meta data and attribute

[George_George]

Thanks natsuyaki! I think you monitor the attribute in IL using ILDasm tool, not the below tool, right? http://www.aisto.com/roeder/dotnet/ (the tool has a confusing name relfector, which makes me confused in the discussion context) regards, George

[George_George]

Great natsuyaki! How to identify which parts of IL code are dealing with attribute definition? Any fields or keywords in IL identify? regards, George

[natsuyaki]

:) but it's really using reflection.~

[George_George]

Thanks natsuyaki, 1. Yes, it is using relection, but not using the tool I quoted. From this tool, could you see any attributes? 2. Any comments to, http://www.codeproject.com/script/Forums/View.aspx?fid=1649&msg=2547385[^] regards, George

[natsuyaki]

The following IL code is retrieved by ILDasm: class with SerializableAttribute: .class public auto ansi serializable beforefieldinit ClassLibrary2.Class1 extends [mscorlib]System.Object { } // end of class ClassLibrary2.Class1 method with ObsoleteAttribute: .method public hidebysig instance void s() cil managed { .custom instance void [mscorlib]System.ObsoleteAttribute::.ctor() = ( 01 00 00 00 ) // code size 2 (0x2) .maxstack 8 IL_0000: nop IL_0001: ret } // end of method Class1::s

[George_George]

Thanks natsuyaki, 1. It is great! Are there any tool for us to use to retrieve readable meta data and attribute information without using ILDasm tool? 2. Generally speaking, from what pattern, could you identify a part of code in IL is dealing with attribute -- like the following code,

.custom instance void [mscorlib]System.ObsoleteAttribute::.ctor() = ( 01 00 00 00 )

regards, George

[natsuyaki]

1. i don't really know, maybe the tool you mentioned can. 2. I wrote a custom attribute PuginAttribute. All the plugins must add this attribute. So, I can get it at runtime by GetCustomAttribute(), if exists, that mean this is a plugin. [Plugin(true)] public class SamplePlugin:IPlugin { ..... .... IL code would be displayed like this: .custom instance void [XXXX]aaa.bbb.ccc.PluginAttribute::.ctor(bool) = ( 01 00 00 00 )

[George_George]

Thanks natsuyaki, 1. Looks like attribute will be treated as a private class in IL? 2. I think not all built-in attributes will be left in final IL, what kinds of built-in attributes will be in final IL, could you list some please? :-) regards, George

[natsuyaki]

1.some like that 2.some attributes reprent for "mark",and some for "deal". That means, some attributes are use for comment the content, some for the compiler that the content will be processed by the mean mentioned in the attributes. So, some keep there and some disappeared. This is my point of view. For the precise definition, please view msdn.

[George_George]

Thanks natsuyaki, I agree with your points. Could you list some of the attribute names which do not disappear in IL please? Sorry, my knowledge of attribute is limited. :-) regards, George

[natsuyaki]

That's a big work to do.... You may be interested in this book: Applied .Net Attributes by Jason Bock Sorry, here we go. And this could also help:http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/attributes.aspx

modified on Monday, May 12, 2008 4:30 AM

[George_George]

Thanks natsuyaki, The link you provided can not be opened, could you double check please? :-) regards, George