So Microsoft deploys Visual Studio 2005, we are all so exited but in the process we all complain about all those DLLs into the bin file. Well not a problem, fast as a bullet Microsoft releases the Web Deployment Projects. Something else to download in your computer as an add-in or service pack :-)

Well all the intructions to download it and install it. Please make sure you close all versions of VS2005:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/c/b/ccb4877f-55f7-4478-8f16-e41886607a0e/WebDeploymentSetup.msi

Now read how to use them:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnaspp/html/web_deployment_projects.asp

So let's start with the problems; once you create the project, you 'll find the internally VS2005 uses aspnet_merge.exe, great tool as we are going back to the same thing that VS2003 worked, add every aspx.cs into a common DLL. You may encounter errors like: “error MSB6006: "aspnet_merge.exe" exited with code 1“ Personally my favourite. What does it mean? Well I can let you know you can find out by changing your  build outpout verbosity. To do so, Tools/Options go to Projects and Solutions, / Build and Run and the last drop down change it to Diagnostic.

Or I can let you know that 2 modules are using the same .cs file. Guess witch ones, or better check the debug after the verbosity is that high.

After you finish fixing all “collisions“ you may find the deployed website with a DLL names “ProjectName“_deploy.dll

There are a few more errors, but I learn that using the diagnostic high I can resolve many of them, if you leave the diagnostic low, the error message will not allow you to find what the problem is.

Please make sure you send me any other error message that the compiler message error does not give you enough information.

Cheers

Al

Best material to read: http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2006/05/08/VS-2005-Web-Application-Project-V1.0-Released.aspx