How to configure Visual Studio to create all projects including a reference to a specific dll?

Question

I am tired of adding a reference to System.ServiceModel in each project I create. Is there any way to automate this?

Answer 1

Maybe you can create a template and use it every time ...

Answer 2

You can update the existing (default) project templates and add the reference to it. Templates are located in this directory on my box: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE

Look for the project templates folder and then navigate based on the type of project you are creating and the language you are using.

Here's a snippet of the classlibrary project template that I think is what you are looking for:

<ItemGroup>
 <Reference Include="System"/>
 $if$ ($targetframeworkversion$ == 3.5)
 <Reference Include="System.Core">
  <RequiredTargetFramework>3.5</RequiredTargetFramework>
 </Reference>
 <Reference Include="System.Xml.Linq">
  <RequiredTargetFramework>3.5</RequiredTargetFramework>
 </Reference>
 <Reference Include="System.Data.DataSetExtensions">
  <RequiredTargetFramework>3.5</RequiredTargetFramework>
 </Reference>    
 $endif$
 <Reference Include="System.Data"/>
 <Reference Include="System.Xml"/>
</ItemGroup>

Just add your reference to the list.