How to convert Web application project to Class library project

I need to convert a project started as a Web Application to a Class Libray, is this possible?

Thanks

Answers:

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Method 1

The correct answer is yes. Just edit the csproj (msbuild) file and change the ProjectGuid and remove the ProjectTypeGuids:

<ProjectGuid>{9845066A-3C9E-4F51-8F5F-8F513E8D03C1}</ProjectGuid>

It really is that simple.

Method 2

If you want to make it exactly the same as a class library project, here’s how to do it for a Visual Studio 2010 project:

1. Edit the csproj file
   • Under PropertyGroup
     • Remove ProjectTypeGuids
     • Remove UseIISExpress
     • Add <FileAlignment>512</FileAlignment>
   • Change <Import Project="$(MSBuildBinPath)Microsoft.CSharp.targets" /> to <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
   • Remove <Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath32)MicrosoftVisualStudiov10.0WebApplicationsMicrosoft.WebApplication.targets" />
   • Remove <ProjectExtensions>
   • Under <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
     • Change OutputPath to binDebug
   • Under <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
     • Change OutputPath to binRelease
2. Open the project in Visual Studio
   • Remove any of the following references if they are unused
     • System.Configuration
     • System.Drawing
     • System.EnterpriseServices
     • System.Web
     • System.Web.ApplicationServices
     • System.Web.DynamicData
     • System.Web.Entity
     • System.Web.Extensions
     • System.Web.Services
   • Delete any of the following files/folders if they are unwanted/unused
     • App_Data
     • *.aspx
     • Web.config
     • Scripts
     • Styles
     • Global.asax
     • Site.Master

Method 3

No. Your best bet is to create a Class.Library and copy the .cs files into your new project.

A Class Library won’t do anything with .aspx pages, it will see those as files in the solution.

Method 4

I came here to have a class library with mvc menu items. This is, right click on views folder to add view or controller to add controller within a classlibrary.

I was able to achieve this by editing my mvc.web.app.csproj, copy the <ProjectTypeGuids /> to my class.lib.csproj project.

For more context on what I am doing, see: How to reuse Areas, Controllers, Views, Models, Routes in multiple apps or websites.

All methods was sourced from stackoverflow.com or stackexchange.com, is licensed under cc by-sa 2.5, cc by-sa 3.0 and cc by-sa 4.0