BUG: Error message when an assembly name contains a character from different locale: "Unable to start debugging" (814827)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual C# .NET (2002)

SYMPTOMS

In a Microsoft Visual C# .NET Windows Application project, or Visual C# .NET Windows Service project, when you set the Assembly Name project property with Unicode characters (for example, Japanese or Korean characters), you cannot run the application. When you try to run the application from the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET IDE, you may receive the following error message:
Error while trying to run project : Unable to start debugging.
Unable to start program ...\???.exe.
The file name, directory name, or volume lable syntax is incorrect.

RESOLUTION

Run the application from outside the Visual Studio .NET IDE.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

When the Assembly Name property contains characters from a different locale, you cannot run the application from Visual Studio .NET IDE with the following Visual C# projects:
  • Windows Application projects
  • Windows Service projects

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

  1. Start Microsoft Visual Studio .NET.
  2. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Project.
  3. In the New Project dialog box, under Project Types, click Visual C# Projects, and then under Templates, click Windows Application.
  4. In Solution Explorer, right-click Project, and then click Properties.
  5. In Property Pages dialog box, expand Common Properties, and then click General.
  6. In the Assembly Name text box, type Unicode characters (for example, Japanese, or Korean characters), and then click OK.
  7. Build the application.
  8. When you receive the error message, click OK.
  9. In the Save File As dialog box, click UTF-8 Project File or Unicode Project File from the Save as type list box, and then click Save.
  10. In the dialog box that appears, click Yes to replace the existing file.
  11. Click Debug, and then click Start Without Debugging, or run the application by pressing CTRL+F5.
Press CTRL+F5 to use the Visual Studio .NET IDE to debug the application, and not run the application. However, when you debug the application, the application name that contains Unicode characters from a different locale (such as Japanese or Korean characters), may display incorrectly in the Available processes list in the Processes dialog box. Instead of the Unicode characters, the characters may appear as follows: "?".
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:1/16/2006
Keywords:kbUnicode kbide kbDebug kbbug KB814827 kbAudDeveloper kbAudITPRO
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