Can I convert an assembly to a Strong-Named assembly without recompiling?

Question

I found Microsoft KB article:

But it looks like they want me to recompile after I have created a key pair. Is there any way to just convert the assembly to a strong named assembly without recompiling?

Dispersoid

Answer 1

You can use the Signer tool to sign an unsigned assembly.

Stead

Awesome tool! This solved the issue I had with referenced dlls not being strongly signed either... – Dispersoid

Answer 2

You can.

Use the sn.exe and al.exe tools to strong name the assembly .

See this howto.

Swanky

How do i do that? The link i posted suggests I need to recompile and specify the snk. – Dispersoid

@Abe Miessler - added link to a howto. – Swanky

Do you know what they mean when they say code module? I tried specifying my base assembly but it gave me the following error: `ALINK: warning AL1020: Ignoring included assembly 'c:\temp\MyDll.dll' – Dispersoid

@Abe - from the page: A module is a Microsoft intermediate language (MSIL) file that does not have an assembly manifest. – Swanky

I'm broadcasting my ignorance here, but what exactly does that mean? What is the difference between an assembly manifest and an assembly? – Dispersoid

@Abe - the assembly manifest is meta data about the MSIL code. The assembly is the MSIL code itself. – Swanky

Hmm, so is that the {assembly name}.xml file I see in my bin dir? – Dispersoid

@Abe - No, it is embedded in the .dll/.exe – Swanky

Then how do I get to it if I can't specify a dll to al.exe? – Dispersoid

@Abe - sorry, I am not sure. The documentation isn't very good and It's not something I have done in a long while and memory fails me at the moment. – Swanky