Solution Explorer

A solution is a container for the projects, project items, additional files, and resource files used to build a runtime project. Solution Explorer lists project items in a tree view hierarchy. Use Solution Explorer to open project items in the Designer and perform functions such a adding project items, building projects, and setting run actions.

This topic lists the Solution Explorer functions and shows an example of the Solution Explorer window for an example Studio project.

Solution Explorer functions

Right-clicking on an item in the Solution Explorer opens a menu which provides access to the following options.

Solution Explorer	Automation
Project	Application Bar
Properties Folder	Global Container
References Folder	Service
Folder	Web, Windows, and Text Adapters Contexts

These functions are summarized in this table:

Item	Option	Description
Solution	Build/Rebuild/Clean Solution Batch Build Configuration Manager	Provide functions for building and debugging solutions. For more information, see Build.
	Add	Lets you add a project or solution item to the solution. The options are: New Project – Opens the Add New Project dialog displays for you to choose the project template. Existing Project – Opens the Add Existing Project dialog displays for you to locate the appropriate project file (.osproj).For more information, see Working with Multiple Projects. New Item – Opens the Add New Item - Solution dialog displays listing available solution item templates. Existing Item – Opens the Add Existing Item - Solution Items dialog for you to choose a file to add to the solution. New Solution Folder – Adds a Folder under the solution in the Solution Explorer. You can add Projects under the solution folders.
	Set StartUp Project	When you select this option, the Solution Property Pages dialog is displayed which lets you select which project within a solution will be the built, debugged, and deployed. For more information, see Working with Multiple Projects.
	Rename	Lets you change the name of the solution. When you change the solution name, the corresponding .ossln file is renamed. File folders, however, are not changed.
	Properties	Opens the Solution Property Pages window. Use this window to set Startup Project information, Project Dependencies, and Configuration properties. See the MSDN Startup Project, Common Properties, Solution Property Pages Dialog Box topic for more information.
Project
	Build/Rebuild/Clean	Provide functions for building and debugging solutions. For more information, see Build.
	Add	Lets you add a project item to the project. For more information, see Project.
	Add Reference	Use this option to add a reference to a .NET component or a Studio project. When you select this option, the Add Reference window is displayed. For more information, see Add Reference Dialog and Project References.
	Set as Startup Project	When you select this option, the highlighted project is designated as the project to be built, debugged, and deployed.
	Debug	Provides the following options. Start New Instance Step into New Instance For more information, see Diagnostic and Debugging Features - Overview.
	Remove	Removes the project from the solution, but leaves the project files intact. You can add the project again, which will still appear in the Recent Projects list. To permanently delete a project, you must delete the project folders and files using Windows Explorer.
	Rename	Renames the project. The names of the .osproj and .user files are changed. The folder names remain unchanged.
	Unload Project	Use this option to enable editing of the .os file corresponding to the project. See the MSDN How To: Edit Project Files topic for more information.
	Manage Imported Types	Use this function to import adapters from project references. When you select this option, the Import Types window is displayed. For more information, see Manage Imported Types and Projects.
	Manage Imported Projects	Use this function to import adapters and automations from project references. When you select this option, the Import Projects window is displayed. For more information, see Manage Imported Types and Projects.
	Run Actions	Selecting the Run Actions option displays these menu options: Set All but Automations to 'Not Run' Set all to 'Not Run' Set all to 'Run' For more information, see Run Actions.
	Deployment	Displays the Deploy with Current Configuration and Deploy with All Configurations options.
	Properties	Opens the Properties pages – Application, Build, and Deployment – in the Designer for the project. For more information, see Project Properties.
Folder
	Add	Lets you add a project item to the project. For more information, see Project.
	Delete	Deletes the folder and all project items within the folder. See the note about deleting Automations below. Note that when you confirm the deletion of a project item, the item is permanently removed and the associated .xml files are also deleted from the Solution folder.
	Rename	Renames the folder. The name of the physical file folder changes.
	Run Actions	Selecting the Run Actions option displays these menu options: Set All but Automations to Not Run Set all to Not Run Set all to Run For more information, see Run Actions.
