From the MSDN documentation
.NET Framework Developer's Guide
Specifying an Assembly's LocationSee Also
Assemblies | Programming With Assemblies | How the Runtime Locates
Assemblies | Configuring Applications
There are two ways to specify an assembly's location:
Using the <codeBase> element.
Using the <probing> element.
You can also use the .NET Framework Configuration Tool (Mscorcfg.msc) to
specify assembly locations or specify locations for the common language
runtime to probe for assemblies.
Using the <codeBase> Element
You can use the <codeBase> element only in machine configuration or
publisher policy files that also redirect the assembly version. When the
runtime determines which assembly version to use, it applies the code
base setting from the file that determines the version. If no code base
is indicated, the runtime probes for the assembly in the normal way. For
details, see How the Runtime Locates Assemblies.
The following example shows how to specify an assembly's location.
<configuration>
<runtime>
<assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity name="myAssembly"
publicKeyToken="32ab4ba45e0a69a1"
culture="en-us" />
<codeBase version="2.0.0.0"
href="
http://www.litwareinc.com/myAssembly.dll"/>
</dependentAssembly>
</assemblyBinding>
</runtime>
</configuration>
The version attribute is required for all strong-named assemblies but
should be omitted for assemblies that are not strong-named. The
<codeBase> element requires the href attribute. You cannot specify
version ranges in the <codeBase> element.
Note If you are supplying a code base hint for an assembly that is not
strong-named, the hint must point to the application base or a
subdirectory of the application base directory.
Using the <probing> Element
The runtime locates assemblies that do not have a code base by probing.
For more information about probing, see How the Runtime Locates Assemblies.
You can use the <probing> element in the application configuration file
to specify subdirectories the runtime should search when locating an
assembly. The following example shows how to specify directories the
runtime should search.
<configuration>
<runtime>
<assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">
<probing privatePath="bin;bin2\subbin;bin3"/>
</assemblyBinding>
</runtime>
</configuration>
The privatePath attribute contains the directories that the runtime
should search for assemblies. If the application is located at
C:\Program Files\MyApp, the runtime will look for assemblies that do not
specify a code base in C:\Program Files\MyApp\Bin, C:\Program
Files\MyApp\Bin2\Subbin, and C:\Program Files\MyApp\Bin3. The
directories specified in privatePath must be subdirectories of the
application base directory.
See Also
Assemblies | Programming With Assemblies | How the Runtime Locates
Assemblies | Configuring Applications
Syntax based on .NET Framework version 1.1.
Documentation version 1.1.0.
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