Run t4 script as custom tool for resx file

Question

I have a resource file MyResource.resx, and I want to change how the MyResource.Designer.cs file gets generated.

I have a t4 script that accepts a resx file as input and gives me the resulting transform, however, I must manually run this t4 in order for it to work.

I see that the "custom tool" property for the resx file is currently specified as PublicResXFileCodeGenerator, I changed it to TextTemplatingFileGenerator, but that only made Visual Studio execute the resx as if it were a t4.

How do I configure my t4 to automatically run on my resource when the resource is changed?

Answer 1

There is no good way to have Visual Studio automatically transform templates whenever a resource changes, but MSDN does call out a setting you can add in your project file to transform on build:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd820620.aspx#Regenerating

Answer 2

Check this out: AutoRunCustomTool or Download from Visual Studio Gallery

From the readme:

After you install the extension, you should see a new Run custom tool on property on each project item. Just edit this property to add the name(s) of the target file(s). That's it!

"target" files are your .tt files