Sharing Source Code Across Different Solutions

[jamil]

I have common classes that I would like to share amongst a few stand
alone projects. They are independent of each other and not related in
any way. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to share a
single source code file amongst multiple projects. When I attempt to
add an existing item to a project, Visual Studio makes a copy of the
file. I do not want ten copies of the same source code that I later
have to maintain.

I tried editing the file name and adding ..\Common\whatever.vb, but
this is not permitted. It seems like such a simple thing that I
should not be struggling with.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

I have common classes that I would like to share amongst a few stand
alone projects. They are independent of each other and not related in
any way. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to share a
single source code file amongst multiple projects.

Create a library (DLL).

 

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

[...] I cannot figure out how to share a
single source code file amongst multiple projects. When I attempt to
add an existing item to a project, Visual Studio makes a copy of the
file. I do not want ten copies of the same source code that I later
have to maintain.

Click "Add Existing Item...", select the file, and then change the
dropdown button to reference the file only and keep it in its original
location.

 

[jamil]

Click "Add Existing Item...", select the file, and then change the
dropdown button to reference the file only and keep it in its original
location.

Interesting -- I do not have these options after clicking Add Existing
Item.

Ah -- I just found it. There's a drop down arrow to the right of the
Add button. I have to select "Add As Link."

Thanks!

 

[jamil]

Create a library (DLL).

Yeah -- this would have been my last resort. I have the source shared
now though.

 

[Guest]

Yeah -- this would have been my last resort. I have the source shared
now though.

It's probably the best way too