How to edit .csproj file

Question

When I am compiling my .csproj file using .NET Framework 4.0 MSBUILD.EXE file, I am getting an error: "lable01" not found in the current context of "website01.csproj".

Actually, I need to add every ASP.NET page with its code-behind file's reference. I've done it, it's working fine, but the above error is pending.

I hope it means that I need to add form name "LABLE01" in that .csproj file, but I do not know the syntax. Anybody please do provide me with the syntax to add form name in .csproj file.

score 527 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 17 '20 at 09:49

527

The CSPROJ file, saved in XML format, stores all the references for your project including your compilation options. There is also an SLN file, which stores information about projects that make up your solution.

If you are using Visual Studio and you have the need to view or edit your CSPROJ file, while in Visual Studio, you can do so by following these simple steps:

Right-click on your project in solution explorer and select Unload Project
Right-click on the project (tagged as unavailable in solution explorer) and click "Edit yourproj.csproj". This will open up your CSPROJ file for editing.
After making the changes you want, save, and close the file. Right-click again on the node and choose Reload Project when done.

edited Nov 17 '20 at 09:49

Mihail Duchev

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answered Feb 26 '11 at 19:29

Saurabh Gokhale

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Thanks for your answer... but I do need to add a file to an existing project.. So, it means to manually add a few lines of XML code to .csproj file. I do need the syntax to represent label01 form in that code... – Karthik Malla Feb 26 '11 at 20:23
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Would you say that a user is meant to edit .csproj files by hand in a text editor? I'm wondering how do people do this normally. Text editor or Visual Studio? – Dec 21 '20 at 14:47
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In Visual Studio 2022 you simply click 'Edit Project File' – bongoSLAP Apr 04 '22 at 22:13

score 45 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 09 '20 at 00:22

45

Since the question is not directly mentioning Visual Studio, I will post how to do this in JetBrains Rider.

From context menu

Right-click your project
Go to edit
Edit '{project-name.csproj}'

With shortcut

Select project
Press F4

edited Dec 09 '20 at 00:22

Pang

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answered Jun 07 '18 at 20:15

Florian Schaal

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Or simply use the usual ["Go To File"](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/rider/Navigation_and_Search__Go_to_File.html) shortcut and type `csproj`. – Pang Dec 09 '20 at 00:48

score 23 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 04 '23 at 12:54

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You can right click the project file, select "Unload project" then you can open the file directly for editing by selecting "Edit project name.csproj".

You will have to load the project back after you have saved your changes in order for it to compile.

See How to: Unload and Reload Projects on MSDN, as well as the linked How to: Edit Project Files.

Since project files are XML files, you can also simply edit them using any text editor that supports Unicode (notepad, notepad++ etc...)

However, I would be very reluctant to edit these files by hand - use the Solution explorer for this if at all possible. If you have errors and you know how to fix them manually, go ahead, but be aware that you can completely ruin the project file if you don't know exactly what you are doing.

edited Aug 04 '23 at 12:54

General Grievance

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answered Feb 26 '11 at 19:10

Oded

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Well, hope to manually add the label name in .csproj file??? i mean the syntax.... – Karthik Malla Feb 26 '11 at 20:21
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@Karthik Malla - If you look at other classes in the project file, you will see the syntax. – Oded Feb 26 '11 at 20:22
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yeah... but i cannot find anything related to forms in .csproj files but in my compilation with MSBUILD.EXE shows me an error with code CS0103 – Karthik Malla Feb 26 '11 at 20:26
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@Karthik Malla - You should also be getting a filename and line number with that error. – Oded Feb 26 '11 at 20:27
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yes...! but i can do nothing.... The ASP.NET page with its C# code is working fine with a VS compiler but when I use msbuild.exe to compile a .csproj file then I am getting an error that I don't have a reference for that form in .csproj file. So, I need syntax to add the form name in that .csproj file. – Karthik Malla Feb 26 '11 at 21:49
Visual studio makes a complete mess of project files, adding much duplicate information. It makes it nightmare to maintain hundreds of them on a large project. Thus I never ever modify them in visual studio anymore. Becuase if you do, VS will take your new setting and multiply it by the number of configurations and platforms you are targeting. And that can get large. – C.J. Nov 13 '13 at 21:27

score 14 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 09 '20 at 00:50

14

There is an easier way so you don't have to unload the project. Just install this tool called EditProj in Visual Studio:
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=EdMunoz.EditProj

Then right click edit you will have a new menu item Edit Project File :)

edited Dec 09 '20 at 00:50

Pang

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answered Feb 10 '17 at 09:39

riadh gomri

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Best option, but only works with Visual Studio 2012, 2013, 2015 – Saksham Chaudhary Jun 11 '21 at 10:16
See the https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Heku.EditProject2022 for newer versions. – Bashir Momen Feb 27 '23 at 10:09

Arsen Khachaturyan · Answer 5 · 2023-02-27T13:57:19.957

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Here is my option to Edit the project file without the need to Unload the project:

Open Solution Explorer and switch to folder view:
Navigate to the Project which you want to edit inside the Solution folders and right-click on it.
Choose Open from the Context Menu.

