Should I add a component ref or a project ref??

[Darren]

When I add a reference to a component, should I add the reference by
pointing it to the dll on disk or should I add the reference to the
project (if it's loaded in the solution)? What's the preferred way or
doesn't it matter?

Thanks,
Darren.

 

[Peter Rilling]

If they are part of the same solution, then point it to the project,
otherwise point it to the physical DLL.

 

[Zürcher See]

Once I use to add a reference to the dll, but when I have to change
something in the reference project, I had to close the project change the
dll and open the project again, because the dll till the project was open
was write protected.
Now I add alway the reference to the project.

 

[Uri Dor]

On the same note, what exactly is referenced if I put a reference to the
physical DLL, and how is it found if my colleague copies a project
with such a reference - is the whole path used, or is the filename used
in some directory specified in the project settings?