Add item properties in Visual Studio 2019 project system

Question

I am trying to add properties to an item type in a custom Visual Studio 2019 project. I am using the new CPS project system and created a Package. CPS supports Xaml Rule files for hooking up item properties but this system is just not going to work for my solution because they are static rules.

I need to show different properties for a single item type based on another property. It is a similar functionality that used to be in XNA and I also had this working in the old project system like 10 years ago. For example, I have Content item types but one item has a property Type=A, so it has one string property, another Content item had Type=1, so it has one integer property.

I have tried using EnvDTE.IExtenderProvider but after following code samples my provider is never called. I believe this is because it is no longer supported in VS 2019. The page for EnvDTE.IExtenderProvider does not list it, only 2015 and 2017.

Another solution I have tried is swapping out the Property Browser with a custom control but my custom property control is only swapped out when I focus a custom tool box window. I created a MyPropertyBrowser and inside MyToolWindow I hook up the browser object.

Dim trackSel = CType(GetService(GetType(SVsTrackSelectionEx)), IVsTrackSelectionEx)
Dim guidBrowser = GetType(MyPropertyBrowser).GUID.ToString("B")
trackSel.OnElementValueChange(CUInt(VSConstants.VSSELELEMID.SEID_PropertyBrowserSID), 0, guidBrowser)

Inside MyPropertyBrowser I use SVsShellMonitorSelection.GetCurrentSelection to get the selected item. Is there a way to get MyPropertyBrowser to show without a custom tool box window? I suspect it is not possible because of the scope of SVsTrackSelectionEx, and it must be called from within the solution explorer.

Alternatively, is there a way to update the property browser when certain items are selected in the solution explorer? Possibly some way to add properties once a selection is detected.

Answer 1

It would appear that this is not possible with CPS VSProjectSystem. The SimpleHierarchyNode class creates objects that ultimately return a DynamicTypeBrowseObject which uses the IRule implementation. There does not seem to be any way of accomplishing this.

I will need to create a new tool window to display other properties. Unless there is a way to host a custom control inside the PropertyBrowser for individual tree items. Or a way to extend the properties.

Answer 2

Hi MannyMarqz,

Welcome to MSDN forum.

Maybe you can try to use ITrackSelection Interface, which can help you expose custom properties to properties window.

Best Regards,

Dylan

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Answer 3

One trick I found was to listen for selection events using SVsShellMonitorSelection and then hijack the solution explorer to change the selection.

                If Not Me.mUpdatingSelection Then
                    Me.mUpdatingSelection = True

                    Try
                        Dim shell = TryCast(Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Package.GetGlobalService(GetType(SVsUIShell)), IVsUIShell)

                        Dim window As IVsWindowFrame = Nothing
                        shell.FindToolWindow(CUInt(__VSFINDTOOLWIN.FTW_fFrameOnly), New Guid(ToolWindowGuids.SolutionExplorer), window)

                        Dim frame As Object = Nothing
                        window.GetProperty(__VSFPROPID.VSFPROPID_SPFrame, frame)

                        Dim serviceProvider = New ServiceProvider(TryCast(frame, OLE.Interop.IServiceProvider))

                        Dim trackSelection = TryCast(serviceProvider.GetService(GetType(STrackSelection)), IVsTrackSelectionEx)

                        Dim selectionContainer As New Shell.SelectionContainer

                        Dim selectedItems As New ArrayList

                        selectedItems.Add(New ContentItem)

                        selectionContainer.SelectedObjects = selectedItems

                        trackSelection.OnSelectChange(selectionContainer)

                    Finally
                        Me.mUpdatingSelection = False
                    End Try
                End If

However, I did manage to find the proper solution although I have not found any documentation for it. The trick is to implement and export an IExtenderCATIDProvider.

<Export(GetType(IExtenderCATIDProvider))>
<AppliesTo(Constants.UniqueCapability)>
Friend Class MyExtenderCATIDProvider : Implements IExtenderCATIDProvider

    <ImportingConstructor>
    Friend Sub New(unconfiguredProject As MyUnconfiguredProject)
    End Sub

    Friend Function GetExtenderCATID(extenderCATIDType As ExtenderCATIDType, treeNode As IProjectTree) As String Implements IExtenderCATIDProvider.GetExtenderCATID
        Select Case extenderCATIDType
            Case ExtenderCATIDType.AutomationProjectItem : Return Constants.ContentItemExtenderCatIdGuid.ToString("B")
            Case ExtenderCATIDType.FileBrowseObject : Return Constants.ContentItemExtenderCatIdGuid.ToString("B")
        End Select

        Return Nothing
    End Function

End Class

Then code your extender provider like explained here

https://lehmamic.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/extending-cs-file-properties-in-a-vspackage/