That is it!

You will see the *.csproj file opened inside Visual Studio Editor.
After, you can switch back to a Solution/Project view (see step 1).

Update:

Starting from Visual Studio 2019 (v. 16), you can edit the *.csproj file by double-clicking on the Project. Make sure that you have the option turned On from the settings.

Or

You have to click on the "Switch between solutions and available views" icon (updated since VS 19+).

Then click on the "Folder View (..."

And continue from 2nd step (above).

Note: if you want to switch back, you have to click on ".sln"*

edited Feb 27 '23 at 13:57

answered Oct 19 '20 at 13:32

Arsen Khachaturyan

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Looks like your update suggestion is not available for vs2022. – Bashir Momen Feb 27 '23 at 10:18
@BashirMomen, thank you! It is actually there. Please see the 2nd update from the post. – Arsen Khachaturyan Feb 27 '23 at 10:51
Thanks, Arsen, I meant "Starting from Visual Studio 2019 (v. 16)..." is not available, still interested in it because it is built in vs fn. :-) – Bashir Momen Feb 27 '23 at 11:29
Thanks, I missed checking it for VS 19 cause now I'm switched to VS 22. Updated ;) – Arsen Khachaturyan Feb 27 '23 at 13:58

score 12 · Answer 6 · answered Dec 28 '20 at 11:35

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in vs 2019 Version 16.8.2 right click on you project name and click on "Edit Project File"

answered Dec 28 '20 at 11:35

ehsan rezaee

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I'm pretty sure this is a Visual Studio Extension... great tip but not OOTB. – CajunCoding Apr 08 '21 at 23:19

AncaS · Answer 7 · 2019-10-29T14:52:03.313

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For JetBrains Rider:

First Option

Unload Project
Double click the unloaded project

Second option:

Click on the project
Press F4

That's it!

edited Oct 29 '19 at 14:52

answered Oct 29 '19 at 14:18

AncaS

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score 2 · Answer 8 · answered May 29 '14 at 01:56

Sorry, most efficient way with out stuffing your proj file is.

right click the file.
goto properties
where Build Action option is set it to NONE.
Do a build (yes you may get build error if you do even better)
go back to properties of that file
set Build Action option is set it back to Compile.
rebuild.
Congratulate your self for being smarter than everyone else and not ****ing you project. For me this exercise took under 10 seconds. Where as manually trying to input the compile... line into the csproj not only can render your project unusable but it is also impossible to maintain on large scale application. Better to keep source version control software to do the updates. If you need to cross merge branches then doing the above is amazing :).

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Nov 14 '22 at 05:35

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To open the .csproj file:

open the solution explorer 1
Click on the Edit Project File option 2

answered Nov 14 '22 at 05:35

Sanskar7_8

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score 1 · Answer 10 · answered Jan 17 '23 at 09:45

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You can also open the .csproj by double-clicking on the project file. So no need to right click and select edit project file. Just double click and that is it.

answered Jan 17 '23 at 09:45

Ucheuzor

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This is true for .net 6, but not for .net 4 projects. – Chrigl Jan 18 '23 at 09:42
Thanks @Chrigl. I didnt test with older .NET versions so can't say. – Ucheuzor Jan 18 '23 at 14:48

score 0 · Answer 11 · answered Oct 20 '18 at 20:38

0

It is a built-in option .Net core and .Net standard projects

answered Oct 20 '18 at 20:38

Blue Clouds

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Asim Okby · Answer 12 · 2019-07-15T18:12:41.027

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For Visual Studio-version: 8.1.5,

Right click on the project folder.
Click "Tools", then "Edit File".

edited Jul 15 '19 at 18:12

answered Jul 15 '19 at 17:25

Asim Okby

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Hi @Asem. You're not answering the question, as the user needs help with the syntax. Please take a look at [How to write a good answer](https://stackoverflow.com/help/how-to-answer) – GaboBrandX Jul 15 '19 at 17:52
@GaboBrandX Most of the answers are answering the question "how to edit .csproj file?" , including me. I came across the problem, and checked the provided answers, but none of the answers were helpful. So, I provided an answer for the last updated version. – Asim Okby Jul 15 '19 at 18:15
Only your answer was provided to me to be reviewed, therefore I didn't see the other ones. Before posting an answer, please read carefully the question, not just the title. – GaboBrandX Jul 15 '19 at 18:33

score 0 · Answer 13 · answered Dec 05 '22 at 16:44

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A little late to the conversation but I found a better option. In rider you can enable "open project files with single click" Just go to the solution options menu and then click in open project files with single click

answered Dec 05 '22 at 16:44

ticot55

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OfirD · Answer 14 · 2023-08-08T18:58:18.317

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There's an extension for Visual Studio named "Edit Project", which can be downloaded from the Visual Studio Marketplace, here.

_{I'm not affiliated with this extension or creator in any way. Just a happy user.}

edited Aug 08 '23 at 18:58

answered Aug 08 '23 at 11:44

OfirD

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How to edit .csproj file

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