How to: Add a Visual Studio Project to the AOT

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

After you create a project in Visual Studio, you can add that project to the Application Object Tree (AOT) in Microsoft Dynamics AX. Visual Studio projects appear in the Visual Studio Projects node in the AOT. This topic shows you how to add a C# project to the AOT, but the process is the same for any of the supported project types. For more information about supported project types, see Adding a Visual Studio Project to the AOT.

Tip

You cannot add a project that resides in a solution folder within Solution Explorer to the AOT.

Prerequisites

To complete this walkthrough you will need:

  • Microsoft Dynamics AX with Visual Studio Tools installed

  • Visual Studio 2010

To Add a Visual Studio Project to the AOT

  1. Create a new C# class library project in Visual Studio. To create a new project, select File > New > Project.

  2. From the Installed Templates tree, click Visual C# > Windows and select the Class Library template. Accept the default project name, for example, ClassLibrary1.

  3. In Solution Explorer, create and add another C# class library project to the solution by right-clicking the solution and selecting Add > New Project.

  4. Select the Class Library template. Accept the default project name, for example, ClassLibrary2.

  5. In Solution Explorer, click the ClassLibrary1 project and add a project reference to the ClassLibrary2 project by right-clicking and selecting Add Reference. On the Projects tab, select the ClassLibrary2 project.

  6. In Solution Explorer, click the ClassLibrary1 project and select File > Add ClassLibrary1 to AOT. When you add a project to the AOT, the system will prompt you to add any dependent projects in the solution. When a dialog appears that prompts you to add ClassLibrary2 to the AOT, click OK. If you add a project that has no other project references to the AOT, this prompt does not appear.

    Both projects have now been added to the AOT and you can view them in Visual Studio or MorphX.

    • In Visual Studio, you can see the projects in the Application Explorer by selecting View > Application Explorer. Expand the Visual Studio Projects node, open the C Sharp Projects folder, and you will see the ClassLibrary1 and ClassLibrary2 projects. For more information, see Application Explorer.

    • In MorphX, to see the project in the AOT, open the AOT, expand the Visual Studio Projects node, and open the C Sharp Projects folder. For more information, see Application Object Tree (AOT).

    Tip

    After you add a project to the AOT by using the Application Explorer, there may be a delay before the project is visible in the AOT through MorphX. If you do not see your project in the folder, you may need to refresh the AOT. To do this, open the AOT, navigate to the C# Projects Folder, right-click, and then select Refresh.

Next Steps

After you have added a managed code project to the AOT, the AOS must be running in order to open that project in Visual Studio. If the AOS is not running and you attempt to open a project that has been added to the AOT, you will receive an error.

See also

Visual Studio Development for Microsoft Dynamics AX

Adding a Visual Studio Project to the AOT

Application Explorer

Application Object Tree (AOT)