Compiling with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 C# Express?

[truevis]

I am just trying to make RoomSchedule.dll from the SDK samples. Most of the Debug menu is greyed-out -- I've got RoomSchedule.csproj loaded.

What am I missing?

[r.howarth]

normally I have to delete and re-add the reference to revitapi.dll when i run a sample, also copy it to another folder and I think sometimes they are made read-only, so check that on the files..

[cbuckreus]

If you are trying to use express editions to debug DLLs (as all the Revit API work done in this context is) then you have to start debugging using an external program (Revit).

Normall you can simply go to your project's properties > debug tab and set a path to an external program for debugging. However, the express editions of C# and VB are broken or missing.

After some digging around I found this workaround:

Go to the directory your project is in and locate a file titled XXXX.csproj.user and open it with your favorite text editor. It probably contains only one line:

<Project xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">

In order to debug with an external application add the following lines:

<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
<StartAction>Program</StartAction>
<StartProgram>C:\Program Files\Revit Structure 2009\Program\Revit.exe</StartProgram>
</PropertyGroup>

Now, when you load your project and hit debug Revit should open and alas you are in business.

Hope this helps! Oh, and make sure to add your external tool to the Revit.ini.

Chris

[brian_derrick]

Old post but I'm having an issue when I tried this workaround. I'm new to programming and don't know how to fix this. Whenever I open the project back up (after pasting the text into my XXXX.csproj.user file) I get the attached error. Any ideas?

[truevis]

I don't have an answer for brian_derrick, but does anyone have an update of the workaround to use for Visual Studio Express 2008?