MSBuild exist condition for Linux/Ubuntu case-sensitive file systems - msbuild

Our solution has targetframework .NetStadndard 2.0 and is run on Linux\Ubuntu as well as on Windows.
We have a json file which is included into ouptut in *.targets file as MSBuild target.:
<Target Name="test_target" AfterTargets="BeforeBuild" Condition="
Exists('testFile.config.json') ">
<ItemGroup>
<None Include="testFile.config.json">
<CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
</None>
</ItemGroup>
</Target>
We know on Linux the file system is case sensitive and on Windows is vice versa.
But what we want is to search for the testFile.config.json file case insensitively with use of MSBuild.

Related

How to copy contentFiles of NuGet package references via MSBuild Copy task

We have several repositories and each one has its own .editorconfig. Obviously, these are not synced, which is why I would like to distribute the .editorconfig from our framework solution (along with other files) via NuGet package to all our repositories/solutions and copy it via a simple Copy build Task to the solution directory.
I attempted to do the following:
Create a project "EditorConfigDistribution", which is supposed to contain the master .editorconfig file.
<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
...
<PropertyGroup>
<TargetFramework>netstandard2.0</TargetFramework>
<NoDefaultExcludes>true</NoDefaultExcludes>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Content Include=".editorconfig">
<CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
<Pack>true</Pack>
<PackageCopyToOutput>false</PackageCopyToOutput>
<PackagePath>contentFiles\any\any\content</PackagePath>
</Content>
</ItemGroup>
</Project>
This all works as expected and I do get the desired .editorconfig file in my project from the other solutions and it is referenced as shortcut in a folder content/.editorconfig (see EditorConfigConsumer Project Structure).
The file is only a reference to C:\Users\<user>\.nuget\packages\editorconfigdistribution\1.0.0\contentFiles\any\any\content\.editorconfig.
Now, I want to copy that .editorconfig file via build task:
<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
...
<ItemGroup>
<PackageReference Include="EditorConfigDistribution" Version="1.0.0">
</PackageReference>
</ItemGroup>
<Target Name="CopyEditorConfig" BeforeTargets="BeforeBuild">
<ItemGroup>
<EditorConfigFileToCopy Include="$(MSBuildProjectDirectory)\content\.editorconfig" />
</ItemGroup>
<Copy SourceFiles="#(EditorConfigFileToCopy)" DestinationFolder="$(MSBuildProjectDirectory)\.." SkipUnchangedFiles="true" UseHardlinksIfPossible="false" />
</Target>
</Project>
However, I do get the following error:
Error MSB3030: Could not copy the file "C:\Users\weberma9\source\repos\<some_path>\EditorConfigConsumer\content\.editorconfig" because it was not found. (20, 5)
I can understand that the file (since it is a shortcut) cannot be found, but I just cannot figure out a way to reference that shortcut correctly in my build task.
What do I need to change in that line <EditorConfigFileToCopy Include="$(MSBuildProjectDirectory)\content\.editorconfig" />?
Of course, if you have better approaches to my general problem - I'm glad to hear about it.
I was able to find a solution for my problem:
I not only provide the .editorconfig, but also the Copy-Build task via my EditorConfigDistribution project, which looks like this now:
<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
<PropertyGroup>
<TargetFramework>netstandard2.0</TargetFramework>
<NoDefaultExcludes>true</NoDefaultExcludes>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<None Include="..\..\.editorconfig">
<Link>Rules\.editorconfig</Link>
<Pack>true</Pack>
<PackageCopyToOutput>false</PackageCopyToOutput>
<PackagePath>Rules\</PackagePath>
</None>
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<None Include="build\**">
<Pack>true</Pack>
<PackageCopyToOutput>false</PackageCopyToOutput>
<PackagePath>build\</PackagePath>
</None>
</ItemGroup>
</Project>
The .props file is straightforward and due to the convention that <package_id>.props and <package_id>.target are added to projects that consume the package (see Include MSBuild props and targets in a package), it will always be executed before 'BeforeBuild'.
EditorConfigDistribution.props (placed in build folder):
<Project>
<Target Name="CopyEditorConfig" BeforeTargets="BeforeBuild">
<ItemGroup>
<EditorConfigFilesToCopy Include="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)..\Rules\.editorconfig" />
</ItemGroup>
<Copy SourceFiles="#(EditorConfigFilesToCopy)" DestinationFolder="$(SolutionDir).." SkipUnchangedFiles="true" UseHardlinksIfPossible="false" />
</Target>
</Project>

