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/reference (Import Metadata)
Causes the compiler to make Public type information in the specified files available to the project you are currently compiling.
/reference:file[;file2]
Arguments
file[;file2]
One or more files that contains an assembly manifest. To import more than one file, separate file names with either a comma or a semicolon. The compiler will look for file anywhere specified by the PATH environment variable.
Remarks
The file(s) you import must contain a manifest; the output file must have been compiled with one of the /target options other than /target:module.
/r is the short form of /reference.
Example
Compile source file input.vb and import metadata from metad1.dll and metad2.dll to produce out.exe: