Feature Activation Dependencies in Visual Studio 2010

Sometimes you want to make sure that a feature can only be activated after one or more other features are already activated. In that case you will want to define a feature activation dependency.

This morning I was looking on how to define feature activation dependencies in Visual Studio 2010 using the SharePoint tools. I stumbled on this nice and well explained msdn article but I couldn’t find the Feature Activation Dependencies thing nowhere. For all those that are as blind (or as tired) as me this small post with screenshots 🙂

1. Open the Feature Designer by double-clicking the feature in the Solution Explorer

    

     Remark: the screenshot shows 2 Visual Studio projects, resulting in 2 SharePoint solutions. Each Visual Studio project has 2 features.

2. Scroll down in the Feature Designer until you encounter the Feature Activation Dependencies section.

    

3. Click the + button to expand the Feature Activation Dependencies section.

    

4. Click the Add button. This opens a dialog where you can select a feature on which you want to add a dependency. All features in your Visual Studio solution are shown in the list box, not only the features from your SharePoint solution. If the activation of your feature depends on a feature outside the Visual Studio solution, for example an out of the box SharePoint feature or a third party feature, you can check second radio button and specify the feature name and feature ID.

    

5. Once you have defined the activation dependency, you can click the Add button. The grid shows the features on which the activation of the current feature depends.