Why doesn't Visual Studio refresh the folders when I click the Solution Explorer refresh button?
.NetVisual StudioSolution Explorer.Net Problem Overview
In Visual Studio 2008, I can see all my project files in my Solution Explorer, and these files exist in an actual diectory.
However, if I add a file to that directory (let's say, an test.sqlite file in the App_Data folder, or say, images created by some other program), then these files do NOT appear in my Solution explorer, even if I click the refresh button.
How can I make files created by other applications appear in my Solution Explorer?
(so far, I have to create them somewhere else, then copy and paste them into the solution explorer itself, but there must be an easier way).
Edit:
Is there an advantage to this "fake solution view", i.e. I could have a file "test.sqlite" in my App_Data directory but in my solution, it could be appearing in my root directory. Coming from an Eclipse WYSIWYG Solution Explorer mindset, I don't see the advantage of having this extra virtual meta-information about the actual files in your directory. Is there a way you get an advantage out of this metaphor?
.Net Solutions
Solution 1 - .Net
At the top of the solution explorer is a toggle button "Show All Files" this makes it include all files in the display even if they aren't included in the project. The icons for these will be grayed out a bit. Then just use the context menu to add these to the project.
Solution 2 - .Net
On the solution, click the right mouse button and select 'Add existing item' and pick the file from the solution root directory. The Solution will now get a 'Solution Items' directory which contains your file. This directory is virtual, so it does not exist on disk.
However there is no feature like 'Show All Files' for a solution, this only works on projects.
Solution 3 - .Net
I faced the same issue. I added new files and folders but the next time I took latest source code from SVN and then opened the project, it wont show the files which were added.
You can perform the following steps :
- Solution explorer -> Show all files
- Those files which are added recently will be displayed without the [@] icon on left side. Right click on the file and Select Include in the project
- If you see the config file Web (Visual C# Project file (.csproj)) under Web folder, you will see the entries made for these new files. Check in this config file in your svn.
- The next time you take repo checkout , it wont be an issue as the file details have been added into the configuration.
Hope this helps.
Solution 4 - .Net
On the solution explorer the top rightest icon (Show all files), press it and you will see the file visible, then right click the file and choose: include this to project.
Solution 5 - .Net
These days you can use the TF command line to do this.
-
Run the developer command prompt (from VS it's
tools
,command line
,developer command prompt
; or often you can find a shortcut under your start menu'sVisual Studio Tools
folder). -
Navigate to the root folder for your project (i.e. the folder for which you want all content synced to source control)
-
run
tf add * /recursive
to select everything / push it all to the project. Other options documented in the tf docs. -
use the
Team Explorer
pane'sPending Changes
section to make any adjustments you may wish via the UI. -
Check in your changes