I've a MSBuild target in my csproj to copy files and folders of my web application to a target path after build.
<Target Name="PublishToFileSystem" DependsOnTargets="PipelinePreDeployCopyAllFilesToOneFolder">
...
If I call MSBuild via command line with the target "PublishToFileSystem" everything works fine.
But now I want to "use" this target also for a special configuration in Visual Studio (like Release, Debug, ...).
How can I assign a configuration to another target than the DefaultTarget "Build" set in the project with DefaultTargets:
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
Thanks, Konrad
Try to use AfterBuild target instead of PublishToFileSystem:
<Target Name="AfterBuild" DependsOnTargets="PipelinePreDeployCopyAllFilesToOneFolder">
or check Overriding Predefined Targets on MSDN
If you want to do this for a specific solution configuration and you're suffering from ciruclar dependencies as I was, the easiest thing I could come up with is writing your own Target to use as default target. That target starts other targets based on a condition on the configuration.
<Target Name="CustomBuild">
<CallTarget Targets="SignAndroidPackage" Condition="'$(Configuration)' == 'UITest'"/>
<CallTarget Targets="Build" Condition="'$(Configuration)' != 'UITest'"/>
</Target>
And then simply change the Default target at the top of the project definition to that CustomBuild target.
<Project DefaultTargets="CustomBuild" ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
Here's an approach that might suit your need: run a custom msbuild target from VisualStudio
(this is trick #78 in the book MSBuild Trickery)
Related
I'm attempting to modularize a Visual Studio project file, but it's not working. This is for Visual Studio 2008 with .Net 3.5.
Shown below, the first example works, but the second one does not. How can I make it work..?
I'm new to this topic and probably missing something. I first became aware of it while reading a 3rd-party blog, and then found it in the documentation too. I've googled for more help, but there's too much information for me to find a relevant answer.
The main project file:
...
<!-- main project file -->
<Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.VisualBasic.targets" />
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<Message Text="This is a message from the *.vbproj file."/> ... this works
</Target>
</Project>
...but if <Import> is used, with the same <Target> and <Message> in the imported file, it doesn't work. MSBuild seems to process everything correctly, but nothing happens...
The main project file:
...
<Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.VisualBasic.targets" />
<Import Project="$(MSBuildProjectDirectory)\CustomBuildEvents.targets" /> ... new tag
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<Message Text="This is a message from the *.vbproj file."/> ... this still works
</Target>
</Project>
The imported targets file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<Message Text="Hello from the imported file." Importance ="high"/> ... doesn't work
</Target>
</Project>
And the build output, with Verbosity set to Diagnostic:
### Halfway through the output, this is the only mention of the imported file. ###
None
CustomBuildEvents.targets ... custom file
My Project\Application.myapp
My Project\Settings.settings
### And then at the end, no mention of the imported file or its message. ###
Done building target "CoreBuild" in project "MsBuildCustomTargetTester.vbproj".
Target "AfterBuild" in file "C:\Visual Studio 2008\Solutions\MsBuildCustomTargetTester\MsBuildCustomTargetTester\MsBuildCustomTargetTester.vbproj":
Task "Message"
Hello from the *.vbproj file. ... message from main file
Done executing task "Message".
Done building target "AfterBuild" in project "MsBuildCustomTargetTester.vbproj".
Target "Build" in file "c:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Microsoft.Common.targets":
Building target "Build" completely.
No input files were specified.
Done building target "Build" in project "MsBuildCustomTargetTester.vbproj".
Done building project "MsBuildCustomTargetTester.vbproj".
Project Performance Summary:
109 ms C:\Visual Studio 2008\Solutions\MsBuildCustomTargetTester\MsBuildCustomTargetTester\MsBuildCustomTargetTester.vbproj 1 calls
The problem with AfterBuild is that it can only be defined once. So if you import it and then later in the project file define it again, the last definition wins and becomes the only definition.
To solve this you need to use the more advanced way to register events. Given that you are using Visual Studio 2008 (WHY?!), you need to use the more advanced syntax for your custom targets files:
<Project>
<!--
Redefines the original build order, includes the standard targets and
adds your new custom target to the end of the list.
