How to: Manipulate Visual Basic and C# Projects By Using the VSProject2 Object

Article
02/21/2011

The VSProject2 interface provides access to methods and properties that are specific to Visual C# and Visual Basic projects. VSProject2 also provides access to the DTE and Project objects of the general environment model through the DTE and Project properties.

Most methods and properties of VSProject2 apply uniformly to Visual C# and Visual Basic projects. The only exception is the Imports property, which applies to Visual Basic and provides access to the Imports object. For more information, see How to: Manipulate the Imports Property of Visual Basic Projects. The Events property gives access to project-specific events, such as VSLangProjWebReferencesEvents and ReferencesEvents. The event handling tasks are covered in other topics. For more information, see Responding to Events (Visual Basic and Visual C# Projects).

The steps below illustrate how to programmatically create a Visual C# windows application by using the general automation model. The methods and properties of VSProject2 are used to programmatically control the created project.

Note

The dialog boxes and menu commands you see might differ from those described in Help depending on your active settings or edition. These procedures were developed with the General Development Settings active. To change your settings, choose Import and Export Settings on the Tools menu. For more information, see Working with Settings.

To use the VSProject2 object to control C# projects

Create a Visual Studio Add-in project by using Visual C#.
On the Project menu, click Add Reference, click the .NET tab, select VSLangProj, VSLangProj2, VSLangProj80, VSLangProj90, and VSLangProj100, and then click OK.
Create two folders on your computer:
- <Installation Root>\UserFiles\MyProjects\MyTestProject.
- <Installation Root>\UserFiles\MyKeyFiles.
  
  In this example, the <Installation Root> is "C:".

Add the following using statements to the top of the Connect.cs file.

using VSLangProj;
using VSLangProj2;
using VSLangProj80;
using VSLangProj90;

using VSLangProj100;Add the following method call to the OnConnection method.

public void OnConnection(object application, 
ext_ConnectMode connectMode, object addInInst, ref Array custom)
{
    _applicationObject = (DTE2)application;
    _addInInstance = (AddIn)addInInst;
    CSVSProj2Manip(_applicationObject);
}

Add the CSVSProj2Manip method declaration directly below the OnConnection method.
```
public void CSVSProj2Manip(DTE2 dte)
{
}
```

Add the following declarations to the top of the method.

Solution2 soln = (Solution2)_applicationObject.Solution;
String csTemplatePath;
String csPrjPath;
Project proj;
VSProject2 vsproj;
String webServiceRef;
BuildManager bldMgr;

Use AddFromTemplate to create a Visual C# project.
- The syntax for obtaining the templates is EnvDTE80.Solution2.GetProjectTemplate("WindowsApplication.zip", "CSharp"), where the name " WindowsApplication.zip " is obtained from the WindowsApplication.zip file located in <Installation Root>\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\Common7\IDE\ProjectTemplates\CSharp\Windows\1033 folder. For all Visual Studio project types these files can be found in the <Installation Root>\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\Common7\IDE\ProjectTemplates\Language folder. "CSharp" specifies that this project is a Visual C# project.
- For a Visual Basic Windows Application project, the syntax is EnvDTE80.Solution2.GetProjectTemplate("WindowsApplication.zip", "VisualBasic"). For Visual Basic projects the Windows Application zip file templates are found in the <Installation Root>\ Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\Common7\IDE\ProjectTemplates\VisualBasic\Windows\1033 folder.
```
// Make sure you create the folders that 
// make up the file path
// on your computer. You can replace 
// this with your own file path.
csPrjPath = "C:\\UserFiles\\MyProjects\\MyTestProject";
// Get the project template path for a C# windows 
// application.
csTemplatePath = soln.GetProjectTemplate
("WindowsApplication.zip", "CSharp");
// Create a new windows application by using the 
// template obtained above.
soln.AddFromTemplate(csTemplatePath, csPrjPath,
 "Test2CSProj", false);
```

Add the following code to demonstrate the use of the VSProject2 methods.

To programmatically add a Web service to the project, you must replace the placeholder text, <web service>, in the code with the URL of an actual Web service. To locate a Web service URL, open a project in the Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE). On the Project menu click Add Web Reference. On the Add Reference dialog box, click the UDDI Directory link, and use the directory to find a Web service.

