Creating a user settings class library for your C# project

Some instructions on how to maintain your project properties as a separate class library in Visual Studio. For this project I am using Visual Studio 2015.

Step 1: Create a new Visual Studio console application

Step 2: Create a new class library

Create and add to your project as follows.

You can remove the “Class1.cs” file that is created automatically if you wish.

Step 3: Add your settings file

In the class library project properties, right click and select ‘Add new item’

I also renamed the setting file to “Setting.settings”.

I then drag “Settings.settings” into the “Properties” section:

Step 4: Add a new setting

This is illustrated by the following screenshot:

Note that the access modifier has been set to Public.

Step 5: Set the project dependencies

The console app project depends on the project settings project:

Step 6: Add the necessary references

Right click on References and select Add reference…

Like so:

Step 7: Access the class library settings

Update your Program.cs file as follows:

Program.cs

using ProjectSettings.Properties;
using System;

namespace MyConsoleApp
{
   class Program
   {
      static void Main(string[] args)
      {
         var setting = Settings.Default.MySetting;
         Console.WriteLine("Setting = " + setting);
      }
   }
}

Giving the following output: