Before using any .NET SDK command line tools (including the C# compiler), you need to configure the development computer to recognize their existence. The easiest way is to use the Start | All Programs| Visual Studio 2005 | Visual Studio Tools menu options to start the preconfigured Visual Studio Command Prompt. This particular console is able to automatically initialize the necessary environment variables without you doing anything. (Visual Studio .NET 2003 Users need to start their respective command prompts).
Note If you do not have Visual Studio but have already installed the .NET Framework SDK, you can start the preconfigured command prompt from the Start | All Programs| Microsoft .NET Framework SDK 2.0 menu option.
If you want to use the .NET command line tool from any command prompt, you need to manually update the computer's Path variable. The method is to right-click the My Computer icon on the desktop and select the Properties menu option. From the dialog box that appears, click the Environment Variables button located under the Advanced tab. From the dialog box that appears, add the following directory list at the end of the current Path variable in the System variable list box (please note that each entry must be separated by a semicolon):
C:\Windows\\Framework\v2.0.40607
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SDK\v2.0\Bin
Note The above list points to the path to my current .NET 2.0 beta. Your path may vary slightly depending on the installation and version of Visual Studio and/or .NET SDK, so be sure to perform the integrity check.
After updating the Path variable, immediately close all dialog boxes and any Console windows currently open to submit settings. You should now be able to execute and other .NET tools from any command prompts. To perform a test, enter the following command:
csc -?
ildasm -?
If you see a lot of information showing up, you can go ahead.
Note If you do not have Visual Studio but have already installed the .NET Framework SDK, you can start the preconfigured command prompt from the Start | All Programs| Microsoft .NET Framework SDK 2.0 menu option.
If you want to use the .NET command line tool from any command prompt, you need to manually update the computer's Path variable. The method is to right-click the My Computer icon on the desktop and select the Properties menu option. From the dialog box that appears, click the Environment Variables button located under the Advanced tab. From the dialog box that appears, add the following directory list at the end of the current Path variable in the System variable list box (please note that each entry must be separated by a semicolon):
C:\Windows\\Framework\v2.0.40607
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SDK\v2.0\Bin
Note The above list points to the path to my current .NET 2.0 beta. Your path may vary slightly depending on the installation and version of Visual Studio and/or .NET SDK, so be sure to perform the integrity check.
After updating the Path variable, immediately close all dialog boxes and any Console windows currently open to submit settings. You should now be able to execute and other .NET tools from any command prompts. To perform a test, enter the following command:
csc -?
ildasm -?
If you see a lot of information showing up, you can go ahead.