Exclude pdb files from VSS - VS.NET 2005

This problem occurs in VS.NET 2005 for Web projects (webservice inclusive) when using the project reference.

After searching the internet and MSDN to find a solution for this problem of excluding files from VSS. The suggestions for having an exclude node in the .vssscc and all proved to be too much work.

So I decided to check the solution file to see if there were any entries for the pdb files.

The solution file did not have them.

The funny thing is the VS.NET 2005 does not want to add the assembly file (dll) but only the pdb file and that too only for a select assemblies. So I decide to probe further.

Then I came to conclusion that any project reference you make actually puts an entry on the solution file as there are no project files present for the web project unlike VS.NET 2003.

So the trick is to add bottom up.
so if Business references Data and Config. You should not add the business first as all those assemblies would be copied to the bin.
Instead you should add them separately bottom up.

Like config or data and then the business projects. This way all the projects used are present in the Solution file.

Another thing to note is. Dont add the references from the bin directory.
Always right click the web project folder click on properties and in there use the add reference screen to add the projects.

Happy programming..