How to: Create a Project from Existing Code Files

You can create a Visual Studio project from an existing app—for example, an app that you obtained from an online source. Project and solution files are created on your computer and the other relevant files are added. A project can be created from Visual C++, Visual Basic, or Visual C# code files.

Security Note
We recommend that you determine the trustworthiness of existing code files before you import them into Visual Studio, because Visual Studio will execute some of the code in a fully trusted process when you open the newly created project.

To create a project from existing code files

1. On the menu bar, choose File, New, Project From Existing Code.

   Note

   This option is not available in Visual Studio Express editions, nor in certain development profiles. It is available only in these profiles: General, JavaScript for Windows 8, SQL Server, Visual C++, Visual C#, and Visual F#. To change settings, on the menu bar, choose Tools, Import and Export Settings. For more information, see Customizing Development Settings in Visual Studio.

   The Create New Project from Existing Code Files wizard opens.

   Note

   This option is not available in Visual Studio Express editions, nor in certain development profiles. It is available only in these profiles: General, JavaScript for Windows 8, SQL Server, Visual C++, Visual C#, and Visual F#. To change settings, on the menu bar, choose Tools, Import and Export Settings. For more information, see Customizing Development Settings in Visual Studio.

2. In the wizard, specify details about the existing code files that will be added to the project, and about the app that you will build.

See Also

Concepts

Creating Solutions and Projects