.NET Framework (v 4.0) COM Registration free called from Win32 C++ application

I need to create a registration free COM object in .Net Framework c#. I've followed the msdn walkthrough https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms973915.aspx. I've to work on it because, or it is not enough clear to me, or it is not correct, however this is an old post and I use Visual Studio 2015 on Windows 10, so maybe something is changed. Here in the following the steps that I've made to make it work

1. Compile COM C# dll SideBySide.dll (Target Framework 2.0) of course I've not registered it by regasm

2. I don't use the approach described in the tutorial it seems not work for me. I Create SideBySide.Manifest by mt.exe here the command

   mt -outputresource:"" -manifest ""

3. I've manually modified the generated manifest to remove all unuseful tags and add the mandatory ones here in the following the modified manifest

     <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
   <assemblyIdentity
       name="SideBySide"
       version="1.0.0.0"
       type="win32" />
       <clrClass
                 clsid="{4B72FC46-C543-4101-80DB-7777848D1357}"
                 progid="SideBySide.SideBySideClass"
                 threadingModel="Both"
                 name="SideBySide.SideBySideClass"
                 runtimeVersion="v2.0.50727">
       </clrClass>
       <file name="SideBySide.dll">
    </file>
   

4. I've added manifest to SideBySide.dll with command

mt -outputresource:"" -manifest "SideBySide.manifest"

5. I've exported the tlb from SideBySide .Net dll using tlbexp

6. I've set No in the configuration Properties -> Manifest tool -> Embed Manifest of the c++ client

7. I've compiled client.exe and then i've applied changes to che client.exe.manifest file. Here in the following the modified manifest

   <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0"> <assemblyIdentity type = "win32" name = "client" version = "1.0.0.0" /> <dependency> <dependentAssembly> <assemblyIdentity type="win32" name="SideBySide" version="1.0.0.0" /> </dependentAssembly> </dependency> </assembly>

Everything it's work well and it seems that I can consume .Net Framework COM interface from native c++ application. However there is an issue then i try to compile the SideBySide with .Net Framework 4.0 or newer when i call CreateInstance

ISideBySideClassPtr ptr;
HRESULT hr = ptr.CreateInstance(__uuidof(SideBySideClass));

This error occurs: 0x8013101b : This assembly is built by a runtime newer than the currently loaded runtime and cannot be loaded. Of course I've tried to perform all the steps listed above, I try also to specify the runtime version in the manifest of the dll but it was unuseful. I also read this post https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/dsnotes/2012/08/10/error-0x8013101b-when-doing-a-registration-free-com-activation/ The problem it's the same but the solution, in my opinion is not suitable for me, because I need to call c# COM from a native client.

There is some workaround to apply or i need another approach to my problem

I appreciate this a little late, but for anyone else that comes across this...

I had this problem earlier today. My Registration Free COM library is built with .Net 4.5.2, my solution was to use the "runtimeVersion" attribute as follows

<clrClass 
   clsid="{...}" 
   progid="Library.Name" 
   threadingModel="Both" 
   name="Library.Name.Class"
   runtimeVersion="v4.0.30319">

Alternatively, you can leave out the runtimeVersion attribute (or specify v2.0.50272) and compile your library for .Net 3.5. Either solution appears to resolve the issue.