vs 2015 Error CS0006 Metadata file .dll' could not be found

Question

I am trying to add two new test projects to my solution. When I add them and add references, the build initially creates the dll's in the debug folder. when I build or rebuild again, it is always empty and I have a Error CS0006 Metadata file .dll' could not be found error. I've checked the build configuration manager and the boxes are checked to have it output to the debug folder. I've tried clean, build, rebuild on the solution, I've made sure there were no other left-over projects laying around and deleted them. I'm not sure what else I can do to get it to build and output the dll's..

Solution 1

I had similar issue. Problem started when I canceled compilation manually.

To solve it, I started compiling projects one by one. Reading output of compilation allowed to spot the root project that was not compiled. That root project had an error. And somehow that error was not reported, looks like due to canceling compilation manually.

I went to that root project, fixed the error. Compiled it only that project. Then compiled the whole solution. And it got fixed.

Solution 2

I fixed this by adding the target project as a dependency.

Right-click on the Solution in Solution Explorer, select Project Dependencies, choose a test project, and select the project from which the dll is built.

Comments

[Jacob]

Are there any other errors that show up in your build output console?

[Adrian]

and if i am missing packages.config, how can i fix that ?

[Furkan Öztürk]

This does not really answer the question. If you have a different question, you can ask it by clicking Ask Question. To get notified when this question gets new answers, you can follow this question. Once you have enough reputation, you can also add a bounty to draw more attention to this question. - From Review