-->
<PropertyGroup>
<BuildDependsOn>
$(BuildDependsOn);
CustomTarget
</BuildDependsOn>
</PropertyGroup>
<CustomTarget>
<!-- Imported after Build -->
<Message Text="Hello from the imported file." Importance ="high"/>
</CustomTarget>
</Project>
There are other ways to do this which were introduced in MsBuild 4 with the BeforeTargets and AfterTargets attributes on any target, but If I'm remembering correctly the above syntax should also work with the version of MsBuild that ships with Visual Studio 2008.
See also:
What is the difference between 'DependsOnTargets' and 'AfterTargets'?
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/msbuild/2006/02/10/how-to-add-custom-process-at-specific-points-during-build-method-2/
I have a solution with multiple projects and we use FxCop. We want to run it once the compilation requested finishes (it may be one project, a folder with several folders or the whole solution).
Is there a way of doing this? We currently do it per project but this has some drawbacks.
Yes, there is a way to do it by putting a file next to your solution file with a specific naming pattern: after.{Your solution name here}.sln.targets
<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?-->
<project toolsversion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<target name="AtTheStart" beforetargets="Build">
<message text="GenerateCode target running" importance="high">
</message>
</target>
<target name="AtTheEnd" aftertargets="Build">
<message text="GenerateCode target running" importance="high">
</message>
</target>
</project>
But if you want to run FxCop effectively and have visualstudio installed, you can actually activate it during the build by including /p:RunCodeAnalysis=true or /p:RunCodeAnalysis=always on the call to MsBuild. This will run the configured ruleset file during the build. /p:CodeAnalysisRuleSet=PathTo.ruleset will let you specify a specific ruleset file.
The commandline will always overwrite the project's own configuration. And it will run in the most optimal way.
I would put the FxCop project set (with all the dll's in all your projects) and call it after all the projects are built in VS.
I have a simple MSBuild file that I'm learning with.
Here it is:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" DefaultTargets="Clean" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
<ProjectGuid>{D5A16164-962E-4A6D-9382-240F31AB6C50}</ProjectGuid>
</PropertyGroup>
<Target Name="Clean">
<ItemGroup>
<BinFiles Include="bin\*.*" />
<fff Include="f\*.*" />
</ItemGroup>
<Delete Files="#(BinFiles)" />
<Delete Files="#(fff)" />
</Target>
</Project>
Now I want to include this in a Visual Studio solution and be able to run the "clean" target from Visual Studio 2012. I tried naming it testproject.msbuildproj like the internet seems to suggest "works", but it doesn't work. When I run the clean command I just get "unexpected error".
If I rename the project to testproject.csproj, it does some unintuitive things like creating compilation directories, but it does actually run my clean command properly. However, this is undesireable because it creates obj and bin/x86/debug type directories. It also looks goofy in Visual Studio because it still gives the References drop down.
How can I use just a plain vanilla MSBuild project from Visual Studio without random errors or false assumptions?
Note I only am having a problem with this from Visual Studio. Using msbuild from the command line it works perfectly
Visual Studio creates bin / obj folders when it opens csproj file. When you click Build / Rebuild / Clean it just uses appropriate targets from the project file.
You cannot stop VS from creating these folders, but you can ask it to create them in say temp folder by setting appropriate properties - refer this MSDN article for details.
So the steps are to rename your project to csproj, and add the following lines into project:
<PropertyGroup>
<OutputPath>$(Temp)\bin</OutputPath>
<IntermediateOutputPath>$(Temp)\obj</IntermediateOutputPath>
</PropertyGroup>
I usually use a bit different approach to work with MSBUILD files from VS:
I use regular csproj file with removed Import ... CSharp.targets part as pure container for my Build projects.
I add actual build files with targets and logic, and all properties, necessary artifacts like XSLT etc using "Include into project", so I can manage hierarchy and change any file from within VS.Net.
I redefine Build / Rebuild targets in csproj file for whatever I need, for example Build may contain minimum output, and while rebuild diagnostic one.