How to support a different language/compiler in an msbuild project?

In an msbuild project, how can I tell msbuild how to invoke a compiler for a language that msbuild doesn't natively support?
(For example, with make/makefiles and most other buildsystems, it's possible to say "For all sources with .xyz extension, build them by running command 'xyzc SOME_VAR_WITH_THE_COMPILER_FLAGS SOME_VAR_WITH_SOURCE_FILENAME'". How to do the equivalent for msbuild?)
It is not hard:
<ItemGroup>
<XyzzyFiles Include="*.xyz"/>
</ItemGroup>
<Target Name="Build">
<Exec Command="MyCompiler %(XyzzyFiles.FullPath)"/>
</Target>
In this sample MyCompiler will be sequentially called for each .xyz file.
If you want to make single call to MyCompiler, passing list of files, use
<Target Name="Build">
<Exec Command="MyCompiler #(XyzzyFiles->'%(FullPath)', ' ')"/>
</Target>

Issue with ApplicationFile file not found in MSBuild script

my issue is that the msbuild script can't find my MSI installer file.
Here is the script file bootstrapper.msbuild :
<Project ToolsVersion="3.5"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<ItemGroup>
<BootstrapperFile Include="Microsoft.Windows.Installer.4.5" >
<ProductName>Windows Installer 4.5</ProductName>
</BootstrapperFile>
<!--<BootstrapperFile Include="DotNetFX40" >
<ProductName>Microsoft DotNet Framework 4.5 SP1</ProductName>
</BootstrapperFile>-->
</ItemGroup>
<!-- from http://stackoverflow.com/questions/346175/use-32bit-program-files-directory-in-msbuild
-->
<PropertyGroup>
<ProgramFiles32>$(MSBuildProgramFiles32)</ProgramFiles32>
<ProgramFiles32 Condition=" '' == '$(ProgramFiles32)'">$(ProgramFiles%28x86%29)</ProgramFiles32>
<ProgramFiles32 Condition=" '' == '$(ProgramFiles32)'">$(ProgramFiles)</ProgramFiles32>
</PropertyGroup>
<Target Name="SetupExe">
<GenerateBootstrapper
ApplicationFile="..\MySetup\MySetup\bin\Debug\MySetup.msi"
ApplicationName="MyApplication"
Culture="en"
BootstrapperItems="#(BootstrapperFile)"
ComponentsLocation="HomeSite"
Path="$(ProgramFiles32)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\Bootstrapper\"
OutputPath="output"/>
</Target>
</Project>
The folders structure is as follows :
The file boostrapper.msbuild is inside Mybootstrapper. I've tried the path using command line and it works fine. Why not in ms build ? Am I missing something ?
The question is what is the directory the task GenerateBootstrapper is referring to ?
Could you advice please ?
It looks like your relative path is not correct. Try:
ApplicationFile="..\MySetup\bin\Debug\MySetup.msi"
The issue was I didn't put MSI file in the path where the generated setup.exe is located. I was thinking that this later will contain all files...
Am I wrong ?

MSBuild project file: Copy item to specific location in output directory

In the process of cleaning up the folder/file structure on a project I inherited, I'm running into a problem with organizing the required external libraries. I want to keep them in their own .\dll\ folder, but they're not being copied to the build directory properly. They should be in the root build directory, but they're being moved to a subfolder instead.
My .csproj file contains the following xml:
<Project>
<ItemGroup>
<None Include="dlls\libraryA.dll">
<CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
</None>
</ItemGroup>
</Project>
Then, on build, the libraryA.dll file is copied to the bin\Debug\dll\ folder, but I want it in the bin\Debug\ folder.
I tried this and msbuild always wants to copy the files using their directory path, but there is a workaround...
Edit the csproj file and after this line:
<Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
Add these lines:
<PropertyGroup>
<PrepareForRunDependsOn>$(PrepareForRunDependsOn);MyCopyFilesToOutputDirectory</PrepareForRunDependsOn>
</PropertyGroup>
<Target Name="MyCopyFilesToOutputDirectory">
<Copy SourceFiles="#(None)" DestinationFolder="$(OutDir)" />
</Target>
The copy of the output files happens in the PrepareForRun target. This adds your own target to the list of targets that are executed as part of PrepareForRun.
This example copies all items in the None item group. You could create your own item group (e.g. MyFiles) and do the copy on that item group if you have other "None" files you don't want copied. When I tried this I had to change the item group name by editing the csproj file directly. Visual Studio did not allow me to set the item group of a file from the UI, but after I edited the csproj and changed it, Visual Studio displayed my custom item group name correctly.
If you only want to change it for one file, it may be easier to use the property:
<None Include="dlls\libraryA.dll">
<Link>%(Filename)%(Extension)</Link>
<CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
</None>
Including content files in .csproj that are outside the project cone
This approach works
If you need to force copy of a specific file/nuget package into an asp.net core project (2.2), add at the end of your csproj :
<!-- Force copy MathNet because we need it in compilation -->
<Target Name="EnsureNuGetPackageBuildImports" BeforeTargets="Build">
<PropertyGroup>
<ErrorText>This project references NuGet package(s) that are missing on this computer. The missing file is {0}.</ErrorText>
</PropertyGroup>
<Error Condition="!Exists('..\packages\MathNet.Numerics.4.8.1\lib\netstandard2.0\MathNet.Numerics.dll')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\packages\MathNet.Numerics.4.8.1\lib\netstandard2.0\MathNet.Numerics.dll'))" />
</Target>
<ItemGroup>
<ContentWithTargetPath Include="..\packages\MathNet.Numerics.4.8.1\lib\netstandard2.0\MathNet.Numerics.dll">
<CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
<TargetPath>MathNet.Numerics.dll</TargetPath>
</ContentWithTargetPath>
</ItemGroup>
In SDK-style csproj you can write something like:
<Target Name="CopyFilesTargetName" AfterTargets="Build">
<Copy SourceFiles="$(OutDir)\dlls\Some.dll;$(OutDir)\dlls\SomeOther.dll" DestinationFolder="$(OutDir)" />
</Target>
You can also use <Move instead of <Copy to move files

How can I change AssemblyProduct, AssemblyTitle using MSBuild?

