dotnet add reference

       This article applies to: ✔️ .NET Core 3.1 SDK and later versions

NAME

       dotnet-add-reference - Adds project-to-project (P2P) references.

SYNOPSIS

              dotnet add [<PROJECT>] reference [-f|--framework <FRAMEWORK>]
                   [--interactive] <PROJECT_REFERENCES>

              dotnet add reference -h|--help

DESCRIPTION

       The dotnet add reference command provides a convenient option to add project references to
       a project.  After running the command, the <ProjectReference> elements are  added  to  the
       project file.

              <ItemGroup>
                <ProjectReference Include="app.csproj" />
                <ProjectReference Include="..\lib2\lib2.csproj" />
                <ProjectReference Include="..\lib1\lib1.csproj" />
              </ItemGroup>

   Add a reference to an assembly that isn’t in a project
       There’s  no  CLI  command  to  add a reference to an assembly that isn’t in a project or a
       package.  But you can do that by editing your .csproj file and adding  markup  similar  to
       the following example:

              <ItemGroup>
                <Reference Include="MyAssembly">
                  <HintPath>".\MyDLLFolder\MyAssembly.dll</HintPath>
                </Reference>
              </ItemGroup>

ARGUMENTS

       • PROJECT

         Specifies  the  project  file.   If  not  specified,  the  command  searches the current
         directory for one.

       • PROJECT_REFERENCES

         Project-to-project (P2P) references  to  add.   Specify  one  or  more  projects.   Glob
         patterns (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glob_(programming)) are supported on Unix/Linux-
         based systems.

OPTIONS

       • -f|--framework <FRAMEWORK>

         Adds project references only when targeting a specific framework using the TFM format.

       • -?|-h|--help

         Prints out a description of how to use the command.

       • --interactive

         Allows the command to stop and wait for user input or action.  For example, to  complete
         authentication.  Available since .NET Core 3.0 SDK.

EXAMPLES

       • Add a project reference:

                dotnet add app/app.csproj reference lib/lib.csproj

       • Add multiple project references to the project in the current directory:

                dotnet add reference lib1/lib1.csproj lib2/lib2.csproj

       • Add multiple project references using a globbing pattern on Linux/Unix:

                dotnet add app/app.csproj reference **/*.csproj

                                            2023-10-25                    dotnet-add-reference(1)