proj = soln.Projects.Item(1);
// Cast the project as a VSProject2 object.
vsproj = (VSProject2)proj.Object;
// Add a reference to System.Security.dll.
MessageBox.Show("Adding a reference 
to System.Security.dll");
// Remove the <version number> in the following path
// and replace it with one of the version 
// number folders that appear 
// in <installation root>\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework
// folder
vsproj.References.Add
("C:\\WINDOWS\\Microsoft.NET\\Framework\\<version number>\\System.Security.dll");
// Create a Web references folder.
MessageBox.Show("Creating a Web references folder.");
vsproj.CreateWebReferencesFolder();
// Add a Web reference to the folder.
MessageBox.Show("Adding a Web reference.");
// Replace the placeholder, <web service>, with a
// Web service URL.
webServiceRef = "<web service>";
vsproj.AddWebReference(webServiceRef);
bldMgr = vsproj.BuildManager;
Array monikers = null;
// String moniker = null;
String msg = null;
Object obj = bldMgr.DesignTimeOutputMonikers;
if (obj != null)
{
    try
    {
        monikers = (System.Array)obj;
        foreach(String tempmoniker in monikers)
        {
            msg += bldMgr.BuildDesignTimeOutput
(tempmoniker) + "\n";
        }
    }
    catch(Exception ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
    }
    MessageBox.Show("The build design-time output is:" 
+ "\n"  + msg);
}
// Change the MyHTML file name by using GetUniqueFilename.
MessageBox.Show("Adding an HTML page named 'MyHTML'...");
String itemTemplatePath = soln.GetProjectItemTemplate("HTMLPage",
 "CSharp");
proj.ProjectItems.AddFromTemplate
(itemTemplatePath, "MyHtml");
MessageBox.Show("Renaming MyHtml' to 'MyTesthtml.htm'...");
vsproj.Project.ProjectItems.Item("MyHtml").Name =
 vsproj.GetUniqueFilename(proj, "MyTesthtml", "htm");
// Generate a key-pair file.
MessageBox.Show("Generating a key-file...");
vsproj.GenerateKeyPairFiles("C:\\UserFiles\\MyKeyFiles
\\MyKeyText2.bin", "0");

The CSVSProj2Manip method uses the VSProject2 object to:

Add a reference to System.Security.dll by using References.
Create a Web references folder by using CreateWebReferencesFolder.
Add a Web reference by using AddWebReference.
Display the build design-time monikers by using methods obtained through the BuildManager property.
Rename a new project item by using the GetUniqueFilename method. The CSVSProj2Manip method adds the project item by using AddFromTemplate.
Generate a key-pair file by using the GenerateKeyPairFiles method.

The example section lists the complete code including a try-catch block for the entire method.

To build the add-in, click Build Solution on the Build menu.
Open a Visual C# project in the Visual Studio IDE.
On the Tools menu, click Add-in Manager, and select your add-in from the Add-In Manager dialog box. Click OK to run your add-in.
View the key-pair file you generated in the <Installation Root>\UserFiles\MyKeyFiles folder by using the Sn.exe (Strong Name Tool).

Example

The following example is a basic Visual Studio add-in that creates a Visual C# project and manipulates it by using the properties and methods of the VSProject2 object.

using System;
using System;
using Extensibility;
using EnvDTE;
using EnvDTE80;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using VSLangProj;
using VSLangProj2;
using VSLangProj80;
using VSLangProj90;
using VSLangProj100;
public void OnConnection(object application, 
ext_ConnectMode connectMode, object addInInst, ref Array custom)
{
    _applicationObject = (DTE2)application;
    _addInInstance = (AddIn)addInInst;
    CSVSProj2Manip(_applicationObject);
}
public void CSVSProj2Manip(DTE2 dte)
{
    try
    {
        Solution2 soln = (Solution2)_applicationObject.Solution;
        String csTemplatePath;
        String csPrjPath;
        Project proj;
        VSProject2 vsproj;
        String webServiceRef;
        BuildManager bldMgr;
        // Make sure you create the folders that make up the file path
        // on your computer.
        // You can replace this with your own file path.
        csPrjPath = "C:\\UserFiles\\MyProjects\\MyTestProject";
        // Get the project template path for a C# windows application.
        csTemplatePath = soln.GetProjectTemplate
("WindowsApplication.zip", "CSharp");
        // Create a new Windows application by using the template 
        // obtained above.
        soln.AddFromTemplate(csTemplatePath, csPrjPath,
 "Test2CSProj", false);
        proj = soln.Projects.Item(1);
        // Get a reference to the VSProject2 object.
        vsproj = (VSProject2)proj.Object;
        // Add a reference to System.Security.dll.
        MessageBox.Show("Adding a reference to System.Security.dll");
        // Remove the <version number> in the following path
        // and replace it with one of the version 
        // number folders that appear 
        // in <installation root>\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework
        // folder
        vsproj.References.Add
("C:\\WINDOWS\\Microsoft.NET\\Framework\\<version number>\\System.Security.dll");
        // Create a Web references folder.
        MessageBox.Show("Creating a Web references folder.");
        vsproj.CreateWebReferencesFolder();
        // Replace the placeholder, <web service>, with a
        // Web service URL.
        MessageBox.Show("Adding a Web reference.");
        // Replace the placeholder, <web service>, with a
        // Web service URL.
        webServiceRef = "<web service>";
        vsproj.AddWebReference(webServiceRef);
        bldMgr = vsproj.BuildManager;
        Array monikers = null;
        // String moniker = null;
        String msg = null;
        Object obj = bldMgr.DesignTimeOutputMonikers;
        if (obj != null)
        {
            try
            {
                monikers = (System.Array)obj;
                foreach(String tempmoniker in monikers)
                {
                    msg += bldMgr.BuildDesignTimeOutput(tempmoniker) 
+ "\n";
                }
            }
            catch(Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }
            MessageBox.Show("The build design-time output is:" + "\n"  
+ msg);
        }
        // Change the MyHTML file name by using GetUniqueFilename.
        MessageBox.Show("Adding an HTML page named 'MyHTML'...");
        String itemTemplatePath =
 soln.GetProjectItemTemplate("HTMLPage", "CSharp");
        proj.ProjectItems.AddFromTemplate(itemTemplatePath, "MyHtml");
        MessageBox.Show("Renaming MyHtml' to 'MyTesthtml.htm'...");
        vsproj.Project.ProjectItems.Item("MyHtml").Name =
 vsproj.GetUniqueFilename(proj, "MyTesthtml", "htm");
        // Generate a key-pair file.
        MessageBox.Show("Generating a key-file...");
        vsproj.GenerateKeyPairFiles
("C:\\UserFiles\\MyKeyFiles\\MyKeyText2.bin", "0");
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
    }
}

