Using CustomParameter with Visual Studio Multi-Project Template

Question

I would like to be able to create a Multi-Project Template for a solution which contains the following two projects (where the interface should include a reference to the business layer).:

• <proj_name>.interface
• <proj_name>.business.

Normally, you can include $safeprojectname$, which has:

The name provided by the user in the New Project dialog box

However, as pointed out in the article Build a multi-project visual studio template

The problem here is that within each child template, $safeprojectname$ represents the current project name. There needs to be a way to pass in the root $safeprojectname$ from the parent template.

I'm trying to implement the solution suggested in this SO question VS 2010 Multi-Project Template: Inter-Project References, by using CustomParameters, but am running into trouble.

My Zipped Up Template Directory looks like this:

• MultiTemplate.vstemplate
• Interface
  • InterfaceTemplate.vstemplate
  • MyTemplate.Interface.csproj
• Business
  • BusinessTemplate.vstemplate
  • MyTemplate.Business.csproj

You can download the Entire Directory, but here are some select snippets

MultiTemplate.vstemplate

<VSTemplate Version="3.0.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/vstemplate/2005" Type="ProjectGroup">
  <TemplateData><!--Removed for brevity --></TemplateData>
  <TemplateContent>
    <CustomParameters>
      <CustomParameter Name="$SolutionName$" Value="$safeprojectname$"/>
    </CustomParameters>
    <ProjectCollection>
      <ProjectTemplateLink ProjectName="$safeprojectname$.Interface">
        InterfaceInterfaceTemplate.vstemplate
      </ProjectTemplateLink>
      <ProjectTemplateLink ProjectName="$safeprojectname$.Business">
        BusinessBusinessTemplate.vstemplate
      </ProjectTemplateLink>
    </ProjectCollection>
  </TemplateContent>
</VSTemplate>

InterfaceInterfaceTemplate.vstemplate

<VSTemplate Version="3.0.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/vstemplate/2005" Type="Project">
  <TemplateData><!--Removed for brevity --></TemplateData>
  <TemplateContent>
    <Project TargetFileName="MyTemplate.Interface.csproj" 
             File="MyTemplate.Interface.csproj"
             ReplaceParameters="true">
    </Project>
  </TemplateContent>
</VSTemplate>

MyTemplate.Interface.csproj

<ItemGroup>
  <ProjectReference Include="..$SolutionName$.Business$SolutionName$.Business.csproj">
    <Project>{E5511F75-5B9C-4816-B991-E09225661CF4}</Project>
    <Name>MyTemplate.Business</Name>
  </ProjectReference>
</ItemGroup>

The Problem

When I create a new project, the $SolutionName$ portion of the string does not get replaced. Instead it just stays the same.

Q: How can I properly pass this information from the Multi-Project Template to each of the child templates?

Bonus points if you can figure out how to replace the <name> tag value, as token replacements don't seem to work on it.

Answer 1

Visual Studio 2013 Update 2 finally added a built-in way to do this with ProjectTemplateLink

The CopyParameters attribute will enable child access to all the variables of the parent template, with the prefix of ext_.

You don't even need CustomParameters for this. Change your ProjectTemplateLink to this:

<ProjectTemplateLink ProjectName="$safeprojectname$.Interface" CopyParameters="true">
  InterfaceInterfaceTemplate.vstemplate
</ProjectTemplateLink>

And then you can achieve your goal in the child .csproj like so:

<ItemGroup>
  <ProjectReference Include="..$ext_safeprojectname$.Business$ext_safeprojectname$.Business.csproj">
    <Project>{E5511F75-5B9C-4816-B991-E09225661CF4}</Project>
    <Name>MyTemplate.Business</Name>
  </ProjectReference>
</ItemGroup>