Debugging SQL Server Reporting Services: How to Manage DLL Versions with Visual Studio

Описание: Learn how to check DLL versions and understand loaded assemblies when debugging SQL Server Reporting Services with Visual Studio.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/159135/ asked by the user 'Bob Albright' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/15050/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/160858/ provided by the user 'Brian' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/19299/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Debugging SQL Server Reporting Services: Managing DLL Versions in Visual Studio

Debugging SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) can be quite challenging, especially when dealing with DLL versions. Developers often run into issues where the wrong version of a DLL is loaded, leading to confusion and frustration. In this guide, we will address a common problem faced by developers when using Visual Studio's "Attach to Process" feature for debugging add-ins and provide comprehensive solutions to effectively manage DLL versions.

The Problem at Hand

In our scenario, a developer is attempting to debug add-ins for SQL Server Reporting Services using Visual Studio. The typical process involves copying the necessary DLL and PDB files into the appropriate directory. However, using an msbuild script for this task sometimes results in the wrong version of DLLs being loaded, which complicates debugging efforts. As a result, there are two key questions that arise:

How can you check the current version of a DLL and determine if it is incompatible with another version?

How can you identify which DLLs and versions are actually loaded by the ReportServer process?

Solution Breakdown

To tackle these issues, we will provide step-by-step solutions for each question. Understanding how to inspect DLL versions and identify loaded assemblies will significantly improve your debugging process.

1. Checking the Current Version of a DLL

To assess the version of a DLL and verify its compatibility, you can use a tool called ildasm.exe. Here’s how you can do this:

Step 1: Open the Developer Command Prompt for Visual Studio.

Step 2: Navigate to the directory that contains the DLL file you want to inspect.

Step 3: Run the following command:

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Step 4: After invoking ildasm, a window will pop up displaying information about the assembly. Look for the version number in the assembly metadata.

Using ildasm.exe is an effective way to verify the version of a DLL. Keep in mind that mismatches in DLL versions could lead to unexpected behavior when the application is run, so it’s crucial to ensure compatibility.

2. Identifying Loaded DLLs and Their Versions

To find out what DLLs and their corresponding versions are currently loaded by the ReportServer process, follow these steps within Visual Studio:

Step 1: Launch your application and connect to the SQL Server Reporting Services instance you want to debug.

Step 2: In Visual Studio, go to Debug > Attach to Process.

Step 3: Select the ReportServer process (usually named something like ReportingServices.exe).

Step 4: Once attached, navigate to the Modules window (go to Debug > Windows > Modules if it isn’t already open).

In this Modules window, you will see a list of all loaded assemblies, along with their version numbers. This allows you to easily verify if the correct versions of your add-ins are being used and troubleshoot any potential issues arising from version conflicts.

Conclusion

Debugging SQL Server Reporting Services can become much clearer when you know how to inspect DLL versions and understand what is actively loaded during runtime. By utilizing tools like ildasm.exe and the Visual Studio Modules window, you can ensure compatibility and optimize your debugging efforts significantly. Armed with these insights, you’ll be better equipped to handle any challenges that arise in the development and debugging process.

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy debugging!