How to specify if a T4 file should produce any output

Question

I am using T4 for generation of some DTO classes + mappers.

I am splitting the files in a number of re-usable bits (some of which containing common methods, some others common procedures) and including them into the T4 templates that will produce my output - which is all good.

My problem is that the re-usable .tt files will try and produce their own output and fail (because they are coupled to some other .tt files) every time I make a change to them, which plain sucks.

I am pretty sure I saw somewhere some directive to specify a given file shouldn't try and produce any output, but I can't seem to track it back.

Any help appreciated!

Answer 1

In the properties (select file and press F4) of the T4 files for which you'd like to suppress output, clear the 'Custom Tool' entry.

Answer 2

rename them to .ttinclude and see how that goes for ya....

Answer 3

You can specify invalid extension to suppress the output of your template, for example:

<#@ output extension="\n" #>