Is there a way to use the actual database name as the Database Variable Name in a Referenced Database of a SQL Server Database Project?

Question

It seems like when you add another database as a reference to a SQL Server Database Project, the way to reference that database in the query code is via the Database Variable Name which is the notation $(ReferencedDatabaseName):

So a query in the primary database would then reference an object from the referenced database in the following way:

SELECT Field1, Field2
FROM [$(ReferencedDatabaseName)].SchemaName.ObjectName

Is there a way to just directly reference the database by it's actual name, e.g.:

SELECT Field1, Field2
FROM ReferencedDatabaseName.SchemaName.ObjectName

If not, does that mean if I import an existing database that references objects in other databases into my solution, I need to replace all the referenced database names with this database variable name notation?

Answer 1

The literal database name could be used. The "Database variable" field has to be omitted when Database Reference is created.

There is a bug which causes Database Variable Name to be empty thereafter.

All you need to do is to reload solution.

Now the database can be referenced by it's actual name.