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Sukhpinder Singh
Sukhpinder Singh

Posted on • Originally published at Medium

Managing .NET Solution Files with dotnet sln

It allows you to list existing projects, modify their configuration, and add new ones. To create a solution file, use the dotnet new sln command.

Overview

The dotnet sln command is a powerful tool for managing projects within a .NET solution file. Whether you need to list existing projects, modify their configuration, or add new ones, dotnet sln streamlines these tasks.

Creating a Solution File

Before using dotnet sln, ensure that your solution file already exists. If not, you can create one using the dotnet new command with the sln template name.

To create a .sln file in the current folder (with the same name as the folder), run:

dotnet new sln
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To create a .sln file with a custom name, execute:

dotnet new sln --name MySolution
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To create a .sln file in a specific folder, use:

dotnet new sln --output MySolution
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Listing Projects

To view all projects within a solution file, use the list command:

dotnet sln list
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Adding Projects to the Solution

To expand your solution, you can add one or more projects using the dotnet sln add command. Here are the details:

dotnet sln add [--in-root] [-s|--solution-folder <PATH>] <PROJECT_PATH> [<PROJECT_PATH>...]
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  • : Specify the path to the project(s) you want to include in the solution.

  • --in-root: An optional flag that allows you to add projects directly to the root of the solution.

  • -s|--solution-folder : Optionally, provide the folder where the solution file resides.

Examples

  • To add a single project to your solution:

dotnet sln add MyProject.csproj

  • To add multiple projects:

dotnet sln add Project1.csproj Project2.csproj

  • If you want to add projects to the root of the solution:

dotnet sln add --in-root MyProject.csproj

  • Specify a custom solution folder:

dotnet sln add -s MySolutionFolder MyProject.csproj

Remember that the dotnet sln command simplifies managing project dependencies and organization within your solution.

Compatibility

This article applies to .NET Core 3.1 SDK and later versions.

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