Adding DLL reference to VB.NET project

Question

Just to start off, this question does seem very similar to another post Add the DLL (lame_enc.dll) reference to my project, but I haven't been able to successfully apply that answer. I am pretty new to VB.NET so it is very possible I'm simply missing something obvious.

I am trying to link a DLL to a VB.NET 2010 project to allow my VB app to play *.ogg files. I followed some other advice here on the forums and downloaded FMOD's FMOD Ex Programmers API. I am trying to now reference that functionality. These appear to be the files I need to somehow reference.

C:\Program Files (x86)\FMOD SoundSystem\FMOD Programmers API Windows\api\fmodex64.dll.
C:\Program Files (x86)\FMOD SoundSystem\FMOD Programmers API Windows\api\libfmodex64_vc.lib.

I haven't discovered how to add a *.lib reference (or the equivalent), but selecting the DLL as a reference gives the following error.

A reference to 'C:\Program Files (x86)\FMOD SoundSystem\FMOD Programmers API Windows\api\fmodex64.dll' could not be added. Please make sure that the file is accessible, and that it is a valid assembly or COM component.

I'm not sure what I could be missing. Any ideas? Thanks!

Answer 1

In Solution Explorer, double-click the My Project node for the project.

In the Project Designer, click the References tab.

Click the Add button to open the Add Reference dialog box.

In the Add Reference dialog box, select the tab indicating the type of component you want to reference.

Select the components you want to reference, then click OK.