I have written a small VB.NET simulation program that uses an XML file to configure the simulation. I want to include this file in the project build so that when the application is installed, there will be a default XML file in the required directory.
When I do the Project Publish (within VB 2010 Express), there is no option for including any extra data files in the process.
Is it possible to do this with VB 2010 Express ... or should I try some other project builder/installer.
Any pointers will be very much appreciated,
Regards,
Oliver
The option isn’t found in the publisher, it’s a property of the file itself: when you add a file to the project you can set its file properties in the property window (usually at the right-hand side of the screen, below the file browser).
There you can set its “Build Action” to “Content” and its “Copy to Output Directory” mode to “Copy if newer”.
Related
I'm in the process of updating an old solution from Visual Studio 2005 to Visual Studio 2015, and I'm trying to reproduce as much of our old kludgy behavior as we safely can to minimize the downstream effects. I'm currently running into an issue with the Website Property Pages and MSBuild.
The path here is mostly correct, except that we want the configuration used to be in the path as well. So a Debug build will go into E:\Projects\...\PrecompiledWeb\Debug\MyService and a Release build will go into E:\Projects\...\PrecompiledWeb\Release\MyService. Is this doable? Is there a variable I can insert to make that determination when building?
We're using msbuild against the containing solution file (via TeamCity if it matters, but I can replicate it without it).
Edit: I've found the Debug.AspNetCompiler.TargetPath and Release.AspNetCompiler.TargetPath paths in the solution, but if I change them to be separate, the Debug one overrides the Release one when I next open the dialog.
When MSBuild starts building the project, it takes one or several project files. This dialog takes it parameters from MSBuild project file (you can edit it either from Visual Studio, or simply in every text editor). The project should have the property, called $(Configuration). You can use it in your output variable:
<OutputPath>E:\Projects\...\PrecompiledWeb\$(Configuration)\MyService</OutputPath>
One thing you must aware of is that the property $(Configuration) must be declared before the $(OutputPath) property.
I have created a program in vb.net using Visual Studio Express 2013, and I compile it there, it works fine except the modules. It doesn't include mysql.data (which is essential to the application). How do I include these modules in the compilation? (I already tried putting the .dll in the solution explorer.)
All you need to do, is to include the file in the project by: Right-Click on solution > Add file.
Once done, set “Build Action” to “Content” and its “Copy to Output Directory” mode to “Copy if newer” from the properties window.
Go to Add Reference and Add .DLL file reference using browse option.
I am new to WiX and am trying to get my install project to build certain files to a subdirectory of the build output path. For example, if my build output path is: bin\Debug, I would like certain files to be added to a subfolder here: bin\Debug\Images.
Is this possible please?
It looks like you are using a WiX project template with Visual Studio, MSBuild and/or SharpDevelop. If so, you have several options:
Use XCOPY in the Post Build Event.
flexible
somewhat easy to find in your project (on one of the project designer tabs)
not integrated well with the build system
Add the folder and files to your project folder, include them in your project and set the Copy to Output Directory on each file. Note: you can't set that property on a folder. The copying will preserve the folder structure but you have set the property on each file you want copied.
inflexible
very easy to find in your project (solution explorer and properties window)
Open the project file in a text editor and add MSBuild tasks such as Copy to the AfterBuild or other target. Note: To use VS to edit the project file, right click, select Unload Project, then right click and select Edit.
flexible
hard to find in your project (XML in the project file)
uses the build system
In the last case, I sometimes put a REM comment in the Post Build event to clue people into the fact that the project file has been customized.
I have a VS2010 SL4 project which uses an external Silverlight DLL. The project is localized with multiple RESX files, and the DLL is, too. I usually include external DLLs in my solutions as follows:
1) create a set of virtual folders in my solution like (say the imported DLL is named Sample.dll):
/Lib/Sample/Debug
/Lib/Sample/Release
2) create the same folders structure in the file system and copy under Debug and Release the respective versions of the DLL, so that now I find the following files:
/Lib/Sample/Debug/Sample.dll
/Lib/Sample/Release/Sample.dll
3) add to all the client projects in the solution a reference to /Lib/Sample/Debug/Sample.dll.
4) open the .csproj file of each project with the added reference, and change the Debug part of the path with $(Configuration), so that the right Debug/Release version is picked during build.
Now the question is: in my SL4 solution I can follow the same procedure for importing the language-neutral DLL. But what about its satellite resources? For instance, the French version of the imported DLL is built under subfolder fr-FR and named Sample.resources.dll. How should I include it correctly? Even If I try to manually add it in the compiled XAP under folder fr, it is ignored and the application falls back to its neutral culture...
I think I found it, here's a recap for whom may be interested:
open the .csproj file and ensure you add all your desired languages (separated by semicolons) in . For instance, if you support fr-Fr add <SupportedCultures>fr-Fr</SupportedCultures>.
(had to do this manually, I supposed 1. should be enough): once compiled, open your xap (rename it to .zip and open) and add if not present an element like <AssemblyPart Source="fr-FR/Sample.resources.dll" /> for each imported satellite with resources.
Thanks anyway!
I know that the latest book out on MSBuild says this is not possible, but I am sure I have seen a property that points to the current file.
Does anyone know a way to find the current file? (ie When the main MSBuild file imports a secondary file. What is the path to the secondary file from inside that file.)
I am trying to register my file in HKEY_LOCALMACHINE\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\8.0\MSBuild\SafeImports, but the path to the file is not constant on each of my coworkers computers and it is imported from several different projects so doing a hard coded relative path is not a good idea either.
If there is a way to get the current working directory that will work too (the working directory switches with each import and I think I could save it off)
There is not a reliable means to identify the "current file". When MSBuild processes a file it can import several other files, the end result is a single in memory complete representation of the file. When the targets are executing they do not know which file they were declared in.
This is why reusable build scripts must be "parameterized" to accept the location to known relative locations. For example if you have a dependency on the location where your folder for 3rd party references are located, the build script which is driving the process must declare that property for you.
MSBuild 4.0 Only
If you are using MSBuild 4.0, i.e. Visual Studio 2010/.NET 4.0, (which can target .NET 2.0/3.0/3.5) as well. Then you now have these properties which can be used for this specific purpose:
MSBuildThisFile
MSBuildThisFileDirectory
MSBuildThisFileDirectoryNoRoot
Sayed Ibrahim Hashimi
My Book: Inside the Microsoft Build Engine : Using MSBuild and Team Foundation Build
In 4.0+ you can use properties like $(MSBuildThisFile) to do exactly this. See here