.NET Framework/C##

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for running a Dlubal API client on .NET Framework. Use this package when your project cannot target modern .NET — for example, a plugin or add-in hosted inside an existing .NET Framework application. For new projects targeting .NET 9 or higher, use .NET/C# Client instead.

Prerequisites#

Before you begin, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

Install the .NET Framework 4.8 Developer Pack.
- This provides the targeting and reference assemblies required to build against net48.
- It is included with Visual Studio when the .NET desktop development workload is selected.
Install a build toolchain — either:
- Visual Studio (recommended on Windows), or
- the .NET SDK, which lets you build SDK-style net48 projects from the command line with dotnet build.
```
dotnet --version
```
(Optional) Install Visual Studio Code with the C# Dev Kit extension:
- Open the Extensions view by pressing Ctrl+Shift+X.
- Search for C# Dev Kit and click Install.

Create a New Project#

Create a console application that targets .NET Framework 4.8.

In Visual Studio: choose Console App (.NET Framework) and select .NET Framework 4.8 as the target framework.
From the CLI (SDK-style project): create the project and set the target framework to net48:
```
dotnet new console -o DlubalApiSample
```
Then edit the generated .csproj so it targets net48:
```
<TargetFramework>net48</TargetFramework>
```

Install the Dlubal API Package#

Installing the NuGet package from the Terminal (CLI)
- Open the Terminal in your project directory (press Ctrl+`)
- Run the following command to install the Dlubal API package into your project.
```
dotnet add package Dlubal.Api.NetFramework
```
- If you need to install a specific version of the package (for example, version 2.14.8), you can do so by appending the --version flag followed by the desired version number:
```
dotnet add package Dlubal.Api.NetFramework --version 2.14.8
```
- In Visual Studio you can instead use the Package Manager Console:
```
Install-Package Dlubal.Api.NetFramework -Version 2.14.8
```
Important

The API client version must match the version of your Dlubal application to ensure full compatibility. For example, API client version 2.14.8 corresponds to RFEM 6.14.0008 / RSTAB 9.14.0008.
Verify the Installation
- Run the following command
```
dotnet list package
```
- Ensure Dlubal.Api.NetFramework appears in the list of installed packages.

Using the Package#

using System;
using Rfem = Dlubal.Api.Rfem;
using Common = Dlubal.Api.Common;

ApplicationRfem? rfemApp = null;

try
{
   rfemApp = new ApplicationRfem();

   Common.ApplicationInfo appInfo = rfemApp.get_application_info();
   Console.WriteLine(appInfo);

   // Create a new model
   rfemApp.create_model(name: "my_first_model");

   // Create a single node at coordinates [1.0, 2.0, 3.0] (in meters)
   rfemApp.create_object(
      new Rfem.StructureCore.Node
      {
         No = 1,
         Coordinate1 = 1.0,
         Coordinate2 = 2.0,
         Coordinate3 = 3.0
      }
   );
   Console.WriteLine("Created node No. 1.");
}

catch (Exception ex)
{
   Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Message}");
}
finally
{
   if (rfemApp != null) rfemApp.close_connection();
}

For details on API key options and config.ini management, see the Authentication documentation.