Is there a way to set the application binding policy so
that it always binds to the latest version of an
assembly? I'm hoping there is a way to avoid updating the
application's binding configuration every time there is
an update to a shared assembly.

Use the BindingRedirect Element in the config file. MSDN
Link : http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp
url=/library/en-us/cpgenref/html/gngrfbindingredirect.asp

<msdn_snip>

..NET Framework General Reference

<bindingRedirect> Element
Redirects one assembly version to another.

<configuration>
<runtime>
<assemblyBinding>
<dependentAssembly>
<bindingRedirect>

<bindingRedirect
oldVersion="old assembly version"
newVersion="new assembly version"/>
Required Attributes
Attribute Description
oldVersion Specifies the version of the assembly that was
originally requested. The format of an assembly version
number is major.minor.build.revision. Valid values for
each part of this version number are 0 to 65535.
You can also specify a range of versions in the following
format:

n.n.n.n - n.n.n.n

newVersion Specifies the version of the assembly to use
instead of the originally requested version in the format:
n.n.n.n

Remarks
When you build a .NET Framework application against a
strong-named assembly, the application uses that version
of the assembly at run time by default, even if a new
version is available. However, you can configure the
application to run against a newer version of the
assembly. For details on how the runtime uses these files
to determine which assembly version to use, see How the
Runtime Locates Assemblies.

You can redirect more than one assembly version by
including multiple <bindingRedirect> elements in a
<dependentAssembly> element.

Explicit assembly binding redirection in an application
configuration file requires a security permission. This
applies to redirection of .NET Framework assemblies and
assemblies from third parties. The permission is granted
by setting the <bindingRedirect> Element flag on the
SecurityPermission Class. For more information, see
Assembly Binding Redirection Security Permission.

Example
The following example shows how to redirect one assembly
version to another.

<configuration>
<runtime>
<assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-
com:asm.v1">
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity name="myAssembly"

publicKeyToken="32ab4ba45e0a69a1"
culture="neutral" />
<bindingRedirect oldVersion="1.0.0.0"
newVersion="2.0.0.0"/>
</dependentAssembly>
</assemblyBinding>
</runtime>
</configuration>
Configuration File
This element can be used in the application configuration
file, machine configuration file (machine.config), and the
publisher policy file.

See Also
Runtime Settings Schema | Configuration File Schema |
Redirecting Assembly Versions

</msdn_snip>

Hope this helps

regards,

sr

>-----Original Message-----
>Is there a way to set the application binding policy so
>that it always binds to the latest version of an
>assembly? I'm hoping there is a way to avoid updating the
>application's binding configuration every time there is
>an update to a shared assembly.
>
>.
>

Right. But, this doesn't give you the latest available version - you have
to specify the newVersion, with no wildcards. This is by design, and for
good reason - always using the latest version causes dll hell (see
http://blogs.gotdotnet.com/suzcook/P...3-56c29a59b22d )
..

But, if the problem is that you're changing your assembly version for every
build, you may want to consider keeping them the same, and then only
changing them after each shipping build. See
http://blogs.gotdotnet.com/suzcook/P...8-65f3eac85274
for details.


Suzanne Cook
My .NET CLR Loader blog: http://blogs.gotdotnet.com/suzcook/
--
Please do not respond directly to this alias. This alias is for newsgroup
purposes only. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.



"SR" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:052701c350b4$d72aaf20$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Use the BindingRedirect Element in the config file. MSDN
> Link : http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?
> url=/library/en-us/cpgenref/html/gngrfbindingredirect.asp
>
> <msdn_snip>
>
> .NET Framework General Reference
>
> <bindingRedirect> Element
> Redirects one assembly version to another.
>
> <configuration>
> <runtime>
> <assemblyBinding>
> <dependentAssembly>
> <bindingRedirect>
>
> <bindingRedirect
> oldVersion="old assembly version"
> newVersion="new assembly version"/>
> Required Attributes
> Attribute Description
> oldVersion Specifies the version of the assembly that was
> originally requested. The format of an assembly version
> number is major.minor.build.revision. Valid values for
> each part of this version number are 0 to 65535.
> You can also specify a range of versions in the following
> format:
>
> n.n.n.n - n.n.n.n
>
> newVersion Specifies the version of the assembly to use
> instead of the originally requested version in the format:
> n.n.n.n
>
> Remarks
> When you build a .NET Framework application against a
> strong-named assembly, the application uses that version
> of the assembly at run time by default, even if a new
> version is available. However, you can configure the
> application to run against a newer version of the
> assembly. For details on how the runtime uses these files
> to determine which assembly version to use, see How the
> Runtime Locates Assemblies.
>
> You can redirect more than one assembly version by
> including multiple <bindingRedirect> elements in a
> <dependentAssembly> element.
>
> Explicit assembly binding redirection in an application
> configuration file requires a security permission. This
> applies to redirection of .NET Framework assemblies and
> assemblies from third parties. The permission is granted
> by setting the <bindingRedirect> Element flag on the
> SecurityPermission Class. For more information, see
> Assembly Binding Redirection Security Permission.
>
> Example
> The following example shows how to redirect one assembly
> version to another.
>
> <configuration>
> <runtime>
> <assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-
> com:asm.v1">
> <dependentAssembly>
> <assemblyIdentity name="myAssembly"
>
> publicKeyToken="32ab4ba45e0a69a1"
> culture="neutral" />
> <bindingRedirect oldVersion="1.0.0.0"
> newVersion="2.0.0.0"/>
> </dependentAssembly>
> </assemblyBinding>
> </runtime>
> </configuration>
> Configuration File
> This element can be used in the application configuration
> file, machine configuration file (machine.config), and the
> publisher policy file.
>
> See Also
> Runtime Settings Schema | Configuration File Schema |
> Redirecting Assembly Versions
>
> </msdn_snip>
>
> Hope this helps
>
> regards,
>
> sr
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Is there a way to set the application binding policy so
> >that it always binds to the latest version of an
> >assembly? I'm hoping there is a way to avoid updating the
> >application's binding configuration every time there is
> >an update to a shared assembly.
> >
> >.
> >