How to persist project configuration specific properties

Question

Hi,

we plan to create an add-in (using C#) for VS2005 that adds some functionality to the C++ project type. How can I persist parameters/settings that are specific for a configuration of the project? Am I restricted to use Project.Globals or is there a way to store private properties in the project file under the corresponding configuration?

Udo Eberhardt

Answer 1

The best way of doing this is to use Project.Globals, there is no way to directly modify the XML of the project file in a way that is safe.

Craig

Answer 2

Would it be a bad idea to add a unique Id element to all newly created project items so that I can reference data associated with it from an external storage place of my choice?

        /// <summary>
        /// Adds a new attribute to the project item.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="project">The project that contains the project item.</param>
        /// <param name="fullPath">The full path of the project item.</param>
        /// <param name="key">The key for the attribute property.</param>
        /// <param name="value">The value for the property.</param>
        /// <returns>The property saved as a string.</returns>
        /// <remarks>Returns the existing value if it already exists.</remarks>
        public static String Add(Project project, String fullPath, String key, String value)
        {
            var hierarchy = HierarchyHelper.GetHierarchy(Globals.ServiceProvider, project);
            var buildPropertyStorage = hierarchy as IVsBuildPropertyStorage;
            var result = String.Empty;
            if (buildPropertyStorage != null)
            {
                uint itemId;
                
                hierarchy.ParseCanonicalName(fullPath, out itemId);
                buildPropertyStorage.GetItemAttribute(itemId, key, out result);

                // This ID is used for storage within the project item.
                if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(result))
                {
                    result = value;
                    buildPropertyStorage.SetItemAttribute(itemId, key, result);
                    project.Save();
                }
            }

            return result;
        }