Passing Code Generation Properties to TDS T4 templates

Question

I want to pass some additional parameters to my T4 code generation templates in my TDS projects. In the TDS Projects Code Generation properties tab, there is a field for passing additional code generation properties, but I can't get this to work. I thought it would work like this:

Passing the parameters like this:

and then pick up the value in the T4 template like this:

<#@ parameter name="MyProperty" type="System.String" #>
<#
   if (MyProperty == ...) 
      ...
#>

But the above doesn't work. The value of MyProperty is always empty when running the T4 generation. What am I doing wrong? Have I perhaps completely misunderstood this feature?

(I'm using TDS 6.0.0.18, i.e. latest version when writing this)

Answer 1

You try to get a property like it is passed into a session variable. But TDS passes Additional Code Generation Properties into SitecoreItem model. That is why you need to use a different approach to get values.

You are able to get your properties from SitecoreItem type, AdditionalProperties field ynside your Base Project Transform File (usually, GlassItemVX.tt):

e.g.

<#@ parameter name="Model" type="HedgehogDevelopment.SitecoreProject.VSIP.CodeGeneration.Models.SitecoreItem" #>
string myProperty = Model.AdditionalProperties["MyProperty"];
Write(myProperty);#>

Will generate this outcome:

MyValue