unable to load System.Net.Http

Question

In my project (running un .NET 4.5) I'm loading in ReflectionOnly context an assembly, which one of it's dependencies is System.Net.Http, Version=4.2.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a.

When I'm trying to load it with:

Assembly.ReflectionOnlyLoad("System.Net.Http, Version=4.2.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a")

I'm getting this exception:

Could not load file or assembly 'System.Net.Http, Version=4.2.0.0, Culture=neutral, 
PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.

How can I load this type properly?

Answer 1

To resolve this issue, you need to ensure that the assembly and its dependencies are available in the application's probing path.

Here are a few possible solutions:

1. Add the assembly to the application's probing path: You can add the assembly to the application's probing path by using the Assembly.LoadFile method. For example:

Assembly.LoadFile("path_to_System.Net.Http.dll");

2. Use a binding redirect: If the assembly is already present in the probing path but with a different version, you can use a binding redirect to redirect the application to the desired version. You can do this by adding a element to the application's configuration file (app.config):

<configuration>
    <runtime>
        <assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">
            <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-4.2.0.0" newVersion="4.2.0.0" />
        </assemblyBinding>
    </runtime> 
</configuration>

3. Use a private assembly: If the assembly is not available in the probing path, you can load it as a private assembly. To do this, you need to use the Assembly.Load method with the LoadFrom parameter. For example:

Assembly.LoadFrom("path_to_System.Net.Http.dll");

Once you have added the assembly and its dependencies to the application's probing path, you should be able to load it using Assembly.ReflectionOnlyLoad.