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Clarify StartupObject documentation: when it's needed and qualification requirements #47726

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merged 4 commits into from
Aug 11, 2025
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Clarify StartupObject documentation: when it's needed and qualification requirements #47726

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Initial plan
Copilot Aug 4, 2025
6a0e908
Fix StartupObject documentation to clarify when it's needed and quali…
Copilot Aug 4, 2025
18dd8e0
Merge branch 'main' into copilot/fix-33547
BillWagner Aug 11, 2025
73e8db4
Update docs/csharp/language-reference/compiler-options/advanced.md
BillWagner Aug 11, 2025
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4 changes: 2 additions & 2 deletions docs/csharp/language-reference/compiler-options/advanced.md
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Expand Up @@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ You add any of these options in a `<PropertyGroup>` element in your `*.csproj` f

## MainEntryPoint or StartupObject

This option specifies the class that contains the entry point to the program, if more than one class contains a `Main` method.
This option specifies the class that contains the entry point to the program when your compilation includes more than one type with a `Main` method. When there's exactly one acceptable `Main` method in the project, this option is ignored.

```xml
<StartupObject>MyNamespace.Program</StartupObject>
Expand All @@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ or
<MainEntryPoint>MyNamespace.Program</MainEntryPoint>
```

Where `Program` is the type that contains the `Main` method. The provided class name must be fully qualified; it must include the full namespace containing the class, followed by the class name. For example, when the `Main` method is located inside the `Program` class in the `MyApplication.Core` namespace, the compiler option has to be `-main:MyApplication.Core.Program`. If your compilation includes more than one type with a [`Main`](../../fundamentals/program-structure/main-command-line.md) method, you can specify which type contains the `Main` method.
Where `Program` is the type that contains the `Main` method. When this option is required (multiple `Main` methods exist), the provided class name must be fully qualified; it must include the full namespace containing the class, followed by the class name. For example, when the `Main` method is located inside the `Program` class in the `MyApplication.Core` namespace, the compiler option has to be `-main:MyApplication.Core.Program`. If the class is in the global namespace, the fully qualified name is the same as the simple class name (for example, `Program` instead of `MyNamespace.Program`).

> [!NOTE]
> This option can't be used for a project that includes [top-level statements](../../fundamentals/program-structure/top-level-statements.md), even if that project contains one or more `Main` methods.
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