CODEWITHSUNDEEP
visual-studio-2010
Arthur Mamou-Mani
Arthur Mamou-Mani

Reputation: 2333

Cannot select Main Method as Startup object in Visual Studio Express 2010?

I have written a Main method in one of my classes. My startup Object says Not set. When clicking on it nothing else shows in the dropdown menu. Why can't I select the main method to be my Startup Object? I want to run my Main Method only by pressing ctrl+F7 but when doing so, nothing happens. Below is the very short Main method that I am using. 

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    Program c = new Program();
    c.consoleread();
}

Upvotes: 13

Views: 23771

Answers (7)

StayOnTarget
StayOnTarget

Reputation: 13047

If your project uses the "Enable application framework" option, that would be one possibility why Sub Main is not shown.

From https://visualstudiomagazine.com/articles/2007/10/01/enable-the-application-framework-in-vb.aspx

Q What happens when I check "Enable application framework" in my Visual Basic application? Why does my Sub Main disappear from the Startup Object dropdown...

A Visual Basic supports an "Application Framework" that makes it easier to manage the startup, shutdown, and exception management of an application. You enable or disable the application framework with a check box in the Project Properties. ...

Whether or not you use the Application Framework, Visual Basic generates a hidden My.Application class for your application. ...

The part of the My.Application class that you can't see includes a shared Sub Main as the entry point of the application. ... The reason Sub Main disappears from the startup combo box is that Visual Basic is supplying Sub Main for you.

That's just a summary of the most relevant aspects for this question but the linked article also includes some other details explaining the application framework.

Upvotes: 0

BiLaL
BiLaL

Reputation: 690

In case of VB.NET Project,

Project -> {ProjectName} Properties -> Application

If Enable application framework is checked, you can not select the usual Main method. The error is:

Startup object must be a form when "Enable application framework" is checked.

Also, upon unchecking it, the label changes from Startup form to Startup object.

Error Dialog:

enter image description here

Upvotes: 2

Mohammad Mehdi Moradi
Mohammad Mehdi Moradi

Reputation: 11

If the class that you want is not showing up in the drop down, you can double click on the project in the Solution Explorer and add the class name after the project name. (shown in code as "myproject" and "myclass")

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">

<PropertyGroup>
<OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
<TargetFramework>netcoreapp3.1</TargetFramework>
<StartupObject>myproject.myclass</StartupObject>
</PropertyGroup>

</Project>

Upvotes: 1

Liam
Liam

Reputation: 5486

I had the same issue after downgrading from .net core 3 preview to 2.2 - you need to install the latest version of the SDK from here:

https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet-core/2.2

Upvotes: 0

arviman
arviman

Reputation: 5255

Restarting VS made it work!

Background: This error happened to me today in a .net 4.5.1 Service project that I wanted to change to a Console applicaiton. Changed Output type to "Console Application" and it still didn't change. I also edited the .csproj by hand.

Upvotes: 4

Anthony Hayward
Anthony Hayward

Reputation: 2332

I had this trouble after moving a class into a new namespace. Try closing the solution and manually editing the .csproj file:

<PropertyGroup>
  <StartupObject>MyNamespace.MyClassWithMain</StartupObject>
</PropertyGroup>

Upvotes: 11

Dan Puzey
Dan Puzey

Reputation: 34218

Your main method needs to be public, static (Shared in VB.NET) and have a specific signature: it must return either void or int, and its parameter list must be either empty or be an array of string.

If your method doesn't match these requirements, it won't be selectable as a startup object.

Upvotes: 5

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