C-Sharp Visual Studio Versioning

Automatically Update Your Version Number in Visual Studio with Ease

Managing version numbers in software applications is crucial to keeping track of functionality, fixes, and updates. When developing applications in Visual Studio, you might find yourself needing to increment the version number automatically for each build. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to effectively achieve that for your application, particularly if you’re using versions like Visual Studio 2005/2008.

Understanding the Version Number Format

First, let’s clarify what we mean by the version number format. A typical version number follows the structure Major.Minor.Build.Revision. For example, in the version number 1.1.38, the segments can be interpreted as follows:

  • Major: Significant changes that may not be backward compatible.
  • Minor: Backward-compatible enhancements.
  • Build: Incremented for each new build.
  • Revision: Indicates bug fixes.

In .NET specifically, it’s important to note that the Build number is actually the third digit, contrary to some developers’ expectations.

The Challenge: Setting Up Automatic Incrementing

You might encounter an issue with using 1.0.* or 1.0.0.* for build numbers, as these configurations typically replace revision and build numbers with a timestamp, which isn’t ideal for tracking. You may also run into problems when your application features a settings file. When the assembly version changes, your settings could be reset to default because your application may look for the settings file in a different directory.

The Solution: AssemblyInfo Task

To automatically update your version number, you can use the AssemblyInfo Task. This task can be configured specifically to increment the build number for you. Here’s how to set this up:

  1. Install the AssemblyInfo Task: You can find the AssemblyInfo Task here. This task is part of the MSBuild scripts.

  2. Configure the Task: It requires a bit of setup but will automate the versioning process. Check the task documentation for guidance on the configuration options.

Important Considerations

Before you implement this, bear in mind two important limitations:

  1. Version Number Limits: Each of the four numbers in the version string has a maximum limit of 65535. This limit arises from Windows’ architecture and cannot be changed. For more information, you can consult this MSDN blog post.

  2. Subversion Integration: If you are using Subversion, you may need to make specific adjustments to integrate with the AssemblyInfo Task. You can learn more about this here.

How to Retrieve the Version Number

Once your AssemblyInfo Task is correctly configured and running, retrieving the version number becomes straightforward. Below is a code snippet that showcases how to access and format the version number:

Version v = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().Version;
string About = string.Format(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, @"YourApp Version {0}.{1}.{2} (r{3})", v.Major, v.Minor, v.Build, v.Revision);

This code snippet will help you to display the version number programmatically within your application, making it easy for users to report issues or update requests.

Conclusion: Streamline Your Version Management

Managing version numbers is an essential aspect of software development. By implementing the AssemblyInfo Task in Visual Studio, you can automate the version increment process, ensuring that users and developers have consistent version tracking. This approach not only saves time but also enhances communication between users and developers regarding software updates and fixes.

Now that you have a clear understanding of how to set this up, you can go ahead with confidence and improve your version control strategy!

Feel free to share your experience or any challenges you faced while setting this up in the comments below!