# <tlbimp>

[This is preliminary documentation and subject to change.]

Imports a type library to a .NET assembly (wraps Microsoft's `tlbimp.exe`).

This task lets you easily create interop assemblies. By default, it will not reimport if the underlying COM TypeLib or reference has not changed.

See the Microsoft.NET Framework SDK documentation for details.

### Parameters

Attribute | Type | Description | Required
--- | --- | --- | ---
output | file | Specifies the name of the output file. | True
typelib | file | Specifies the source type library that gets passed to the type library importer. | True
asmversion | string | Specifies the version number of the assembly to produce. | False
delaysign | bool | Specifies whether the resulting assembly should be signed with a strong name using delayed signing. The default is false. | False
keycontainer | string | Specifies the key container in which the public/private key pair should be found that should be used to sign the resulting assembly with a strong name. | False
keyfile | file | Specifies the publisher's official public/private key pair with which the resulting assembly should be signed with a strong name. | False
namespace | string | Specifies the namespace in which to produce the assembly. | False
primary | bool | Specifies whether a primary interop assembly should be produced for the specified type library. The default is false. | False
publickey | file | Specifies the file containing the public key to use to sign the resulting assembly. | False
strictref | bool | Specifies whether a type library should not be imported if all references within the current assembly or the reference assemblies cannot be resolved. The default is false. | False
sysarray | bool | Specifies whether to import a COM style SafeArray as a managed Array class type. The default is false. | False
transform | string | Specifies how to transform the metadata [.NET 1.1 or higher]. | False
unsafe | bool | Specifies whether interfaces should be produced without .NET Framework security checks. The default is false. | False
failonerror | bool | Determines if task failure stops the build, or is just reported. The default is true. | False
if | bool | If true then the task will be executed; otherwise, skipped. The default is true. | False
timeout | int | The maximum amount of time the application is allowed to execute, expressed in milliseconds. Defaults to no time-out. | False
unless | bool | Opposite of `if`. If false then the task will be executed; otherwise, skipped. The default is false. | False
verbose | bool | Determines whether the task should report detailed build log messages. The default is false. | False

### Framework-configurable parameters

Attribute | Type | Description | Required
--- | --- | --- | ---
exename | string | The name of the executable that should be used to launch the external program. | False
managed | ManagedExecution | Specifies whether the external program should be treated as a managed application, possibly forcing it to be executed under the currently targeted version of the CLR. | False
supportstransform | bool | Indicates whether `tlbimp` supports transforming metadata for a given target framework. The default is true. | False
useruntimeengine | bool | Deprecated. Specifies whether the external program is a managed application which should be executed using a runtime engine, if configured. The default is false. | False

### Nested Elements:

#### <references>

Specifies the assembly files to use to resolve references to types defined outside the current type library.

#### </references>

#### <arg>

The command-line arguments for the external program.

Represents a command-line argument.

When passed to an external application, the argument will be quoted when appropriate. This does not apply to the `line` parameter, which is always passed as is.

### Parameters

Attribute | Type | Description | Required
--- | --- | --- | ---
dir | directory | The value for a directory-based command-line argument; will be replaced with the absolute path of the directory. | False
file | file | The name of a file as a single command-line argument; will be replaced with the absolute filename of the file. | False
if | bool | Indicates if the argument should be passed to the external program. If true then the argument will be passed; otherwise, skipped. The default is true. | False
line | string | List of command-line arguments; will be passed to the executable as is. | False
path | <path> | The value for a PATH-like command-line argument; you can use `:` or `;` as path separators and NAnt will convert it to the platform's local conventions, while resolving references to environment variables. | False
unless | bool | Indicates if the argument should not be passed to the external program. If false then the argument will be passed; otherwise, skipped. The default is false. | False
value | string | A single command-line argument; can contain space characters. | False

### Nested Elements:

#### <path>

Sets a single command-line argument and treats it like a PATH - ensures the right separator for the local platform is used.

#### </path>

### Examples

- A single command-line argument containing a space character.

      <arg value="-l -a" />

- Two separate command-line arguments.

      <arg line="-l -a" />

- A single command-line argument with the value `\dir;\dir2;\dir3` on DOS-based systems and `/dir:/dir2:/dir3` on Unix-like systems.

      <arg path="/dir;/dir2:\dir3" />

#### </arg>

### Examples

- Import `LegacyCOM.dll` to `DotNetAssembly.dll`.

                  <tlbimp typelib="LegacyCOM.dll" output="DotNetAssembly.dll" />

- Generate an assembly named "Interop.MSVidCtlLib.dll" for the MS Video Control 1.0 Type Library, transforming any [out, retval] parameters of methods on dispinterfaces in the type library into return values in the managed library.

                  <tlbimp typelib="msvidctl.dll" output="Interop.MSVidCtlLib.dll" transform="dispret">
                      <references basedir="Interop">
                          <include name="Interop.TunerLib.dll" />
                      </references>
                  </tlbimp>

### Requirements

Assembly: NAnt.Win32Tasks (0.91.3881.0)