Need for reference path on project/properties

Question

Sorry novice question here but what is the need for the reference path on the project/properties? I find that I am perfectly able to add assemblies via the 'Add Reference' by right-clicking the reference folder and navigating to the correct directory. I can do this without having to enter anything onto the project properties. I am sure that there is a perfectly good reason but I cant see it at the moment. Thanks Paul

Pablo · Answer

check how to add reference path for all your projects: http://weblogs.asp.net/pabloretyk/archive/2010/01/27/adding-a-reference-path-to-all-your-net-projects.aspx

Deepak Bhatia · Answer

Hi Paul I searched out information on net and I found difference lies in the order in which the project finds an assembly reference. When the project system finds an assembly reference it will try to resolve the reference by looking in the following locations in the following order: ........ 1. Look for assemblies in the project directory. A directory is a project directory if files from that directory are displayed in the Solution Explorer this does not include files that are displayed when Show All Files is in effect. ........ 2. Look for assemblies in directories specified with the Reference Path property. ........ 3. Look for assemblies in directories that are used to display files in the .NET tab of the Add Reference dialog box. ........ 4. Look for assemblies in your project's obj directory; any assemblies that were created as a result of you adding a COM reference to your project will be added there.

Deepak Bhatia · Answer

Sorry Paul that is not the answer the differnce that I have told is wrong.

Deepak Bhatia · Answer

Hi Paul I found answer to your question. Whene you add reference then that reference will be added only in the project you have added. But refernce path allows you to set the same reference path for multiple solution in the same project. i.e. you can select project in the list that you want to give the selected reference path.