Get list of projects in solution with MSBuild - visual-studio

Question

I have a Visual Studio solution with a number of C++ projects (.vcxproj). There is one utility project with a custom build step. On this build step I would like to get a list of projects in solution and pass it to an external tool. Is there a way to have such a list? Something like $(ProjectsInSolution)?
See also https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/vstudio/en-US/51254ee1-abaf-496a-89f9-cf87fc2ae1e8/list-project-from-solution-sln-file?forum=msbuild

Answer 1

Get list of projects in solution with MSBuild
You could use MSBuild Community Tasks's GetSolutionProjects for this question.
To accomplish this, create a new project in that solution, like GetProjectsPath. You should add MSBuildTasks to your test project. After that, you will find following scripts in your project file(If not, add it manually):
<Import Project="..\packages\MSBuildTasks.1.5.0.235\build\MSBuildTasks.targets" Condition="Exists('..\packages\MSBuildTasks.1.5.0.235\build\MSBuildTasks.targets')" />
Then unload your project. Then at the very end of the project, just before the end-tag </Project>, place below scripts:
<Target Name="GetProjectsPath" AfterTargets="Build">
<GetSolutionProjects Solution="..\GetProjectsPath.sln">
<Output ItemName="ProjectFiles" TaskParameter="Output" />
</GetSolutionProjects>
<Message Text="Get Projects Path in the solution!" />
<Message Text="Relative project paths:" />
<Message Text="%(ProjectFiles.ProjectPath)" />
<Message Text="Full paths to project files:" />
<Message Text="%(ProjectFiles.FullPath)" />
</Target>
When you build this project, you will get the all projects path in the solution:
Hope this helps.