How to add a reference to another project in my solution through Visual Studio automation

Question

I create a new solution and add some projects to it via the Solution2.AddFromTemplate. Now before I can build my solution successfully, I need to add a project reference from one of the projects to the other. I'm trying to navigate the VS automation object model, but cannot find how to do this.

I realize that I could just open the csproj as XML and change it on disk (as suggested here), but then I need to handle Visual Studio detecting the project file changing and prompting to reload it.

Anyone know how to do this or point me in the right direction?

Right click on the project -> Add reference -> Solution -> choose another project to add. Isn't this sufficient? — filipko, May 10 '13 at 21:57
No, I'm doing this through the Visual Studio automation API. There's no clicking UI element as Visual Studio UI isn't even displayed. See also this link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/envdte%28v=vs.80%29.aspx — MvdD, May 11 '13 at 18:24

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered May 12 '13 at 00:52

Found the answer, posting for future reference.

The trick is to cast the Object property of the EnvDTE.Project to VSProject and then call AddProject on its References property.

var targetProject = (VSProject) _project.Object;
targetProject.References.AddProject(sourceProject);

How to add a reference to another project in my solution through Visual Studio automation

1 Answers1