Hi all,

I've done several VB.Net/ASP.Net 2003 projects, and I did 98% of a VS2005/ASP 2.0 project that a co-worker initially laid out a few screens for. However, now I’m doing a new VS2005/ASP 2.0 project, and have a stupid error. I’ve found a fair number of people asking about this on various forums, but no resolutions, and would be pathetically grateful for any help.

In a nutshell: in my aspx.vb code, when I reference my classes in the App_Code folder, they’re “not defined”.

<Here’sWhatIDid>

1. I clicked File / New Project, and selected “ASP.Net Web Application”.
2. I right-clicked on the level below the Solution level in Solution Explorer – is this still called the Project level?, clicked Add New Item, and added a Web Form.
3. I pasted some HTML in from a similar project.
4. I right-clicked from the Designer View, clicked View Code, and pasted some VB code in, directly from the similar project (as a starting point).

That VB code has “Dim MyXXX As New clsXXX”, which of course gives a message “Type clsXXX is not defined”. So,
1. I click on the Project, click “Add”, click “New Folder”, and name it App_Code.
2. I then right-click on this folder, click “Add”, click “Class”, and name it clsXXX.
3. I open that new file and paste the code in from the similar project’s class file. It’s a Public Class clsXXX.
4. It doesn’t work when I “add existing item” and specify the similar older project’s class file, either.
5. The same thing is happening for my DatabaseFunctions class in DatabaseFunctions.vb in App_Code.

<Here’sWhatIDid />

The class is still “not defined” in my aspx.vb code, even after I rebuild everything. Even if I drag the clsXXX.vb file up to the Project level, it’s still “not defined”.
For my DatabaseFunctions class, I also tried putting a Namespace designation in the DatabaseFunctions.vb file and “Imports” the namespace in my aspx.vb.

Does anybody know how to fix this? Thanks!!!!!!

You can't use an arbitary folder named 'App_Code'. The step where you clicked Add, New Folder should instead be: 'Add ASP.NET Folder' select 'App_Code' from that and place your class files in there.

Alternatively, if you do Add --> Class Visual Studio will prompt you about the non-existance of the App Code directory and offer to create it for you.

hth.

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Hi Dparsons,

Thanks for your quick answer! However... :(

1. When I right-click on the project, click Add, click "Add ASP.Net Folder", I was definitely expecting to see "App_Code" as an option, but the only options to choose are: App_GlobalResources, App_LocalResources, App_Data, App_Browsers, and Theme.

2. When I right-click on the project, click Add, click "Class", it brings up the Add New Item dialog, with "Class" hilited under the "Visual Studio Installed Templates" section, and the class name defaulting to "Class1.vb". When I click OK, it doesn't prompt me to create App_Code, doesn't create it on its own, and puts the class at the level right under the project.

Thanks... LenexaKS

Did you remove your folder named App_Code?

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Read this if you want to know how to get a correct reply for your question:
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================================================== =========
.: Wrox Technical Editor :.
Wrox Books 24 x 7
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I had renamed it. Just to be sure, I just now deleted App_CodeX folder, deleted the clsXXX file that VS added under the project, saved, rebuilt, exited VS, got back in, and...
1. "Add ASP.Net Folder" still doesn't show "App_Code" as an option.
2. Right-clicking on the project, click Add, click Class, and click OK to add Class1.vb still adds it just under the project level; it doesn't prompt me to add an App_Code folder.

When I click on About Visual Studio, the VS / VB oriented things are:
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
Version 8.0.50727.762 (SP.050727-7600)
Microsoft .NET Framework
Version 2.0.50727

Installed Edition: Professional

Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 77626-009-0000007-41159
Microsoft Visual Basic 2005

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition - ENU Service Pack 1 (KB926601)
This service pack is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this service pack will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926601

Thanks again!

File | New Project | ASP.NET Web Application leads to a Web Application Project that doesn't use the App_Code folder.

You can place classes anywhere provided they are of the same type as the parent project (e.g. .cs files in a C# project)

For more info: http://webproject.scottgu.com/

For a Web Site Project, choose File | New Web Site instead. This project type uses the App_Code folder.

Imar



---------------------------------------
Imar Spaanjaars
http://Imar.Spaanjaars.Com
Everyone is unique, except for me.
Author of ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results and Beginning Dreamweaver MX / MX 2004

These settings almost match mine. I have SP1 for the .NET Framework installed so my VB version differs slightly: xxx-41990

In any event, I just created a new website in VS 2005 and my Solution Tree looks like this:
----Solution
------Project
---------App_Data
---------Default.aspx

If i right click on my project and select Add ASP.NET Folder my options are:
bin
App_Code
App_GlobalResources
App_LocalResources
App_WebReferences
App_Browsers
Theme

If i right click on my project and select 'Add New Item' and select 'Class' VS pops up the message: You are attempting to add a class to an ASP.NET Application. For a class to be generally consumable in your site, it should be placed inside the 'App_Code' folder. would you like to place the class in the 'App_Code' Folder.

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Read this if you want to know how to get a correct reply for your question:
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================================================== =========
.: Wrox Technical Editor :.
Wrox Books 24 x 7
================================================== =========

Thanks guys! I'll make it a new "web site" instead of a new "web app project" - that's behaving as you described. (I had just been copying how the older project, the one I was copying some code from, was set up.) What a relief - thanks again.