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ScriptResource.axd and and assemblies built in the future

rahnev by Stefan Rahnev
July 05, 2007 Web 0 Comments


Here is something I didn't know until recently:

If you have a ScriptControl whose JavaScript files are web resources (served through ScriptResource.axd instead of WebResource.axd) and the date of the assembly is in the future, that very JavaScript file will fail to load.

I have attached a test solution to illustrate the case - AssemblyInTheFuture.zip. Build it and run the Default.aspx page - everything is fine and a nasty alert saying "initialize" pops out. Now change the date of your PC - set it to yesterday. Stop ASP.NET Development server to reset the script resource cache dependency. Open Default.aspx again (but DO NOT rebuild the project - let the ControlLibrary.dll be built in the future). Now a JavaScript error will occur saying that 'aStuff is undefined' or 'aStuff is not defined' if you are a FireFox guy (like yours truly). Firebug can immediately tell you why:



Here is the error in more user friendly format:


Specified argument was out of the range of valid values.
Parameter name: utcDate

Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

Exception Details: System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException: Specified argument was out of the range of valid values.
Parameter name: utcDate

Source Error:

An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

Stack Trace: 

[ArgumentOutOfRangeException: Specified argument was out of the range of valid values.
Parameter name: utcDate]
   System.Web.HttpCachePolicy.UtcSetLastModified(DateTime utcDate) +3261043
   System.Web.HttpCachePolicy.SetLastModified(DateTime date) +47
   System.Web.Handlers.ScriptResourceHandler.PrepareResponseCache(HttpResponse response, Assembly assembly) +194
   System.Web.Handlers.ScriptResourceHandler.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) +1154
   System.Web.Handlers.ScriptResourceHandler.System.Web.IHttpHandler.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) +4
   System.Web.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() +154
   System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously) +64

Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework Version:2.0.50727.42; ASP.NET Version:2.0.50727.213

A good thing to know is that the good old WebResource.axd does not depend on the time. You can try the following (in Default.aspx.cs):

    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        Page.ClientScript.RegisterClientScriptResource(typeof(AjaxWebControl), "aStuff.AjaxWebControl.js");
    }

If you load the page a new JavaScript error will occur - "Type is undefined" which means that the file has been served successfully but is included before the core ASP.NET AJAX scripts.

In a word always make sure that you don't deploy assemblies which are built in the future :) This may  happen  if you deploy your web site on a server  in a different time zone.

And don't forget to restore your system date :)
ASP.NET, Web Forms
rahnev
About the Author

Stefan Rahnev

Stefan Rahnev (@StDiR) is Product Manager for Telerik Kendo UI living in Sofia, Bulgaria. He has been working for the company since 2005, when he started out as a regular support officer. His next steps at Telerik took him through the positions of Technical Support Director, co-team leader in one of the ASP.NET AJAX teams and unit manager for UI for ASP.NET AJAX and Kendo UI. Stefan’s main interests are web development, agile processes planning and management, client services and psychology.

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