Output files

The Dictionary Assembly Generator produces two output files that are used in your integration: an application assembly and IntelliSense data file.

Application assembly

The most important output is the application assembly. This is the managed code assembly that provides access to the resources in a dictionary. Each dictionary can have one corresponding application assembly.

The following naming convention is used for application dictionaries:

Application.ProductName.dll

The following naming convention is used for forms dictionaries:

Application.ProductName.ModifiedForms.dll

ProductName is automatically derived from product name in the launch file. Any spaces or special characters in the product name are removed.

For example, the application assembly that provides access to resources in the SRVCADV.dic application dictionary is named Application.FieldService.dll. The application assembly that provides access to the resources in the forms dictionary (FRMS949.dic) is named Application.FieldService.ModifiedForms.dll.

IntelliSense data file

The second type of output from the Dictionary Assembly Generator is the IntelliSense data file that will be used by Visual Studio. This file has the same name as its corresponding application assembly, but has the .xml extension. As you write code, Visual Studio will use the information from this file to display details about the resources that can be accessed through the application assembly. An example of the IntelliSense for a dictionary resource is shown in the following illustration.