How to Open Assembly Explorer in DnSpy
DnSpy is a powerful, free, and open-source .NET decompiler and assembly editor. It is widely used by developers and reverse engineers for analyzing and modifying .NET assemblies. One of the key features of DnSpy is the Assembly Explorer, which allows users to navigate and inspect the contents of an assembly. In this article, we will guide you through the process of how to open the Assembly Explorer in DnSpy.
Step 1: Launch DnSpy
First, make sure you have DnSpy installed on your computer. You can download it from the official website () Once installed, launch the application.
Step 2: Open the Assembly
Next, you need to open the assembly you want to inspect. Click on the “File” menu and select “Open Assembly…” or simply press “Ctrl + O” on your keyboard. Navigate to the location of the assembly file and select it. DnSpy will then load the assembly and display its contents in the main window.
Step 3: Access the Assembly Explorer
To open the Assembly Explorer, you have two options. The first one is to click on the “View” menu and then select “Assembly Explorer.” The second option is to press “Ctrl + Shift + E” on your keyboard. Either of these methods will open the Assembly Explorer in a new tab.
Step 4: Navigate the Assembly Explorer
The Assembly Explorer is organized into several sections, including modules, types, methods, fields, properties, and events. You can expand and collapse these sections to navigate through the assembly’s structure. For example, to view all the types in the assembly, expand the “Types” section. To inspect a specific type, click on it, and the details will be displayed in the main window.
Step 5: Use the Assembly Explorer for Analysis
Now that you have opened the Assembly Explorer, you can use it to analyze the assembly’s contents. You can search for specific types, methods, or fields using the search bar at the top of the window. Additionally, you can right-click on any item in the Assembly Explorer and select various actions, such as decompiling the code, generating a disassembly, or modifying the assembly directly.
Conclusion
Opening the Assembly Explorer in DnSpy is a straightforward process that allows you to navigate and inspect the contents of a .NET assembly. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily access the Assembly Explorer and use it to analyze and modify assemblies for your development or reverse engineering projects.
