CODEWITHSUNDEEP
visual-studioidenamespacesrefactoring
Nick Heiner
Nick Heiner

Reputation: 122412

Change namespace/filesystem folder names in Visual Studio

I'm trying to change a namespace in Visual Studio.

My folder structure looks something like this:

GameAlpha/
         GameAlpha.sln
         GameAlphaRelease/
         GameAlphaTest/
         GameAlphaLevelEditor/

These include namespaces like GameAlphaRelease. I want to change all this to GameBetaRelease.

Before this process, it built fine.

First, I changed the solution and project files from Alpha to Beta. Then, I did a "find-replace-all" on the namespace. Finally, I went through the properties of each project and changed the "Assembly Name" and "Default Namespace" to the appropriate Beta title.

However, now the solution does not build. The error is:

GameAlpha.accessor: The reference to 'GameAlpha.exe' was not found in the list of this projects references. (Project: GameBetaTest)

What am I doing wrong? If I remove project GameBetaTest, the solution builds just fine.

Also, what is the preferable way to change the names of the folders in the file system?

Upvotes: 2

Views: 8164

Answers (2)

Tomi
Tomi

Reputation: 3560

Rename the physical project directory

Note: The physical path property is recorded in the .sln file so you cannot just rename the folder in Explorer.

a. Close the solution and the IDE

b. In Explorer: Change the directory name to the new name.

c. In Explorer: Open the .sln file with a text editor.

c. Change the directory name to the new name and save.

d. Restart the IDE and open the solution from the File, Recent Files menu if it doesn't start automatically.

e. Click on the Project folder of the Solution Explorer and check the path property in the properties at the bottom. It will now be referencing to the new project folder.

Here I found it

Upvotes: 0

user166390
user166390

Reputation:

The following steps normally work for me:

  • Use the standard project rename (this renames the project, but not the Project Directory). If you want to change the directory as well, close down the solution, rename the directory, open the solution, remove the old project (which is now unavailable) and add the project from the new location.

  • For each project for which it applies, remove and re-add references to other projects in the solution if there are any inter-project dependencies.

  • Adjust the project properties for each changed project.

  • Verify/adjust build scripts.

  • Verify/adjust the build order.

  • Clean and rebuild all.

If you do a package/class rename, make sure you do it separately (before, while everything is "still working") so that VS will update the internals as required. YMMV and there are some issues with files "linked" between projects.

Upvotes: 2

Related Questions