Assembly Metadata Explorer (Reflection viewer)

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Use the assembly metadata explorer (Reflection viewer) to inspect types contained within a .NET assembly.

This viewer is still supported in RAD Studio even though the Delphi for .NET compiler is no longer part of the product. COM interop development, for example, can involve interaction between COM and .NET features.

Icon	Type	Available Tabs
	Assembly	Properties, Attributes, Flags, Uses
	Namespace	Properties
	Class	Properties, Attributes, Flags, Implements
	Sealed Class	Properties, Attributes, Flags, Implements
	Interface	Properties, Attributes, Flags, Implements, Implementors
	Method	Properties, Attributes, Flags, Parameters, Call Graph
	Method with return value	Properties, Attributes, Flags, Parameters, Call Graph
	Property with getter and setter	Properties, Flags
	Property Getter Method	Properties, Flags
	Property Setter Method	Properties, Flags
	Field	Properties, Flags
	Event	Properties, Attributes, Flags

The metadata fields shown on each tab differ according to the type of item selected in the tree. The sections below list the metadata fields that are displayed on each tab.

Properties Tab

Displays properties of the selected item

Item	Applicable to types	Notes
Name	All
GUID	Assembly
Version	Assembly
Culture	Assembly
Revision	Assembly
Build Number	Assembly
Namespace	Class
Assembly	Class
ID	Class, Field, Property, Method, Event	The ID is an internal number that shows where to find the type in the assembly's internal metadata tables.
Extends	Class	The base class of the selected class
Extends ID	Class	The internal ID of the base class
Value Type	Field
Value	Field
Return Type	Method

Attributes Tab

The Attributes tab shows all attributes (including custom attributes) that were applied to the selected item in source code. For each attribute, the name is displayed alongside the attribute's value.

Flags Tab

The Flags tab displays the set of metadata flags that could apply to the selected item. Each flag is represented by a check box. If the box is checked, the flag is set in the selected item's metadata. If the box is cleared, the flag has not been applied to the selected item.

Uses Tab

The Uses tab displays the list of assemblies that the selected assembly depends on. Each assembly listed must be deployed on the end-user's machine.

Implements Tab

The Implements tab is visible when the selected item is a class, sealed class, or interface. This tab lists each interface implemented by the selected item. Each implemented interface is a link that you can click. Clicking an implemented interface link will cause that item to be selected in the tree, and its metadata properties will be displayed. You can use the Forward and Back browser buttons on the Toolbar to quickly navigate back to the previously selected class or interface.

Implementors Tab

The Implementors tab is visible when an interface is selected in the left-hand pane. This tab displays all those classes that implement the interface.

Parameters Tab

The Parameters tab is visible when a method is selected in the left-hand pane. Each parameter is listed by name, alongside its type, and modifier (such as ref and out).

Call Graph Tab

The Call Graph tab is visible when a method is selected in the left-hand pane. This tab is divided into two panes: The top pane displays those methods that call the selected method. The bottom pane displays all the methods called by the selected method.

Certain methods, denoted by blue color and underlining, are clickable links; these are methods that are within the assembly you are viewing. Click a method link to make that method the selected item in the left-hand pane. Other methods listed in the Calls and Called By panes are not links; these methods are defined in assemblies outside the one you are viewing.

You can navigate forward and back to previously selected items using the browser buttons on the Toolbar.

See Also

• Exploring Assembly Metadata Using the Reflection Viewer