dotPeek 2024.3 Help

Open and close assemblies

With dotPeek, you can open any .NET assemblies, decompile and explore their contents. Assemblies can be decompiled and presented as C# code, IL code, or original source code can be fetched from local or remote location using PDB files and symbol servers. For more information, refer to Presentation options for compiled code.

Supported assembly file types include:

  • Libraries (.dll)

  • Executable files (.exe)

  • Windows 8 metadata files (.winmd)

  • Archives (.zip)

  • NuGet packages (.nupkg)

  • Microsoft Visual Studio Extensions packages (.vsix)

Open an assembly

  • From the main menu, choose File | Open and then select an assembly file.

  • Press Ctrl+O and then select an assembly file.

  • Click Open ThemedIcon.AssemblyAdd.Screen.(Gray).png on the Assembly Explorer toolbar and then select an assembly file.

  • Drag an assembly file (or a selection of files) from Windows Explorer to the Assembly Explorer window.

  • Select the desired assemblies in the Process Explorer window and click Add Assembly to Assembly Explorer ThemedIcon.AddedParameter.Screen.(Gray).png on the window's toolbar.

  • For .dll files: By double-clicking a file in Windows Explorer (provided that Windows Explorer integration is enabled on the Environment | General page of dotPeek options) For .dll and .exe files: By right-clicking a file in Windows Explorer and selecting Browse with JetBrains dotPeek.

The opened assembly showing its name and version is added to the Assembly Explorer window. You can explore it by expanding the assembly node and its child nodes. Double-click code symbols to decompile and view the corresponding code. For more information, refer to Study code.

As dotPeek does not make any modifications to the opened assemblies, you can close them by removing from the Assembly Explorer window.

Close assemblies

  • Right-click an assembly and choose Remove Item from List in the context menu.

  • Select an assembly in the Assembly Explorer and press Delete.

  • To close all assemblies, click Clear Assembly Explorer ThemedIcon.WorkspaceClear.Screen.(Gray).png

Last modified: 11 February 2024