I have some source files that are created via an another program. The
are in there own directory. How do I add those files to my C# project
without them being copied to the project directory?

Since the files changes every time the other program runs I must be sure
that I'm using the last version of the files!

I tried using Pre-build Event Command and copied the files myself, but
then VS2010 complains about that the source is not the same...

// Anders
--
Visual Studio 2010 Pro
C#

English isn't my first language.
So any error or strangeness is due to the translation.
Please correct my English so that I may become better.

On 18.08.2012 10:46, Anders Eriksson wrote:
> I have some source files that are created via an another program. The
> are in there own directory. How do I add those files to my C# project
> without them being copied to the project directory?

Do not add the files but add the external assembly/project that contains
them instead.
This is the only clean solution.


> I tried using Pre-build Event Command and copied the files myself, but
> then VS2010 complains about that the source is not the same...

Many version control systems allow project aliases on folders (or
sometimes files too). You could use a link to the external files and let
your version control system synchronize between the different locations.

The dirtiest way is to use a NTFS reparse point (junction) and link the
files into your project.


Marcel

On 2012-08-18 10:54, Marcel Müller wrote:
> On 18.08.2012 10:46, Anders Eriksson wrote:
>> I have some source files that are created via an another program. The
>> are in there own directory. How do I add those files to my C# project
>> without them being copied to the project directory?
>
> Do not add the files but add the external assembly/project that contains
> them instead.
> This is the only clean solution.
Since the other program doesn't create an assembly, just a number of .cs
files (the program is TinyPG, which is an compiler compiler)
I have to create an Class Library project and then we have the same
problem...

>
>
>> I tried using Pre-build Event Command and copied the files myself, but
>> then VS2010 complains about that the source is not the same...
>
I actually found a setting that removed the warning and made it possible
to run the debugger.
Tools - Options - Debug - General - Require source files to exactly
match the original version

Uncheck this value.

> Many version control systems allow project aliases on folders (or
> sometimes files too). You could use a link to the external files and let
> your version control system synchronize between the different locations.
>
I'm not using any control system at the moment. I will look into it!

> The dirtiest way is to use a NTFS reparse point (junction) and link the
> files into your project.
>
Hmmm... Doesn't feel like a good solution ;-)
>

Thank you very much for your input!

// Anders
--
English isn't my first language.
So any error or strangeness is due to the translation.
Please correct my English so that I may become better.

On 2012-08-18 10:54, Marcel Müller wrote:
> On 18.08.2012 10:46, Anders Eriksson wrote:
>> I have some source files that are created via an another program. The
>> are in there own directory. How do I add those files to my C# project
>> without them being copied to the project directory?
>
> Do not add the files but add the external assembly/project that contains
> them instead.
> This is the only clean solution.
Since the other program doesn't create an assembly, just a number of .cs
files (the program is TinyPG, which is an compiler compiler)
I have to create an Class Library project and then we have the same
problem...

>
>
>> I tried using Pre-build Event Command and copied the files myself, but
>> then VS2010 complains about that the source is not the same...
>
I actually found a setting that removed the warning and made it possible
to run the debugger.
Tools - Options - Debug - General - Require source files to exactly
match the original version

Uncheck this value.

> Many version control systems allow project aliases on folders (or
> sometimes files too). You could use a link to the external files and let
> your version control system synchronize between the different locations.
>
I'm not using any control system at the moment. I will look into it!

> The dirtiest way is to use a NTFS reparse point (junction) and link the
> files into your project.
>
Hmmm... Doesn't feel like a good solution ;-)
>

Thank you very much for your input!

// Anders
--
English isn't my first language.
So any error or strangeness is due to the translation.
Please correct my English so that I may become better.

On 2012-08-18 19:33, Peter Duniho wrote:
> On Sat, 18 Aug 2012 10:46:47 +0200, Anders Eriksson wrote:
>
>> I have some source files that are created via an another program. The
>> are in there own directory. How do I add those files to my C# project
>> without them being copied to the project directory? [...]
>
> When you add the files to your project (using the "Add Existing Item..."
> command), click the triangle on the "Add" button and choose "Add As Link"
> instead.
>
> This will set the project to reference the file where it already exists,
> rather than creating a new copy of it.
>

I really must go to the optician!
I can't believe that I haven't seen this...

Thank you very much!

// Anders


--
English isn't my first language.
So any error or strangeness is due to the translation.
Please correct my English so that I may become better.

"Anders Eriksson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...

>> When you add the files to your project (using the "Add Existing Item..."
>> command), click the triangle on the "Add" button and choose "Add As Link"
>> instead.
>>
>> This will set the project to reference the file where it already exists,
>> rather than creating a new copy of it.
>>
>
> I really must go to the optician!
> I can't believe that I haven't seen this...
>
> Thank you very much!

Don't feel bad, I didn't see it either at first. In older versions of the
IDE there was a check box to add a linked file, so when that check box went
away I never noticed that the Add button was now a dropdown button. I
learned about it the last time this question came up.