Visual Studio Hacks

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Chapter 6, Speed Hacks

#50 Define Templates for Generating Code

HACK

}

public bool Contains(int <%=className.ToLower( )%>ID)

{

return Dictionary.Contains(<%=className.ToLower( )%>ID);

}

public void Add(int <%=className.ToLower( )%>ID,

<%=className%> <%=className.ToLower( )%>)

{

Dictionary.Add(<%=className.ToLower( )%>ID,

<%=className.ToLower( )%>);

}

public void Remove(int <%=className.ToLower( )%>ID)

{

Dictionary.Remove(<%=className.ToLower( )%>ID);

}

}

This template will generate a strongly typed dictionary class based on a sin-

gle property. At the top of the template, you can see that it expects the name

of the type, its sole parameter. Using this property, CodeSmith will fill in

this template and create the output. If you look at the syntax of the tem-

plate, it is very similar to ASP.NET and you can see where the value of the

property will be inserted between the

<% and %> symbols.

This template could be executed as-is from the normal CodeSmith applica-

tion, but to use the custom tool, you need to do a little more work.

Creating the XML

The next step is to create an XML file that will be used by the custom tool.

First, add a new XML file (right-click on your project and click Add

➝ Add

New Item, then select XML File from the list) to your project and then enter

the following XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>

<codeSmith>

<!-- template that will be used to generate code -->

<template ...