Hi guys and gals, I'm pretty new to ASP.NET, although Im pretty proficient in Classic ASP.

I am building some pages to help myself learn ASP.NET and have come across something. I like the idea of the code-behind file, as it makes the code much cleaner. However, I noticed that each aspx file has its own code-behind. So, I decided to create a general class file to place all my routines that I want to use throughout the website. That is where my problem is...

Using VS.NET I can use a class by just creating, or including an existing class file easily.

My question is tho, is there a way to include the class file, if you're not using an editor like VS? I like to code my websites straight text, but when I do this I am constantly getting the following error:

BC30002: Type 'MyOwnClass' is not defined

And it points to the line this line of code:
Dim MyOwnClassObject As MyOwnClass

Adding 'New' to the text above also did not work.

Think someone can explain how I can create my own class files and be able to use them throughout my website without the use of an editor? I'm afraid it may be something really simple like a declaration that I dont know about ;p

It has nothing to do with the editor but the fact that the editor that works (VS) is compiling the classes to an assembly. You can do this with any editor. You just need to compile the code files.

I'd suggest creating a batch file that calls the .NET compiler to create your assembly file in the bin folder underneath your web application root. You'll need to run the build after any code file changes. The one exception to this is if you use code-behind files referenced by the @ Page directive's "Src" attribute. Using this results in dynamic compiling of the code file when the page is requested. However, for any code to access classes that are not part of a page's inline or referenced code-behind code you'll need to compile.

-Peter

Thanks alot Peter, I do use code behind files using the src when calling, so if I'm understanding correctly, I dont need to compile those. Only the classes behind that are never really called, just declared?

Another question tho, like I've said, I am coding this test site in straight text with no editor (unless you wanna call notepad an editor ;p ). After I compile my class file, does it have to reside in a specific place? Im worried about the future where I would develop on my home computer and then upload to a hosting company. I want to make sure it would still work.

Thanks again

Code files that are referenced by the Src attribute are dynamically compiled on the page request. Once they are compiled they are available for use by any code running in the appdomain of the web application. In the case of an ASPX page, the code and markup in the ASPX file is dynamically generated into a code file containing a class and then compiled. It just happens that the generated class contains an Inherits statement driven by the Inherits attribute in the page directive. The class that is inherited is found in the dynamically compiled assembly created by the file referenced in Src.

The application can live anywhere as long as it's in a web application under IIS (server root or virtual directory). Any assemblies need to be in the bin directory or the working directories of .NET. You can compile on one machine and xcopy deploy to another without a problem.

-Peter

Ok, im sorry to bug again. I guess I'm misunderstanding something (also I cant find the appropriate manual compiling commands) ;_;

This is an example of what I have

--default.aspx--
<%@ Page Language="vb" AutoEventWireUp="false" src="Default.aspx.vb" Inherits="DefaultForm" %>

[html items with a button]
-----------------

--default.aspx.vb--
Public Class DefaultForm
    Inherits System.Web.UI.Page
    Protected WithEvents Button1 As System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button
Public Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs)
     Dim MyClassObject As New MyClass <- error here
     MyClassObject.RunThisCode()
     MyClassObject = Nothing
End Sub
End Class
--------------------------

--MyClass.vb--
Public Class MyClass
Public Sub RunThisCode()
     'do something
End Sub
End Class
---------------------

As you can see, I can get the .aspx and .aspx.vb files to work properly, its when I want to use the third file (MyClass.vb), is where I get the problem. I tried adding another page directive, but I got an error stating that I could only have one. Think you can show me the syntax of how I can use the MyClass.vb items using the example above? And if its not too much trouble, the correct compiling syntax for the class?

Thanks abunch, sorry for not understanding completely ;p

The VB compiler is located in the framework directory, for version 1.1 it's usually something like this:

C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322
If you will programming in this model regularly, I'd recommend adding that path to your PATH system environmental variable. Then you can just type in "vbc" for the VB compiler. Just type that and you'll see all the switches and options available. Then you can compile your third file into an assembly that will then be visible by the running ASPX page.

-Peter