Yesterday I had to
add a file into a database project as a link to another file. So not a copy of
the file, but a link so I can use the file in multiple database projects and
only have to maintain it once. Because I couldn't easily find the solution to this
and I was searching on Google but also couldn't find it quick (enough to my
opinion :)), I decided to write a short blog post.
I didn't know the
exact naming of the property, so the majority of the links I got from Google
where Linked Server items, only after changing the search phrase 3 or 4 times I
found this
entry by Grant Winney.
The normal icon that
appears when you add a file is the following (at least when you don't have
changes in source control, here TFS). A little blue lock is displayed, letting
you know that it is a local file and it is checked-in in source control.
The other available
icons would be:
A plus sign for a newly added file, not yet in source control:
A red check mark, for a changed file already in source control.
TL;DR - Solution
The trick to add a
file as a link is not in the menu options in Visual Studio itself, that's also
where I started searching.
You have to first
add an existing item to your desired folder, as shown below.
After selecting the
file, don't click Add, but click the dropdown next to the Add button. There you can
select Add As Link.
Et voilá, we've got
ourselves a linked item, with the new icon that looks like a hyperlink :)
Let me know if you have any remarks and found this post useful in the comments!
Nicky