Like this:
<Target Name="Build">
<Exec Command="%windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\msbuild.exe Builds\build.proj /t:Build /v:m" />
</Target>
<Target Name="Rebuild">
<Exec Command="%windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\msbuild.exe Builds\build.proj /t:Build /v:d" />
</Target>
I would like to build the same project twice in the same solution configuration, varying some #define flags to toggle features. Both binaries will be deployed with different names.
The solutions that I know could work:
Add a solution configuration - But I will then need to build the solution twice, which I would prefer to avoid. Both project configurations will always be built.
Copy the project - But then I have the overhead of maintaining a new project when I only want to maintain a different configuration.
Batch build - I avoid using batch build as I use both devenv for local development and msbuild for continuous integration.
Any other ideas or suggestions?
Just figured out a way to do what you asked for. Create one msbuild file (I named mine multiple.proj) and add the script below.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<Choose>
<When Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU'">
<ItemGroup>
<ProjectToBuild Include="$(MSBuildProjectName).csproj">
<Properties>Configuration=Release</Properties>
</ProjectToBuild>
</ItemGroup>
</When>
</Choose>
<Target Name="BeforeBuild">
<Message Text="Building configuration $(Configuration)..." />
</Target>
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<MSBuild Projects="#(ProjectToBuild)"/>
</Target>
</Project>
</type>
</this>
Import the script on your projects (csproj or vbproj):
<Import Project="..\multiple.proj" />
This script tells msbuild to build again your project with another configuration as an AfterBuild event. I used Debug/Release to make the example, but you can easily change the script to support other configurations, or make the decision to build again based on other variables.
Be careful because you're running two builds at once, so build errors can be harder to understand.
Hope this helps.
I've got an x86 Visual Studio solution with many project files in it. Some of the DLL files are designed to work as plug-ins to other applications on a user's system.
We're expanding some of the DLL files to be able to support 64-bit applications. I'd like to set up the solution/projects so that just hitting "Build" will build both the x86 and x64 versions of those DLL
files. The solution contains both C++ and C# projects.
I realize that "Batch Build" is capable of building both, though it would be more convenient if developers could just click the same button as they have previously and have all of the output DLL files generated.
Here are a couple of the modifications that I've tried to a test project, but that I haven't gotten to work:
I've tried modifying the <Target Name="AfterBuild"> to try:
<Target Name="AfterBuild" Condition=" '$(Platform)' == 'x86' ">
<PropertyGroup>
<Platform>x64</Platform>
<PlatformTarget>x64</PlatformTarget>
</PropertyGroup>
<CallTarget Targets="Build"/>
</Target>
But that results in the following error:
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Microsoft.Common.targets(565,5): error MSB4006: There is a circular dependency in the target dependency graph involving target "Build".
I think my conditions will prevent infinite recursion, but I understand how MSBuild could not see it that way.
I've also tried:
<Project DefaultTargets="MyBuild86;MyBuild64" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003" ToolsVersion="3.5">
...
<Target Name="MyBuild86">
<PropertyGroup>
<Platform>x86</Platform>
<PlatformTarget>x86</PlatformTarget>
</PropertyGroup>
<CallTarget Targets="Build"/>
</Target>
<Target Name="MyBuild64">
<PropertyGroup>
<Platform>x64</Platform>
<PlatformTarget>x64</PlatformTarget>
</PropertyGroup>
<CallTarget Targets="Build"/>
</Target>
But my DefaultTargets appears to be ignored from within the Visual Studio IDE.
Last, I've tried creating a separate project that imports the first project:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="3.5" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<PropertyGroup>
<Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
<Platform>x64</Platform>
<PlatformTarget>x64</PlatformTarget>
<ProductVersion>9.0.30729</ProductVersion>
<SchemaVersion>2.0</SchemaVersion>
<OutputPath>..\$(Configuration)\x64\</OutputPath>
<ProjectGuid>{A885CAC3-2BBE-4808-B470-5B8D482CFF0A}</ProjectGuid>
</PropertyGroup>
<Import Project="BuildTest.csproj" />
</Project>
And this so far has shown the most promise. However, Visual Studio seems to ignore my OutputPath setting from this new project and instead outputs the EXE/DLL file to the path specified in the original project. There isn't any PropertyGroup block that I can see that is being executed in the original project to override this, so I'm not sure what's happening.
