diff --git a/Help/manual/cmake-modules.7.rst b/Help/manual/cmake-modules.7.rst
index d4712baa01f4a41fcb43e7afdebf00ed3637a00d..c478a1b2e4bc1156c178e99d5a597b68a3ad4020 100644
--- a/Help/manual/cmake-modules.7.rst
+++ b/Help/manual/cmake-modules.7.rst
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ All Modules
/module/CPackRPM
/module/CPack
/module/CPackWIX
+ /module/CSharpUtilities
/module/CTest
/module/CTestCoverageCollectGCOV
/module/CTestScriptMode
diff --git a/Help/module/CSharpUtilities.rst b/Help/module/CSharpUtilities.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..3621bbc25ea2e97f1dd71c814dbadf433956b1e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Help/module/CSharpUtilities.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.. cmake-module:: ../../Modules/CSharpUtilities.cmake
diff --git a/Help/release/3.8.rst b/Help/release/3.8.rst
index a9bfe84b28abec9d6b2356a947ce0482df775c8d..efb2aa5a75fa998a904dea1a6e29b9eb9578e03c 100644
--- a/Help/release/3.8.rst
+++ b/Help/release/3.8.rst
@@ -220,6 +220,11 @@ Properties
Modules
-------
+* A :module:`CSharpUtilities` module was added to aid parameterization of
+ Visual Studio C# targets. It provides functions to allow automated
+ setting of source file properties to support Windows Forms, WPF/XAML or
+ other technologies as needed.
+
* The :module:`ExternalData` module learned to support multiple
content links for one data file using different hashes, e.g.
``img.png.sha256`` and ``img.png.sha1``. This allows objects
diff --git a/Modules/CSharpUtilities.cmake b/Modules/CSharpUtilities.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..ddad85a49b1f76be20130f300861aee9b0a5b9d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Modules/CSharpUtilities.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,298 @@
+# Distributed under the OSI-approved BSD 3-Clause License. See accompanying
+# file Copyright.txt or https://cmake.org/licensing for details.
+
+#[=======================================================================[.rst:
+CSharpUtilities
+---------------
+
+Functions to make configuration of CSharp/.NET targets easier.
+
+A collection of CMake utility functions useful for dealing with CSharp
+targets for Visual Studio generators from version 2010 and later.
+
+The following functions are provided by this module:
+
+**Main functions**
+
+- :command:`csharp_set_windows_forms_properties`
+- :command:`csharp_set_designer_cs_properties`
+- :command:`csharp_set_xaml_cs_properties`
+
+**Helper functions**
+
+- :command:`csharp_get_filename_keys`
+- :command:`csharp_get_filename_key_base`
+- :command:`csharp_get_dependentupon_name`
+
+Main functions provided by the module
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+.. command:: csharp_set_windows_forms_properties
+
+ Sets source file properties for use of Windows Forms. Use this, if your CSharp
+ target uses windows forms::
+
+ csharp_set_windows_forms_properties([<file1> [<file2> [...]]])
+
+ ``<fileN>``
+ List of all source files which are relevant for setting the
+ :prop_sf:`VS_CSHARP_<tagname>` properties (including ``.cs``, ``.resx`` and
+ ``.Designer.cs`` extensions).
+
+ In the list of all given files for all files ending with ``.Designer.cs`` and
+ ``.resx`` is searched. For every *designer* or *resource* file a file with the
+ same base name but only ``.cs`` as extension is searched. If this is found, the
+ :prop_sf:`VS_CSHARP_<tagname>` properties are set as follows:
+
+ for the **.cs** file:
+ - VS_CSHARP_SubType "Form"
+
+ for the **.Designer.cs** file (if it exists):
+ - VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon <cs-filename>
+ - VS_CSHARP_DesignTime "" (delete tag if previously defined)
+ - VS_CSHARP_AutoGen ""(delete tag if previously defined)
+
+ for the **.resx** file (if it exists):
+ - VS_RESOURCE_GENERATOR "" (delete tag if previously defined)
+ - VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon <cs-filename>
+ - VS_CSHARP_SubType "Designer"
+
+.. command:: csharp_set_designer_cs_properties
+
+ Sets source file properties for use of WPF/XAML. Use this, if your CSharp
+ target uses WPF/XAML::
+
+ csharp_set_designer_cs_properties([<file1> [<file2> [...]]])
+
+ ``<fileN>``
+ List of all source files which are relevant for setting the
+ :prop_sf:`VS_CSHARP_<tagname>` properties (including ``.cs``,
+ ``.resx``, ``.settings`` and ``.Designer.cs`` extensions).
