Unable to create object in event handler

Question

I'm trying to deserialize application data and cast it to a specific type from within my event handler, but this seems impossible as it refuses to find my class even though it's compiled into the same assembly as the event handler.

Regardless if I use the ApplicationData utility GetAs<T>() or deserialize it myself I get the same error:

Could not cast as MyClass, reason: Unable to find assembly 'MyAssembly.MyClass, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null'.
   at System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryAssemblyInfo.GetAssembly()
   at System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.ObjectReader.GetType(BinaryAssemblyInfo assemblyInfo, String name)
   at System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.ObjectMap..ctor(String objectName, String[] memberNames, BinaryTypeEnum[] binaryTypeEnumA, Object[] typeInformationA, Int32[] memberAssemIds, ObjectReader objectReader, Int32 objectId, BinaryAssemblyInfo assemblyInfo, SizedArray assemIdToAssemblyTable)
   at System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.__BinaryParser.ReadObjectWithMapTyped(BinaryObjectWithMapTyped record)
   at System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.__BinaryParser.ReadObjectWithMapTyped(BinaryHeaderEnum binaryHeaderEnum)
   at System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.__BinaryParser.Run()
   at System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.ObjectReader.Deserialize(HeaderHandler handler, __BinaryParser serParser, Boolean fCheck, Boolean isCrossAppDomain, IMethodCallMessage methodCallMessage)
   at System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter.Deserialize(Stream serializationStream, HeaderHandler handler, Boolean fCheck, Boolean isCrossAppDomain, IMethodCallMessage methodCallMessage)
   at System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter.Deserialize(Stream serializationStream)

Has anyone had a similar issue and solved it?

The only way forward that I can see, is either sticking the assembly in the GAC and pray that it can find it, or reduce my object to a string.

File: myeventhandler.cs

namespace MyAssembly
{
    [TcmExtension("This does stuff")]
    public sealed class MyEventHandler : TcmExtension
    {

        public MyEventHandler()
        {
            EventSystem.Subscribe<PublishTransaction, SaveEventArgs>(
                (subject, args, phase) =>

                    // pseudo code!
                    foreach (var item in PublishTransaction))
                    {
                        var appData = item.ReadApplicationData(MyAppDataId);
                        if(appData != null)
                        {
                            var myAppData = appData.GetAs<MyClass>();
                            // do stuff with myAppData
                        }
                    }
                },
                EventPhases.TransactionCommited
            );
        }
    }
}

File: myclass.cs

namespace MyAssembly
{
    [Serializable]
    public class MyClass
    {
        // has properties and constructors
    }
}

Answer 1

Can't say I know anything specific about this version of Tridion, but if I was getting odd loader errors, I'd fire up the Fusion Log Viewer. Scott Hanselman describes it here.

That can help you work out where .Net has been looking - which might give you a clue as to what's up.