Specifies a file containing a key or key pair to give an assembly a strong name.

/keyfile:file

-or-

/keyfile:"file"

Arguments

file

Required. File that contains the key. Place the string in double quotation marks (" ") if it contains a space.

Remarks

The compiler inserts the public key into the assembly manifest and then signs the final assembly with the private key. To generate a key file, type sn -k file at the command line.

If you compile with /target:module, information about the key file is held in the module and incorporated into the assembly that is created when you compile an application with /reference.

You can also pass your encryption information to the compiler with /keycontainer. Use /delaysign if you want a partially signed assembly.

See Creating and Using Strong-Named Assemblies for more information on signing an assembly.

This option is not available within the development environment.

To set /keyfile programmatically

• See AssemblyOriginatorKeyFile Property and AssemblyOriginatorKeyMode Property.

Example

The following code compiles source file input.vb and specifies a key file:

vbc /keyfile:myfile.sn input.vb

See Also

Assemblies | Visual Basic Compiler Options | /target:module | /reference | Sample Compilation Command Lines