Now it's time to issue an update on my Upgrading Projects post.
The ProjectConverter tool has been significantly improved since version 6.1. Visually it remains the same (quite an ascetic design, in my opinion), but internally it now has a more sophisticated functionality.
The ProjectConverter modifies the following files of your project/solution:
- Project files (~.csproj / ~.vbproj) - updates assembly references. Please note that the ProjectConverter currently supports only C# and VB.NET projects.
- Resource files (~.resx) - updates assembly references in type declarations.
- License files (~.licx) - clears references to DevExpress.~ assemblies.
- Web Page files (~.aspx) - updates assembly references in Register tags.
- web.config - updates assembly references.
These files contain the full version information about an assembly, i.e. they include the assembly minor version number. That is why you should convert your project after installing each minor (maintenance) update. Since DXperience v6.3, the setup suggests that you launch the ProjectConverter after completing the installation. To launch the ProjectConverter manually, please click the link in the Start\All Programs\Developer Express .NET [2005] v6.x\Tools menu.
The ProjectConverter updates only assembly references (user code remains unaltered), hence you can use it both for upgrading and downgrading. For example, if you have a project for DXperience v6.3.2, you can downgrade it, for example, to v6.2.5 by launching the ProjectConverter of the DXperience v6.2.5 installation. That is, the ProjectConverter of your DXperience version is suitable for all projects created with any DXperience suite version. For instance, please use the ProjectConverter to update Knowledge Base articles' sample projects. In this case, you don't really have to worry about which particular version of our controls was used in a given sample; simply process the project's folder with the ProjectConverter that you have installed.
By the way, ProjectConverter.exe accepts some command line parameters. The following switches are currently supported:
/r - recursively process subdirectories.
/s - auto-start the conversion.
Example:
ProjectConverter.exe C:\MyProjectPath /r /s
P.S. Thanks to blogging, I have a good chance to tell you: Merry Christmas! Dear guys and gals who wrote to Support during this year and whom I replied personally! I appreciate your business and your valuable feedback on our products. My warmest wishes for Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your families.