+
+ In the list of all given files for all files ending with
+ ``.Designer.cs`` is searched. For every *designer* file all files
+ with the same base name but different extensions are searched. If
+ a match is found, the source file properties of the *designer* file
+ are set depending on the extension of the matched file:
+
+ if match is **.resx** file:
+ - VS_CSHARP_AutoGen "True"
+ - VS_CSHARP_DesignTime "True"
+ - VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon <resx-filename>
+
+ if match is **.cs** file:
+ - VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon <cs-filename>
+
+ if match is **.settings** file:
+ - VS_CSHARP_AutoGen "True"
+ - VS_CSHARP_DesignTimeSharedInput "True"
+ - VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon <settings-filename>
+
+.. command:: csharp_set_xaml_cs_properties
+
+ Sets source file properties for use of WPF/XAML. Use this, if your
+ CSharp target uses WPF/XAML::
+
+ csharp_set_xaml_cs_properties([<file1> [<file2> [...]]])
+
+ ``<fileN>``
+ List of all source files which are relevant for setting the
+ :prop_sf:`VS_CSHARP_<tagname>` properties (including ``.cs``,
+ ``.xaml``, and ``.xaml.cs`` extensions).
+
+ In the list of all given files for all files ending with
+ ``.xaml.cs`` is searched. For every xaml file, a file
+ with the same base name but extension ``.xaml`` is searched.
+ If a match is found, the source file properties of the ``.xaml.cs``
+ file are set:
+
+ - VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon <xaml-filename>
+
+Helper functions which are used by the above ones
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+.. command:: csharp_get_filename_keys
+
+ Helper function which computes a list of key values to identify
+ source files independently of relative/absolute paths given in cmake
+ and eliminates case sensitivity::
+
+ csharp_get_filename_keys(OUT [<file1> [<file2> [...]]])
+
+ ``OUT``
+ name of the variable in which the list of keys is stored
+
+ ``<fileN>``
+ filename as given to to CSharp target using :command:`add_library`
+ or :command:`add_executable`
+
+ In some way the function applies a canonicalization to the source names.
+ This is necessary to find file matches if the files have been added to
+ the target with different directory prefixes:
+
+ .. code-block:: cmake
+
+ add_library(lib
+ myfile.cs
+ ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/myfile.Designer.cs)
+
+ set_source_files_properties(myfile.Designer.cs PROPERTIES
+ VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon myfile.cs)
+
+ # this will fail, because in cmake
+ # - ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/myfile.Designer.cs
+ # - myfile.Designer.cs
+ # are not the same source file. The source file property is not set.
+
+.. command:: csharp_get_filename_key_base
+
+ Returns the full filepath and name **withouth** extension of a key.
+ KEY is expected to be a key from csharp_get_filename_keys. In BASE
+ the value of KEY without the file extension is returned::
+
+ csharp_get_filename_key_base(BASE KEY)
+
+ ``BASE``
+ The computed "base" of ``KEY``.
+
+ ``KEY``
+ The key of which the base will be computed. Expected to be a
+ upper case full filename.
+
+.. command:: csharp_get_dependentupon_name
+
+ Computes a string which can be used as value for the source file property
+ :prop_sf:`VS_CSHARP_<tagname>` with *target* being ``DependentUpon``::
+
+ csharp_get_dependentupon_name(NAME FILE)
+
+ ``NAME``
+ result value
+
+ ``FILE``
+ filename to convert to DependentUpon value
+
+ Actually this is only the filename without any path given at the moment.
