Game Content Project
Overview
A game content project builds game content (models, textures, sounds, and so forth) using the XNA Framework Content Pipeline. Content is added to this project as a project item and item properties define how each content item is imported and processed as part of the build operation. Game content projects are automatically built whenever their parent project is built. In addition, their configuration and platform are the same as their parent project.
Game content projects have a References node that lists the assemblies and projects containing the importers and processors currently used in a Content Pipeline build. Individual content items are listed and their properties are accessible using the Properties window. Items can be added to a game content project using either the standard Add New Item or Add Existing Item dialog boxes.
 Caution |
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| The Build Action property of any project item moved into the nested content project is automatically set to Compile. This value persists even if the same item is later moved out of the nested content project. |
Property Pages
Game content projects have a subset of the project property pages associated with a standard XNA Framework game project. Access these properties by right-clicking the Content node in Solution Explorer and choosing Properties.
Build Property Page
Specifies the output path for the compiled content of your game.
Build Events Property Page
Use the Build Events page to specify build configuration instructions. You can also specify the conditions under which any post-build events are run.
Reference Paths Property Page
Specifies the folder path for assembly references used by the nested content project of your game.
Code-Only Builds
By manually editing a .csproj file, you can build your game project without also building the nested content project. If you are using XNA Game Studio, open the related .csproj file and add the following property:
<SkipNestedContentBuild>true</SkipNestedContentBuild>
If you are building from the command-line, use the following command to skip the nested content project:
Msbuild /p:SkipNestedContentBuild=true WindowsGame1.csproj
For more information on using MSBuild with project files, see How To: Edit Project Files and Visual Studio Integration (MSBuild).
In addition, you can build only the nested content project from the command-line by invoking MSBuild directly on the .contentproj file of your nested content project.
