Adding an assembly to the Global Assembly Cache.

Q:

I am working on the vsta install and I need to run GacUtil (only found the .config file), regasm (found in the .net framework) and tlbutil (nowhere to be found) on a fresh machine.  I have a .bat file that needs to register out COM dll into the GAC.  I am finding that the vsta20.exe and the framework doesn’t have all of these utilities.. is there an easy way to do this?

A:

The recommended and usual way to install an assembly into the GAC (Global Assembly Cache) is to use the windows installer.

How to: Install an Assembly into the Global Assembly Cache

With Installshield:

Install your proxy into the Global Assembly Cache

                [GlobalAssemblyCache] for Components Containing a .NET Assembly

                If a component contains a .NET assembly, you can set the component's destination to [GlobalAssemblyCache]. When a .NET assembly is installed to a target system's Global Assembly Cache, the assembly can be accessed by other applications on the system.

                NOTE

                To install an assembly to the Global Assembly Cache, the .NET Scan at Build component property must be set to either Properties Only or Dependencies and Properties.

Q:

Can you install prebuilt PIA’s this way?

A:

Yes, this is the recommended approach for installing assemblies into the GAC. 

Q111094: INFO: Troubleshooting .NET Assembly Installation Issues