I have an MSBuild script which compiles my existing solution but I'd like to change some properties of one of the projects within the solution at compile-time, including but not limited to AssemblyProduct and AssemblyTitle.
Here's a snippet of my build script:
<Target Name="Compile" >
<MSBuild Projects="..\MySolution.sln"
Properties="Configuration=MyReleaseConfig;Platform=x86" />
</Target>
I've got one main executable and several DLLs that are compiled. I am aware of the MSBuild Extension Pack and I suspect it might help me to get to where I need to be, although I'm not sure how to proceed.
Can I selectively change AssemblyInfo properties at build time?
You're on the right track with the MSBuild Extension Pack.
I find the easiest way to conditionally generate the assembly details at build time is to add an "AssemblyVersion" target directly to my .csproj file(s) that require an updated AssemblyInfo file. You can add the target directly to each csproj file that requires an updated AssemblyInfo file, or as I prefer to do it, create a custom targets file with the AssemblyVersion target and have each csproj file include your custom targets file.
Either way you likely want to use the MSBuild Extension Pack or the MSBuild Community Tasks to use their respective AssemblyInfo task.
Here's some code from our build scripts:
<!-- Import the AssemblyInfo task -->
<Import Project="$(MSBuildCommunityTasksPath)\MSBuild.Community.Tasks.Targets"/>
<!-- Overriding the Microsoft.CSharp.targets target dependency chain -->
<!-- Call our custom AssemblyVersion target before build, even from VS -->
<PropertyGroup>
<BuildDependsOn>
AssemblyVersion;
$(BuildDependsOn)
</BuildDependsOn>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<AssemblyVersionFiles Include="$(MSBuildProjectDirectory)\Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs"/>
</ItemGroup>
<Target Name="AssemblyVersion"
Inputs="#(AssemblyVersionFiles)"
Outputs="UpdatedAssemblyVersionFiles">
<Attrib Files="%(AssemblyVersionFiles.FullPath)"
Normal="true"/>
<AssemblyInfo
CodeLanguage="CS"
OutputFile="%(AssemblyVersionFiles.FullPath)"
AssemblyCompany="$(CompanyName)"
AssemblyCopyright="Copyright $(CompanyName), All rights reserved."
AssemblyVersion="$(Version)"
AssemblyFileVersion="$(Version)">
<Output TaskParameter="OutputFile"
ItemName="UpdatedAssemblyVersionFiles"/>
</AssemblyInfo>
</Target>
Sneal's answer was very helpful, but I'd like to show what I actually ended up doing. Instead of editing csproj files (there are several) I instead added tasks to my build script. Here's a snippet:
<PropertyGroup>
<ProductName>MyApp</ProductName>
<CompanyName>MyCompany</CompanyName>
<Major>1</Major>
<Minor>0</Minor>
<Build>0</Build>
<Revision>0</Revision>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<AssemblyVersionFiles Include="..\MyMainProject\Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs"/>
</ItemGroup>
<Target Name="AssemblyVersionMAIN" Inputs="#(AssemblyVersionFiles)" Outputs="UpdatedAssemblyVersionFiles">
<Attrib Files="%(AssemblyVersionFiles.FullPath)" Normal="true"/>
<AssemblyInfo
CodeLanguage="CS"
OutputFile="%(AssemblyVersionFiles.FullPath)"
AssemblyProduct="$(ProductName)"
AssemblyTitle="$(ProductName)"
AssemblyCompany="$(CompanyName)"
AssemblyCopyright="© $(CompanyName) 2010"
AssemblyVersion="$(Major).$(Minor).$(Build).$(Revision)"
AssemblyFileVersion="$(Major).$(Minor).$(Build).$(Revision)"
AssemblyInformationalVersion="$(Major).$(Minor).$(Build).$(Revision)">
<Output TaskParameter="OutputFile" ItemName="UpdatedAssemblyVersionFiles"/>
</AssemblyInfo>
</Target>
<Target Name="Compile" DependsOnTargets="AssemblyVersionMAIN">
<MSBuild Projects="..\MySolution.sln"
Properties="Configuration=Release;Platform=x86;Optimize=true" />
</Target>
Then, I can override my variables from the command line, or a batch script, like so:
set MAJ=1
set MIN=2
set BLD=3
set REV=4
msbuild buildScript.xml /t:Compile /p:Major=%MAJ% /p:Minor=%MIN% /p:Build=%BLD% /p:Revision=%REV%
<Target Name="SetVersion">
<ItemGroup>
<AssemblyInfoFiles Include="$(TargetDir)\**\AssemblyInfo.cs"/>
</ItemGroup>
<Message Text="change the Version number for:"/>
<Message Text="%(AssemblyInfoFiles.FullPath)"/>
<MSbuild.ExtensionPack.Framework.AssemblyInfo
AssemblyInfoFiles="#(AssemblyInfoFiles)"
AssemblyTitle="newTitle"
AssemblyMajorVersion="2"
AssemblyMinorVersion="0"/>
</Target>