Incorrect folder structure for multiple projects

Question

So, I'm trying to create a Multi Project template, and when I set it up, the folder structure doesn’t work out correctly (not like microsoft does when creating projects), and it messed up things like the Packages and Links folders.

This is the current structure:

Solution Folder -Solution File -Folder (Solution Name) --Packages --References --Project1 Folder --Project2 Folder 

I want it to have the same structure as .NET automatically:

 Solution Folder -Solution File -References Folder -Packages Folder -Project1 Folder -Project2 Folder 

Here is my vstemplate:

 <VSTemplate Version="3.0.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/vstemplate/2005" Type="ProjectGroup"> <TemplateData> <Name>ASP Solution Template</Name> <Description>This is the Solution Template for ASP Applications</Description> <Icon>__TemplateIcon.ico</Icon> <ProjectType>CSharp</ProjectType> </TemplateData> <TemplateContent BuildOnLoad="true"> <ProjectCollection> <SolutionFolder Name="References"> </SolutionFolder> <SolutionFolder Name="packages"> </SolutionFolder> <ProjectTemplateLink ProjectName="$safeprojectname$"> ASPTemplate\MyTemplate.vstemplate </ProjectTemplateLink> <ProjectTemplateLink ProjectName="$safeprojectname$.ClassLibrary"> ClassLibrary\MyTemplate.vstemplate </ProjectTemplateLink> </ProjectCollection> </TemplateContent> </VSTemplate> 

Answer 1

I do not think that you can add solution folders to the parent solutions folder using vstemplates.

However , you can try adding a wizard to your template, which allows you to run your own code when a user creates a project from a template.

Follow the instructions here and here , but basically you are doing something like this:

• Deploy the IWizard interface in the ClassLibrary project and use EnvDTE80 to create folders:

   public class MyWizard : IWizard { public void RunStarted(object automationObject, Dictionary<string, string> replacementsDictionary, WizardRunKind runKind, object[] customParams) { // Pseudo-code var dte = (DTE2)automationObject; var solution = (Solution2)dte.Solution; solution.AddSolutionFolder("References"); } // Default implementations of IWizard here (return true and do nothing's) } 

• Modify vstemplate to use the wizard:

   <VSTemplate Version="3.0.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/vstemplate/2005" Type="ProjectGroup"> <TemplateData /> <TemplateContent BuildOnLoad="true" /> <!-- Remove the SolutionFolder elements --> <WizardExtension> <Assembly>CustomWizard, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=Neutral, PublicKeyToken=fa3902f409bb6a3b</Assembly> <FullClassName>CustomWizard.MyWizard</FullClassName> </WizardExtension> </VSTemplate> 

Then the code should run when creating a project with a new template.

Hope this helps you.