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visual-studio-2010templatesproject

VS 2010 Multiple Project Template. How do you reference other project names?

I have a multi-project template that is working for the most part.

I am able to generate both projects and their files (named correctly), but one of my projects requires references to the other. I am attempting to have the template fill in these references correctly, but am having issues.

Here is my master (solution) template file:

<VSTemplate Version="2.0.0" Type="ProjectGroup"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/vstemplate/2005">
    <TemplateData>
        <Name>Template</Name>
        <Description>Template (includes web and core)</Description>
        <Icon>Icon.ico</Icon>
        <ProjectType>CSharp</ProjectType>
    </TemplateData>
    <TemplateContent>
        <ProjectCollection>
            <ProjectTemplateLink ProjectName="$safeprojectname$.Web">
                Template.Project.Web\MyTemplate.vstemplate
            </ProjectTemplateLink>
            <ProjectTemplateLink ProjectName="$safeprojectname$.Core">
                Template.Project.Core\MyTemplate.vstemplate
            </ProjectTemplateLink>
        </ProjectCollection>
    </TemplateContent>
</VSTemplate>

Now inside the ".Web" project, I often say using x.Core;, but if I do $safreprojectname$.Core the line ends up being x.Web.Core. It seems that once each project is being generated, the $safreprojectname$ variable is changed to the current project. Which makes sense. But is there a way to either get the solution name or perhaps the name of other projects? I tried setting a variable in the solution file, but it does not seem to be passed to the project files.

Anyone have a suggestion?

Edit: in addition to the helpful answer below, here is a blog that I wrote after I finished this process. It links to a bunch of articles that I found to be very helpful: https://thebhwgroup.com/blog/2013/10/visual-studio-templates

Solution

  • I ended up solving this problem with the use of a wizard as shown in the following example: http://blog.tonysneed.com/2011/09/14/build-a-multi-project-visual-studio-template/

    In addition to the blog above, check out the top comment below for VS 2013. I also wrote a quick blog that helps with older versions of VS: https://thebhwgroup.com/blog/2013/10/visual-studio-templates