Imports System
Imports Microsoft.VisualStudio.CommandBars
Imports Extensibility
Imports EnvDTE
Imports EnvDTE80
Imports VSLangProj
Imports VSLangProj2
Imports VSLangProj80
Imports VSLangProj90
Imports VSLangProj100
Public Sub OnConnection(ByVal application As Object, _
 ByVal connectMode As ext_ConnectMode, ByVal addInInst As Object, _
 ByRef custom As Array) Implements IDTExtensibility2.OnConnection
    _applicationObject = CType(application, DTE2)
    _addInInstance = CType(addInInst, AddIn)
    CSVSProj2Manip(_applicationObject)
End Sub
Sub CSVSProj2Manip(ByVal dte As DTE2)
    Try
        Dim soln As Solution2 = CType(_applicationObject.Solution, _
         Solution2)
        Dim csTemplatePath As String
        Dim csPrjPath As String
        Dim proj As Project
        Dim vsproj As VSProject2
        Dim webServiceRef As String
        Dim bldMgr As BuildManager
        ' Create this or your own file path on your computer.
        ' The file path must exist before you run this add-in.
        csPrjPath = "C:\UserFiles\MyProjects\MyTestProject"
        ' Get the project template path for a C# windows application.
        csTemplatePath = soln.GetProjectTemplate _
        ("WindowsApplication.zip","CSharp")
        ' Create a new Windows Application
        ' using the template obtained above.
        soln.AddFromTemplate(csTemplatePath, csPrjPath _
        , "Test2CSProj", False)
        proj = soln.Projects.Item(1)
        ' Cast the project to a VSProject2.
        vsproj = CType(proj.Object, VSProject2)
        ' Add a reference to System.Security.dll.
        MsgBox("Adding a reference to System.Security.dll")
        ' Remove the <version number> in the following path
        ' and replace it with one of the version 
        ' number folders that appear 
        ' in <installation root>\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework
        ' folder
        vsproj.References.Add _
        ("C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\<version number>\System.Security.dll")
        ' Create a Web references folder.
        MsgBox("Creating a Web references folder.")
        vsproj.CreateWebReferencesFolder()
        ' Replace the placeholder, <web service>, with a
        ' web service URL.
        webServiceRef = "<web service>"
        MsgBox("Adding a Web reference.")
        vsproj.AddWebReference(webServiceRef)
        bldMgr = vsproj.BuildManager
        Dim monikers As String() = Nothing
        Dim moniker As String = Nothing
        Dim msg As String = ""
        Dim obj As Object = bldMgr.DesignTimeOutputMonikers
        If Not obj Is Nothing Then
            Try
                monikers = CType(obj, String())
                For Each moniker In monikers
                    msg &= bldMgr.BuildDesignTimeOutput(moniker) + vbCr
                Next
            Catch ex As System.Exception
                MsgBox(ex.ToString)
            End Try
            MsgBox("The build design-time output is:" + vbCr + msg)
        End If
        ' Use the UniqueFilename to rename a new project item.
        MsgBox("Adding an HTML page called 'MyHTML'...")
        Dim itemTemplatePath As String = _
        soln.GetProjectItemTemplate("HTMLPage", "CSharp")
        proj.ProjectItems.AddFromTemplate(itemTemplatePath, "MyHtml")
        MsgBox("Renaming MyHtml' to 'MyTesthtml.htm'...")
        vsproj.Project.ProjectItems.Item("MyHtml").Name = _
        vsproj.GetUniqueFilename(proj, "MyTesthtml", "htm")
        ' Generate a key-pair file.
        vsproj.GenerateKeyPairFiles _
        ("C:\UserFiles\MyKeyFiles\MyKeyText2.bin", "0")
    Catch ex As System.Exception
        MsgBox(ex.ToString)
    End Try
End Sub

Compiling the Code

To compile this code, create a new Visual Studio Add-in project and replace the code of the OnConnection method with the code in the example. For information about how to run an add-in, see How to: Control Add-Ins By Using the Add-In Manager.

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How to: Manipulate Visual Basic and C# Projects By Using the VSProject2 Object

To use the VSProject2 object to control C# projects

Example

Compiling the Code

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Concepts

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