MSBuild Change config value based on debug / release build - msbuild

Question

In my app.config, I have
<endpoint address="http://debug.example.com/Endpoint.asmx" stuff />
How can I modify the build tasks so that when I do a release build it changes the endpoint address to
<endpoint address="http://live.example.com/Endpoint.asmx" stuff />

Answer 1

If your debug/release configurations are named Debug and Release respectively, this should do it:
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)' == 'Debug'">
<endpoint address="http://debug.example.com/Endpoint.asmx" stuff />
<!-- other things depending on Debug Configuration can go here -->
</PropertGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)' == 'Release'">
<endpoint address="http://live.example.com/Endpoint.asmx" stuff />
</PropertGroup>

Answer 2

If you use the MSBuild extension pack the Xml task will allow you to change an entry in an XML file. Import the custom tasks in your MSBuild file:
<Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\ExtensionPack\MSBuild.ExtensionPack.tasks" />
and update an XML value:
<PropertyGroup>
<OldValue>http://debug.example.com/Endpoint.asmx</OldValue>
<NewValue>http://live.example.com/Endpoint.asmx</NewValue>
</PropertyGroup>
<MSBuild.ExtensionPack.Xml.XmlFile
TaskAction="UpdateAttribute"
File="app.config"
XPath="/configuration/system.serviceModel/client/endpoint[#address='$(OldValue)']"
Key="address"
Value="$(NewValue)"
/>
Substitute your XPath and only execute this during a release build using Condition .

Answer 3

If you're using VS 2012 or above, you can add a config transform to replace the values on build. If you're using 2010 this is available for web.config automatically, but for app.configs you'll need to do a slight hack on your *.csproj file outlined here:
http://www.andrewdenhertog.com/msbuild/setting-web-app-settings-configuration-transforms-ducks-nuts-msbuild-part-8/