We do something similar to build core assemblies for .NET Compact Framework.
Try this:
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<MSBuild Condition=" '$(Platform)' == 'x86' " Projects="$(MSBuildProjectFile)" Properties="Platform=x64;PlatFormTarget=x64" RunEachTargetSeparately="true" />
</Target>
Importing a project in such manner works for me in Visual Studio 2010:
TestProject64.vcxproj
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<Import Project="TestProject.vcxproj" />
<ItemGroup Label="ProjectConfigurations">
<ProjectConfiguration Include="Release|x64">
<Configuration>Release</Configuration>
<Platform>x64</Platform>
</ProjectConfiguration>
</ItemGroup>
<PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
<ProjectGuid>{B7D61F1C-B413-4768-8BDB-31FD464AD053}</ProjectGuid>
</PropertyGroup>
</Project>
TestProject64.vcxproj.filters
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<Import Project="TestProject.vcxproj.filters" />
</Project>
TestProject.vcxproj has two configurations defined inside: Release|x86 and Release|x64. As you can see, TestProject64.vcxproj has only the Release|x64 configuration. Defining of at least one configuration in TestProject64.vcxproj is necessary, otherwise Visual Studio will not be able to add TestProject64.vcxproj to a solution.
Now it's possible to include both TestProject.vcxproj and TestProject64.vcxproj to the same solution and build Release|x86 and Release|x64 at the same time.
I think the best way of doing this is to invoke MSBuild from the command line. It shouldn't need editing of MSBuild files. Just run
msbuild myproj.sln /p:Configuration="Debug|Win32"
msbuild myproj.sln /p:Configuration="Debug|x64"
I assume that if a developer is using Visual Studio then they'll only be generating the DLL files so they can debug with them, and that you have a separate build process if you're actually deploying the DLL files.
For C++, and if it's a project whose files/settings don't change often, one way to do it is create two projects within the solution, with both projects referring to the same source files. Then, in x64 builds, set one project to build 64-bit and the other 32-bit. (In x86 builds, set one as 32-bit and turn off the other.)
We've been using this for a while and it works fine.
Of course, you have to be careful that any changes you make to one are also made to its copy. i.e. if you add/remove a file or change its build setting, you have to do it in two places. Source-code changes still only need to be done once, because there's still only one copy of each source file.
And, of course, you may decide that doing this is more complex/risky than switching away from using the IDE. In our case it's worked really well, though.
You are not going to be able to do this with the UI of Visual Studio. For this you will need to hack the MSBuild files.
Try this link from MSDN for MSBuild Overview
I would suggest to create a dummy C++ Makefile project and then invoke MSBuild twice from it:
msbuild myproj.sln /p:Configuration="Debug|Win32"
msbuild myproj.sln /p:Configuration="Debug|x64"
Perhaps I've missed the point of this discussion.
Using Visual Studio, go to menu Build → Configuration Manager. In the Active Solution Platform drop down, select "New...", and a New Solution Platform dialog appears. Select x64 and accept the default Copy From. Close the dialog and the Configuration Manager.
Now open menu Build → Batch Build. Check those configurations you want to build and build them. You will find the x64 build executables separate from the Win32 executable files.
You can verify that these are what was intended by right clicking on the executable files, selecting Properties, and select the Compatibility tab. In the dropdown window you can check to see what operating systems the executable file can be run in.
Obviously, there may be some other tweaking you might have to do to get all the output files in their proper places, but this method seem somewhat simpler than fooling with build than those described above.
I ran into this problem with a project running in Visual Studio 2008 (on Windows XP) (32-bit) and also Visual Studio 2010 (on Windows 7) (64-bit).
The solution I used was to use the $(PROGRAMFILES) variable. It resolved correctly on both machines.