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NuGet Package - DLL from lib folder not referenced?

I've created multiple nuget packages. All of them work fine, besides one: When I add that nuget package, I can see that it is referenced in the packages.config and the dll is downloaded to packages\InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.4.5.999.999\lib\InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.dll but it is not added to the references in the target project.

The dll so far is not targeted to a .NET framework version (such as lib\net45), which should be fine (at least it is for all other working nuget packages I've created).

I checked out Stackoverflow and Google, but I couldn't find something that described the problem. Most solutions were only to clear the NuGet cache or update/re-install the package which didn't help. I also tried it on different computers, the behavior is everywhere the same: all packages are working fine but that one is not.

Here is a look of the package with the NuGet Package Explorer: Screenshot of NuGet Package Explorer

The content of the DLL is rather simple, only two very simple classes: ILSpy Screenshot

I also changed the .net framework version of the project to different .net versions (also other than 4.5.2)

I can manually add the reference in the target project, when selecting the dll in the packages\InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.4.5.999.999\lib\InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.dll without any problems and use the classes of this assembly.

(Btw. do not wonder about the version number 999.999, that is just, when I build locally to debug problems in nuget packages)

This is the output of the package manager, when adding the package:

Attempting to gather dependency information for package 'InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.4.5.999.999' with respect to project 'ConsoleApp8', targeting '.NETFramework,Version=v4.5.2'
Gathering dependency information took 65,78 ms
Attempting to resolve dependencies for package 'InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.4.5.999.999' with DependencyBehavior 'Lowest'
Resolving dependency information took 0 ms
Resolving actions to install package 'InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.4.5.999.999'
Resolved actions to install package 'InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.4.5.999.999'
Retrieving package 'InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources 4.5.999.999' from 'LocalPackage'.
Adding package 'InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.4.5.999.999' to folder 'C:\Users\AmonD\Source\Repos\ConsoleApp8\packages'
Added package 'InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.4.5.999.999' to folder 'C:\Users\AmonD\Source\Repos\ConsoleApp8\packages'
Added package 'InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.4.5.999.999' to 'packages.config'
Successfully installed 'InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources 4.5.999.999' to ConsoleApp8
Executing nuget actions took 375,64 ms
Time Elapsed: 00:00:00.5244957
========== Finished ==========

The packages.config looks like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<packages>
  <package id="InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources" version="4.5.999.999" targetFramework="net452" />
</packages>

The Package.nuspec file:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/packaging/2013/05/nuspec.xsd">
  <metadata>
    <!-- The identifier that must be unique within the hosting gallery -->
    <id>InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources</id>

    <!-- The package version number that is used when resolving dependencies -->
    <version>$fullversion$</version>

    <!-- Authors contain text that appears directly on the gallery -->
    <authors>Dominik Amon</authors>

    <!-- Owners are typically nuget.org identities that allow gallery
            users to easily find other packages by the same owners.  -->
    <owners>amond</owners>

    <!-- License and project URLs provide links for the gallery -->
    <licenseUrl>https://wikis.oe.wknet/applikationsentwicklung/inhouse-framework</licenseUrl>
    <projectUrl>https://wikis.oe.wknet/applikationsentwicklung/inhouse-framework</projectUrl>

    <!-- The icon is used in Visual Studio's package manager UI -->
    <iconUrl>https://tae.dev.oe.wknet/InhouseVisualStudioGallery/Nuget.png</iconUrl>

    <!-- If true, this value prompts the user to accept the license when
            installing the package. -->
    <requireLicenseAcceptance>false</requireLicenseAcceptance>

    <!-- Any details about this particular release -->
    <releaseNotes></releaseNotes>

    <description>Basis Resourcen für das InhouseFramework</description>

    <!-- Copyright information -->
    <copyright>Copyright ©2018 Inhouse WKO IT</copyright>

    <!-- Tags appear in the gallery and can be used for tag searches -->
    <tags>inhouseframework inhouse framework resources</tags>


  </metadata>

  <!-- A readme.txt to display when the package is installed -->
  <files>
    <file src="..\..\FrameworkLight\Resources\obj\$configuration$\InhouseWKOIT.Framework.Resources.dll" target="lib" />
  </files>
</package>

Any ideas why the reference to the dll is not set automatically to the target project?

Solution

  • I actually found the issue, the package is fine, the problem is the name of the dll, ending with *.Resources.dll - When I changed the name of the assembly to something else, everything worked fine. So I was looking now for naming issues in NuGet Packages and found the following article:

    Use NuGet to add a project assembly reference to a file named *.Resources.dll