+
+#]=======================================================================]
+
+function(csharp_get_filename_keys OUT)
+ set(${OUT} "")
+ foreach(f ${ARGN})
+ get_filename_component(f ${f} REALPATH)
+ string(TOUPPER ${f} f)
+ list(APPEND ${OUT} ${f})
+ endforeach()
+ set(${OUT} "${${OUT}}" PARENT_SCOPE)
+endfunction()
+
+function(csharp_get_filename_key_base base key)
+ get_filename_component(dir ${key} DIRECTORY)
+ get_filename_component(fil ${key} NAME_WE)
+ set(${base} "${dir}/${fil}" PARENT_SCOPE)
+endfunction()
+
+function(csharp_get_dependentupon_name out in)
+ get_filename_component(${out} ${in} NAME)
+ set(${out} ${${out}} PARENT_SCOPE)
+endfunction()
+
+function(csharp_set_windows_forms_properties)
+ csharp_get_filename_keys(fileKeys ${ARGN})
+ foreach(key ${fileKeys})
+ get_filename_component(ext ${key} EXT)
+ if(${ext} STREQUAL ".DESIGNER.CS" OR
+ ${ext} STREQUAL ".RESX")
+ csharp_get_filename_key_base(NAME_BASE ${key})
+ list(FIND fileKeys "${NAME_BASE}.CS" FILE_INDEX)
+ if(NOT ${FILE_INDEX} EQUAL -1)
+ list(GET ARGN ${FILE_INDEX} FILE_NAME)
+ # set properties of main form file
+ set_source_files_properties("${FILE_NAME}"
+ PROPERTIES
+ VS_CSHARP_SubType "Form")
+ csharp_get_dependentupon_name(LINK "${FILE_NAME}")
+ # set properties of designer file (if found)
+ list(FIND fileKeys "${NAME_BASE}.DESIGNER.CS" FILE_INDEX)
+ if(NOT ${FILE_INDEX} EQUAL -1)
+ list(GET ARGN ${FILE_INDEX} FILE_NAME)
+ set_source_files_properties("${FILE_NAME}"
+ PROPERTIES
+ VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon "${LINK}"
+ VS_CSHARP_DesignTime ""
+ VS_CSHARP_AutoGen "")
+ endif()
+ # set properties of corresponding resource file (if found)
+ list(FIND fileKeys "${NAME_BASE}.RESX" FILE_INDEX)
+ if(NOT ${FILE_INDEX} EQUAL -1)
+ list(GET ARGN ${FILE_INDEX} FILE_NAME)
+ set_source_files_properties("${FILE_NAME}"
+ PROPERTIES
+ VS_RESOURCE_GENERATOR ""
+ VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon "${LINK}"
+ VS_CSHARP_SubType "Designer")
+ endif()
+ endif()
+ endif()
+ endforeach()
+endfunction()
+
+function(csharp_set_designer_cs_properties)
+ csharp_get_filename_keys(fileKeys ${ARGN})
+ set(INDEX -1)
+ foreach(key ${fileKeys})
+ math(EXPR INDEX "${INDEX}+1")
+ list(GET ARGN ${INDEX} source)
+ get_filename_component(ext ${key} EXT)
+ if(${ext} STREQUAL ".DESIGNER.CS")
+ csharp_get_filename_key_base(NAME_BASE ${key})
+ if("${NAME_BASE}.RESX" IN_LIST fileKeys)
+ list(FIND fileKeys "${NAME_BASE}.RESX" FILE_INDEX)
+ list(GET ARGN ${FILE_INDEX} FILE_NAME)
+ csharp_get_dependentupon_name(LINK "${FILE_NAME}")
+ set_source_files_properties("${source}"
+ PROPERTIES
+ VS_CSHARP_AutoGen "True"
+ VS_CSHARP_DesignTime "True"
+ VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon "${LINK}")
+ elseif("${NAME_BASE}.CS" IN_LIST fileKeys)
+ list(FIND fileKeys "${NAME_BASE}.CS" FILE_INDEX)
+ list(GET ARGN ${FILE_INDEX} FILE_NAME)
+ csharp_get_dependentupon_name(LINK "${FILE_NAME}")
+ set_source_files_properties("${source}"
+ PROPERTIES
+ VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon "${LINK}")
+ elseif("${NAME_BASE}.SETTINGS" IN_LIST fileKeys)
+ list(FIND fileKeys "${NAME_BASE}.SETTINGS" FILE_INDEX)
+ list(GET ARGN ${FILE_INDEX} FILE_NAME)
+ csharp_get_dependentupon_name(LINK "${FILE_NAME}")
+ set_source_files_properties("${source}"
+ PROPERTIES
+ VS_CSHARP_AutoGen "True"
+ VS_CSHARP_DesignTimeSharedInput "True"
+ VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon "${LINK}")
+ endif()
+ endif()
+ endforeach()
+endfunction()
+
+function(csharp_set_xaml_cs_properties)
+ csharp_get_filename_keys(fileKeys ${ARGN})
+ set(INDEX -1)
+ foreach(key ${fileKeys})
+ math(EXPR INDEX "${INDEX}+1")
+ list(GET ARGN ${INDEX} source)
+ get_filename_component(ext ${key} EXT)
+ if(${ext} STREQUAL ".XAML.CS")
+ csharp_get_filename_key_base(NAME_BASE ${key})
+ if("${NAME_BASE}.XAML" IN_LIST fileKeys)
+ list(FIND fileKeys "${NAME_BASE}.XAML" FILE_INDEX)
+ list(GET ARGN ${FILE_INDEX} FILE_NAME)
+ csharp_get_dependentupon_name(LINK "${FILE_NAME}")
+ set_source_files_properties("${source}"
+ PROPERTIES
+ VS_CSHARP_DependentUpon "${LINK}")
+ endif()
+ endif()
+ endforeach()
+endfunction()