Reusing forms and classes

Ismael Oliveira

Hi.

I have a solution in Visual studio 2022 using C# and forms. Now I have to create a second solution which is much similar to the first one, with many of the forms and classes equal. My question is: is there a way to point to these forms and clases of the first solution, instead of copying them to the second? If yes, it would be good, because if I fix a bug in my first project, the second is already fixed too.

Thank you.

5 Replies

Know the answer? Post it — somebody with the same question will find it here.

Sachin Singh4y ago
Accepted answer
Forms are Just UI, all your business logic should be in another class library project and all your data access logic should be in another class library project.
your Business Layer should interact to Data Access layer and all your UI project will interact to your BL.

right click on UI project reference --->Add Reference of BL project.
right click on BL project reference --->Add Reference of DAL project.

In your UI there should be just UI related code like control's positioning, opening form etc and all functionalities should be in BL , from UI layer just call the BL methods and pass the control's values.
+3
Ismael Oliveira4y ago
Sachin.
You helped me a lot.
Thank you.
+2
Muhammad Imran Ansari4y ago
Check this step-by-step article to create class library and use in the project:
https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/uploadfile/61b832/creating-class-library-in-visual-C-Sharp/
+2
Ismael Oliveira4y ago
Hi, Muhammad.
How can I add a reference toa class that is defined in another prpoject?
Thanks.
+2
Muhammad Imran Ansari4y ago
In case of forms, we need to create a project which will generate .exe of an application and unable to add as a reference in other project.
For classes, yes you can reuse them very easly. Create a Class Library project and add all your classes in that project. You need to add just a refence to access all classess in different applications.
+2