Migrate packages.config to PackageReferences

This Visual Studio extension migrates packages.config to PackageReferences.

It works with C# csproj and native C++ vcxproj Visual Studio project files.

Download it from the Visual Studio Marketplace

Getting started

1. Download and install the extension.
2. Right-click on packages.config and select Migrate packages.config to PackageReferences....

3. Wait until the process finishes.
   Check the status bar or the Migrate packages.config to PackageReferences Extension pane in the Output Window for details.

Technical Details

This extension will first create a backup of the project and packages.config files.
For example, MyProject.vcxproj and packages.config will be copied to MyProject.vcxproj.bak and packages.config.bak respectively.

If the project and packages.config files are source controlled, they will be checked out for modification.

The NuGet packages referenced in packages.config will be migrated to the project file in the new PackageReference format.
For example, the following elements in the vcxproj project file:

  <Import Project="..\packages\MyPackage.1.0.0\build\MyPackage.props" Condition="Exists('..\packages\MyPackage.1.0.0\build\MyPackage.props')" />

  <ItemGroup>
    <None Include="packages.config" />
  </ItemGroup>

  <Target Name="EnsureNuGetPackageBuildImports" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild">
    <PropertyGroup>
      <ErrorText>This project references NuGet package(s) that are missing on this computer. Use NuGet Package Restore to download them.  For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=322105. The missing file is {0}.</ErrorText>
    </PropertyGroup>
    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\packages\MyPackage.1.0.0\build\MyPackage.props')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\packages\MyPackage.1.0.0\build\MyPackage.props'))" />
  </Target>

will be converted to this:

  <ItemGroup>
    <PackageReference Include="MyPackage" Version="1.0.0" />
  </ItemGroup>

After the project file has been updated, packages.config will be deleted, and the project reloaded.

Troubleshooting

Check the Migrate packages.config to PackageReferences Extension pane in the Output Window for detailed logs.

References

• Visual Studio Developer Community Feedback: Use PackageReference in vcxproj

• StackOverflow Question: PackageReference for NuGet packages in C++ projects

• Github dotnet project-system issue: Make the PackageReference support general purpose for all languages

• Github Repo: Example C++ project that uses NuGet PackageReference (instead of packages.config)

• Microsoft C++ Dev Blog: Announcing NuGet PackageReference support for C++/CLI MSBuild projects targeting .NET Core and .NET 5 or higher

• Microsoft Learn Docs: Migrate from packages.config to PackageReference

• Software Meadows Blog Post: Revert PackageReference Project to Packages.config

• StackOverflow Question: Switch back to packages.config

• Visual Studio 2017 Extension: NuGet PackageReference Upgrader

Why was this extension created? Visual Studio 2017 Version 15.7 and later has this feature already.

The feature built-into Visual Studio 2017 Version 15.7 and later does not support native C++ projects.

The following error appears:

Project is not eligible for migration. Either the project is not packages.config based or doesn't support PackageReference yet. Visit https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/reference/migrate-packages-config-to-package-reference for more information.

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