	Properties	Opens the Properties grid showing the folder name and path.
Automation
	Open	Opens the automation in the Designer.
	Delete	Deletes the automation and all components associated with it. Note that if you delete an automation that contains a component in the Global tab, that component will no longer be available to other automations in the project. When you confirm deletion of the project item, the item is permanently removed and the associated .os file is also deleted from the physical folder.
	Rename	Renames the automation. The name of the automation.os file changes.
	Run Actions	Selecting the Run Actions option displays these menu options: Set to Not Run Set all but this to Not Run Set all to Run For more information, see Run Action.
	Properties	Opens the Properties grid showing the File Name, Full Path, Path, Unique ID, and Valid License properties.
Application Bar
	Open	Opens the Application Bar item in Designer pane.
	Delete	Deletes the Application Bar from the project. Note that when you confirm deletion of the project item, the item is permanently removed and the associated file is deleted from the physical folder.
	Rename	Renames the application bar. The name of the applicationbar.os file changes.
	Run Actions	Selecting the Run Actions option displays the menu options: Set to Not Run Set all but this to Not Run Set all to Run For more information, see Run Actions.
	Properties	Opens the Properties grid showing the File Name, Full Path, Path, Unique ID, and Valid License properties.
Global Container
	Open	Opens the Global Container in the Design pane.
	Delete	Deletes the Global Context and all associated components from the project. Keep in mind that when you confirm deletion of the project item, the item is permanently removed and the associated .xml file is also deleted from the Solution folder.
	Rename	Renames the application bar. The name of the globalcontainer.os file changes.
	Properties	Opens the Properties grid showing the File Name, Full Path, Path, Unique ID, and Valid License properties.
Service
	Open	Opens the service in the Design pane.
	Delete	Deletes the service from the project. Note that when you confirm deletion of the project item, the item is permanently removed and the associated file is also deleted from the physical folder.
	Rename	Renames the application bar. The name of the service.os file changes.
	Run Actions	Selecting the Run Actions option displays these menu options: Set to Not Run Set all but this to Not Run Set all to Run For more information, see Run Actions.
	Properties	Opens the Properties grid showing the File Name, Full Path, Path, Unique ID, and Valid License properties.
Web, Windows, Text, Lotus Adapters
	Open	Opens the adapter in the Design pane.
	Delete	Removes the adapter and all associated controls from the project. Note that when you confirm deletion of the project item, the item is permanently removed and the associated file is also deleted from the physical folder.
	Rename	Renames the adapter. The name of the application.os file changes.
	Run Actions	Selecting the Run Actions option displays these menu options: Set to Not Run Set all but this to Not Run Set all to Run For more information, see Run Actions.
	Properties	Opens the Properties grid showing the File Name, Full Path, Path, Unique ID, and Valid License properties.
Contexts	Add New Folder	Adds a new Folder project item beneath the Context in the Solution Explorer hierarchy.
	Add New Windows Form	Adds a new Windows form item beneath the Context in Solution Explorer and opens the Windows form in the Designer pane.
	Add New Automation	Adds a new automation item beneath the Context in Solution Explorer and opens the automation in the Designer pane.
	Add New Project Item	Opens the New Project Item dialog for selection of a new item to add to the solution under the Context.
	Add Existing Project Item	Launches the Open dialog so you can select a project file for inclusion in the current solution under the Context. For example, if another solution has a fully interrogated application, such as CRM.exe, that you would like to use in the current solution, you would select the Add Existing Project Item option and then go to the solution and project folder containing the interrogated application file, such as WinCRM.os.
	Add Existing Project Folder	Launches the Open dialog so you can select a folder containing Studio project files for inclusion in the current solution under the context. All project items corresponding to the files in the selected folder are added to the solution.
	Delete	Removes the context and all associated project items from the solution. Note that when you confirm deletion of the project item, the item is permanently removed and the associated file is also deleted from the physical folder.
	Run Actions	Selecting the Run Actions option displays these menu options: Run Actions Set All but Automations to Not Run Set all to Not Run' Set all to Run For more information, see Run Actions.

Here is an example of Solution Explorer for the Support Center Site solution and project: