stride3d/stride · error · SolutionFileException

Solution filter ' ' does not reference a solution.

Error message

Solution filter '{filterFile}' does not reference a solution.

What it means

Thrown by ResolveSolutionFilterTarget when a .slnf solution-filter file parses as JSON but lacks the expected 'solution.path' property. A .slnf must point at a real .sln via solution.path for the library to open the underlying writable solution.

Solutions

1. Open the .slnf in an editor and ensure it contains a top-level "solution": { "path": "..." } property
2. Point 'path' at the correct .sln relative to the .slnf file's directory
3. Regenerate the solution filter in Visual Studio/IDE instead of hand-editing

Example fix

// before (broken .slnf)
{ "projects": ["src\\App\\App.csproj"] }
// after
{ "solution": { "path": "MyApp.sln" }, "projects": ["src\\App\\App.csproj"] }

using var doc = JsonDocument.Parse(File.ReadAllText(filterPath));
if (!doc.RootElement.TryGetProperty("solution", out var s) ||
    !s.TryGetProperty("path", out _))
    throw new InvalidDataException($"{filterPath} has no solution.path");

bool IsValidFilter(string json) =>
    JsonDocument.Parse(json).RootElement.TryGetProperty("solution", out var s) &&
    s.TryGetProperty("path", out var p) && p.ValueKind == JsonValueKind.String;

try { return SolutionSerialization.Read(filterPath); }
catch (SolutionFileException ex) when (ex.Message.Contains("does not reference a solution"))
{
    throw new InvalidDataException($"Filter '{filterPath}' is missing 'solution.path'", ex);
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling Read with a .slnf file whose JSON root object is missing the 'solution' property or whose 'solution.path' string is absent/null — e.g. a hand-edited or corrupted filter file.

Common situations: Manually authored .slnf with wrong schema, filter files saved by tools with different casing, truncated/corrupted JSON filters.

Understand the failure class

Background: Schema validation failed / invalid input schema: payload rejected because its shape doesn't match the expected schema — this error's family across 28 libraries.

Related errors

• Aliases are not supported in JSON

AI-assisted analysis of stride3d/stride@96fad776d2 (2026-09-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/9c8d27da38538a35. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at sources/core/Stride.Core.Design/Solutions/SolutionSerialization.cs:49

            ?? throw new SolutionFileException($"Unsupported solution file format: '{solutionFullPath}'.");
        var model = serializer.OpenAsync(solutionFullPath, CancellationToken.None).GetAwaiter().GetResult();
        var solution = ToSolution(model, solutionFullPath);
        ReadDefaultStartup(solution, solutionFullPath);
        return solution;
    }

    // The .sln a solution filter (.slnf) points at, resolved relative to the filter file.
    private static string ResolveSolutionFilterTarget(string filterFile)
    {
        using var document = JsonDocument.Parse(File.ReadAllText(filterFile));
        if (document.RootElement.TryGetProperty("solution", out var solution)
            && solution.TryGetProperty("path", out var path)
            && path.GetString() is { } relativePath)
        {
            return Path.GetFullPath(Path.Combine(Path.GetDirectoryName(filterFile)!, relativePath.Replace('\\', Path.DirectorySeparatorChar)));
        }

        throw new SolutionFileException($"Solution filter '{filterFile}' does not reference a solution.");
    }

    public static Solution Read(string solutionFullPath, Stream stream)
    {
        var model = SolutionSerializers.SlnFileV12.OpenAsync(stream, CancellationToken.None).GetAwaiter().GetResult();
        return ToSolution(model, solutionFullPath);
    }

    public static void Write(Solution solution, string outputPath, Action<string>? onBeforeOverwrite = null)
    {
        // Behave like Visual Studio: a solution loaded from disk keeps everything it had (platforms, build
        // configurations, solution folders, projects Stride doesn't manage) and only its project list is
        // reconciled. A solution that wasn't loaded from disk is created from a fresh model with defaults.
        var model = solution.SourceModel is { } source ? new SolutionModel(source) : NewModel(solution);
        Reconcile(model, solution, outputPath);

        // Pick the serializer from the output extension so a .slnx round-trips as XML and a .sln as classic format.
        var serializer = SolutionSerializers.GetSerializerByMoniker(outputPath) ?? SolutionSerializers.SlnFileV12;

View on GitHub (pinned to 96fad776d2)