Exercise 3: Analyzing External Assemblies Using Architecture Explorer

1. In this exercise, you will learn how to load and navigate external .NET assemblies. This can help you gain insight into the architecture of frameworks or applications for which you do not have the original project or source files.

2. Select the Select Files option from Architecture Explorer. This allows you to load compiled .NET assemblies and analyze them as you already have done with the Class and Solution Views.

   Figure 37

   Select Files view allows you to load and navigate any .NET assembly

3. In the File Name box, enter “c:\windows\microsoft.net\framework\v4.0.30319” and press the Enter key.
   Note:

   If the v4.0.30319 directory is not available, select the most recent one available.
4. In the File Name box, enter “System.Data.dll” and select the Open button to continue.

5. Select the System.Data.dll file to view its types.

   Figure 38

   iewing System.Data.dll types

6. Select the Filter button at the top of the types list and select the check box for Class and the check box for IsPublic.

   Figure 39

   Creating a filter for public classes

7. Press the OK button to see the list of public classes in the System.Data.dll assembly.

8. Enter “Sql” into the filter box at the top of the current type list and press Enter so that we can view types that contain that text.

   Figure 40

   Filtering with custom text

9. Select all of the listed types and press the Create New Graph button.

   Figure 41

   DGML diagram showing System.Data.dll and its classes

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