T4 template files are automatically recognizable by the IDE under C# projects, but I have no clue on how they can be integrated into C++ projects (other than using make files).
Any ideas?
+3
A:
T4 Template files are integrated into C++ projects the same way as a C# project. Create a new text file in your C++ project and give it a .tt extension. Then write your template as normal. A C++ project needs a little extra work to get it to transform the templates. The quick and dirty way I got it to work was to add a custom build step and have it call "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\TextTemplating\1.1\TextTransform.exe" directly. Another way I found was to add a custom MSBuild task. Instructions can be found here
This page has more information and some good links to other pages on using T4 code generation.
Logan5
2009-02-02 06:26:12
Somehow it does not seem to work. Try creating a new Win32 C++ project. Then add a simple .tt file and click build. Nothing gets generated.
Filip
2009-02-02 07:07:48
oops, you're right. Editing my answer.
Logan5
2009-02-02 21:24:59
Thanks for your answer. It can be made to work, but is definitively not as convenient as C#. Hopefully this will change in the upcoming VS 2010.
Filip
2009-02-04 15:09:04
+1
A:
MSBuild Task will not work as this is a vcproj file (C++) so vcbuild is used. The easiest way to get the tt compiled is so add custom build step like below..
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\TextTemplating\1.1\TextTransform.exe" -out $(ProjectDir)\VSProject.cpp -I $(ProjectDir) $(ProjectDir)\VSProject.tt
I spent several hours investigating the MSBuild Task solution above and it's pretty good for managed code but I can't see any way to use it for C++ (bar converting the vcproj to csproj eek)
Even with this solution, don't you still have to manually add the cpp file to the vcproj file?
MrSlippers
2009-11-09 20:52:36