automatically including generated C# files into project build

[Alan Krueger]

Is there a way to automatically include C# files (.cs) generated by a
third-party tool into a Visual C# .NET build? It's possible the set
of files generated by this tool might change. Adding these files
manually to the project would work in the short term, but this would
require manual intervention if these generated files happened to
change, and I'd like to avoid any unnecessary manual steps.

NAnt and similar tools can include and compile .cs files based on a
wildcard, but I'd like to keep using the VC#.NET IDE for the parts of
the project that aren't generated.

Any hints or pointers would be very helpful.

 

[Joe Mayo [C# MVP]]

Hi Alan,

Maybe file links will work for you. Right-click the project, select Add,
Add Existing Item, and locate the file in the Add Existing Item dialog (Open
File Dialog), but don't click the Open button. Instead, select the
drop-down list on the right side of the Open button and click on Link File.
Now both projects work with the same file.

Joe

 

[Alan Krueger]

Is there a way to automatically include C# files (.cs) generated by a
third-party tool into a Visual C# .NET build? It's possible the set
of files generated by this tool might change. Adding these files
manually to the project would work in the short term, but this would
require manual intervention if these generated files happened to
change, and I'd like to avoid any unnecessary manual steps.

Maybe file links will work for you. Right-click the project, select Add,
Add Existing Item, and locate the file in the Add Existing Item dialog (Open
File Dialog), but don't click the Open button. Instead, select the
drop-down list on the right side of the Open button and click on Link File.
Now both projects work with the same file.

Say the generator to which I refererd has previously created Foo.cs
and Bar.cs, and I explicitly link these with the project. When the
generator begins creating an additional file, Baz.cs, which may be
referred to by Foo.cs or Bar.cs and is needed to build them correctly,
it's not explicitly linked with the project so it won't get built.
(If I understand file linking correctly.)

Similarly, if the tool decides to no longer generate Foo.cs, it
shouldn't get included in the build anymore, but because it's
explicitly linked with the project an error will occur. Both of these
changes require manual intervention in the project file.

What I'm essentially looking for is a way to include all *.cs files in
a directory at build time. It sounds like this might have to be a
custom build step, or that I might have to use something like NAnt.

 

[Srinivasa Parupalli]

when you want automated csharp code to be generated...i can suggest you to explore www.antlr.org site.

--
Thanks & Regards,
P.Srinivasa Dinesh,
Developer,
ECMI.
Internet : (e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
Mobile No: +91-9850607089.

Is there a way to automatically include C# files (.cs) generated by a
third-party tool into a Visual C# .NET build? It's possible the set
of files generated by this tool might change. Adding these files
manually to the project would work in the short term, but this would
require manual intervention if these generated files happened to
change, and I'd like to avoid any unnecessary manual steps.

Maybe file links will work for you. Right-click the project, select Add,
Add Existing Item, and locate the file in the Add Existing Item dialog (Open
File Dialog), but don't click the Open button. Instead, select the
drop-down list on the right side of the Open button and click on Link File.
Now both projects work with the same file.

Say the generator to which I refererd has previously created Foo.cs
and Bar.cs, and I explicitly link these with the project. When the
generator begins creating an additional file, Baz.cs, which may be
referred to by Foo.cs or Bar.cs and is needed to build them correctly,
it's not explicitly linked with the project so it won't get built.
(If I understand file linking correctly.)

Similarly, if the tool decides to no longer generate Foo.cs, it
shouldn't get included in the build anymore, but because it's
explicitly linked with the project an error will occur. Both of these
changes require manual intervention in the project file.

What I'm essentially looking for is a way to include all *.cs files in
a directory at build time. It sounds like this might have to be a
custom build step, or that I might have to use something like NAnt.

 

[SP]

Is there a way to automatically include C# files (.cs) generated by a
third-party tool into a Visual C# .NET build? It's possible the set
of files generated by this tool might change. Adding these files
manually to the project would work in the short term, but this would
require manual intervention if these generated files happened to
change, and I'd like to avoid any unnecessary manual steps.

NAnt and similar tools can include and compile .cs files based on a
wildcard, but I'd like to keep using the VC#.NET IDE for the parts of
the project that aren't generated.

Any hints or pointers would be very helpful.

Why don't you copy the contents of all the files into one file with a batch
file (copy MyFolder/*.cs All.cs) and then link to that one file. Run the
batch file in the prebuild event.

SP




SP

 

[Alan Krueger]

Is there a way to automatically include C# files (.cs) generated by a
third-party tool into a Visual C# .NET build? It's possible the set
of files generated by this tool might change. Adding these files
manually to the project would work in the short term, but this would
require manual intervention if these generated files happened to
change, and I'd like to avoid any unnecessary manual steps.

when you want automated csharp code to be generated...i can suggest you
to explore www.antlr.org site.

Perhaps you misunderstood. I already have automatic generation of C#
code, I need automated inclusion of these files in the build.

The ANTLR site only seems to document building their generated C#
files with NAnt, something I was trying to avoid.

 

[Alan Krueger]

Why don't you copy the contents of all the files into one file with a batch
file (copy MyFolder/*.cs All.cs) and then link to that one file. Run the
batch file in the prebuild event.

This is simple, clever, and it appears to work. Thanks much!