[Ntwiles]

I recently attempted to restructure my solution by dividing it into two projects. After doing so I've started getting the compile error:

Error loading pipeline assembly "C:\Users\Nathan\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Shooter\SharedContent\bin\x86\Debug\SharedContent.dll".

The file it's looking for in fact does not exist, but the path does seem to be correct (SharedContent being the name of one of my projects). I have no idea if it was missing before or if it was somehow deleted. I've researched this issue but nobody seems to be getting this error for quite the same reasons as me. At any rate none of the solutions I've found have had any effect. Can someone tell me what is causing this and how I can fix it?

This post has been edited by Ntwiles: 19 March 2012 - 07:02 AM

[Kilorn]

Have you put references to these projects in the appropriate places? When you have multiple projects, if you want them to interact in any way, you'll need to make sure you've added references.

[Ntwiles]

Yes the secondary project is referenced by the primary one, and by my content project. It worked from the beginning, but at some point as I was moving all my classes over it stopped working. I've tried moving all the classes back to where they originally were, and it still won't compile. I had to manually edit my .csproj file in notepad to fix some other assembly references, which may or may not be related, but I don't think I messed anything up.

[Kilorn]

It might be a good idea to try and re-create the entire solution from scratch, create the two projects, add the appropriate references, and then add the classes back to the proper projects by using "Add Existing Item...". I've seen a few bugs from time to time where things work perfectly fine, then a small change will render the solution unusable.

[Ntwiles]

I was afraid of that. I'll try that right now, thanks.

I did create the secondary project as a Windows Game Library, not a Windows Game. Should/could that have any bearing on this issue?

[Kilorn]

I don't think so. I've got a few projects that have both of those mixed in, including one with about 10 total projects in it, some are Windows Game, and some are Windows Game Library.

[Ntwiles]

Ok I've recreated the entire solution and I'm still getting an error in reference to SharedContent.dll, but this time it's worded:

Metadata file 'C:\Users\Nathan\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\TopDownShooter\SharedContent\bin\x86\Debug\SharedContent.dll' could not be found.

Primary reference "SharedContent".
      Could not find dependent files. Expected file "C:\Users\Nathan\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\TopDownShooter\SharedContent\bin\x86\Debug\SharedContent.dll" does not exist.
      Could not find dependent files. The system cannot find the file specified. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80070002)
      Resolved file path is "C:\Users\Nathan\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\TopDownShooter\SharedContent\bin\x86\Debug\SharedContent.dll".
      Reference found at search path location "".

This is the first time I've experimented with using multiple projects in one solution, is it possible I'm doing something wrong in creating it?

This post has been edited by Ntwiles: 19 March 2012 - 08:04 AM

[Kilorn]

Perhaps. Give me a brief overview of how your solution is laid out, including the names of the projects, for instance:

Solution
- Project 1
- Project 1 (Content)
- Project 2

Then explain the references that you've set up for these projects.

[Ntwiles]

Sure, it's a pretty simple layout:

TopDownShooter(Solution)
- SharedContent (Windows Game Library)
- - References not modified
- TopDownShooter (Windows Game)
- - References SharedContent
- TopDownShooterContent
- - References SharedContent

I put only the references I added myself. All three projects also have a number of System and Microsoft.Xna references by default of course, and TopDownShooter references the content project. Am I right in assuming that my game library doesn't need to have content references?

[Kilorn]

Check the properties for the reference in TopDownShooter (Game) to SharedContent and ensure that the Copy Local is set to true.

[Ntwiles]

It is, as well as the one in TopDownShooterContent.

Is this .dll file one that should exist in the folder its searching? I don't see it in other game solutions I have either.

[Kilorn]

The .dll file is the reference that you are adding to the projects. With "Copy Local" set to true, this .dll should be copied to the local directory of the project that the reference belongs to. Which in your case would be the TopDownShooter projects bin\x86\Debug directory.

[Ntwiles]

I did some more research and it was said in a few places that this error is actually just a red herring caused by the project not finishing its build.

I spent all that time trying to fix this error and all I had to do was fix all my other errors first. Lesson learned I guess (:

[Kilorn]

That's certainly interesting. I'll definitely remember this if it ever happens to me, or if anyone else ever asks a question like this. Good job on getting it worked out.