How to add SDK into a UWP project programmatically?

Question

I'm developing Project Templates for Universal Windows Platform. In UWP projects we can add references in three ways which are Assemblies, NuGet and SDK. To add assemblies I simply use

VSProject.References.Add("MyAssembly.dll")

And I can install NuGet packages using NuGet.VisualStudio dll. But how can I add SDK into a UWP project programmatically like references and NuGet packages?

Zhanglong Wu - MSFT · Answer 1 · 2017-05-24T07:18:11.680

1

You can use additem method of Microsoft.Build.Evaluation.Project to achieve it. Here is a sample demo for your reference.

DTE2 dte = this.ServiceProvider.GetService(typeof(DTE)) as DTE2;
EnvDTE.Project currentProject = dte.Solution.Projects.Item(1);
string projectPath = currentProject.FullName;
var project = new Microsoft.Build.Evaluation.Project(projectPath);

var proItem = project.GetItems("SDKReference").FirstOrDefault();

project.AddItem("SDKReference", "WindowsTeam, Version=10.0.14393.0", new[]
                        {
                            new KeyValuePair<string, string>("Name", "Windows Team Extensions for the UWP")
                        });

project.Save();

Update:

DTE2 dte = this.ServiceProvider.GetService(typeof(DTE)) as DTE2;
EnvDTE.Project currentProject = dte.Solution.Projects.Item(1);
string projectPath = currentProject.FullName;

Microsoft.Build.Evaluation.ProjectCollection projectCollection = new Microsoft.Build.Evaluation.ProjectCollection();

var project = projectCollection.LoadProject(projectPath);             projectCollection.UnloadProject(project);

project.AddItem("SDKReference", "WindowsTeam, Version=10.0.14393.0", new[]
                        {
                            new KeyValuePair<string, string>("Name", "Windows Team Extensions for the UWP")
                        });

project.Save();

projectCollection.LoadProject(projectPath);

edited May 24 '17 at 07:18

answered May 23 '17 at 05:09

Zhanglong Wu - MSFT

1,652
1
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Thanks. Its working as expected. But after project created a dialog is showing, which states "Project modified out side the environment." (see [here](https://ibb.co/mvQZna) for screenshot) How can I avoid this? Please help. – Mathivanan KP May 23 '17 at 10:44
Please check this thread: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/44117270/visual-studio-extension-reload-project, unload project->modify csproj file -> reload project again. – Zhanglong Wu - MSFT May 24 '17 at 00:58
That thread's solution works for add ins only. Its not working for Project Templates. – Mathivanan KP May 24 '17 at 05:03
Same code not working for me. Still the dialog is showing. As a workaround I have added the sdk entry into the replacementdicationary and added a find string into the template's project file. Its working as expected. Thanks for your help. – Mathivanan KP May 25 '17 at 11:12
I am glad to know that you resolve the issue and provide your solution, please create a reply and mark it as answer, it will be beneficial to other communities who have the similar issue. – Zhanglong Wu - MSFT May 26 '17 at 05:59

Mathivanan KP · Answer 2 · 2017-05-26T06:26:13.420

I have added the sdk entry into the replacementdicationary like below and added a find string as $myuwpsdk$ into the template's project file. Its working as expected. It might be a incorrect method or a temporary work around. But it completes my requirement.

replacementsDictionary["$myuwpsdk$"] = "<ItemGroup><SDKReference Include = \"WindowsTeam, Version=10.0.14393.0\"> <Name>Windows Team Extensions for the UWP</Name> </SDKReference> </ItemGroup>";

How to add SDK into a UWP project programmatically?

2 Answers2