How to use YUI Compressor.Net MSBuild Task 2.3.0.0

Question

I have tried searching the web for a solution to this problem but it seems very unclear. It sounds like people are seeing this but the solutions don't seem to work for me.

I have downloaded and installed YUICompressor.NET.MSBuild 2.3.0.0 from NuGet into my project. I have created an MSBuild target file that closely resembles the example file included and exists as part of my .csproj file so I can run it in the AfterBuild step.

I am getting the following error everytime I try to build my VS project:

The "JavaScriptCompressorTask" task could not be loaded from the assembly SolutionDir\packages\YUICompressor.NET.MSBuild.2.3.0.0\lib\NET20\Yahoo.Yui.Compressor.Build.MsBuild.dll. 
Could not load file or assembly 'Yahoo.Yui.Compressor, Version=2.3.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.
Confirm that the  declaration is correct, that the assembly and all its dependencies are available, and that the task contains a public class that implements Microsoft.Build.Framework.ITask.

My folder structure is as follows:

\Solution
    \packages
        YUICompressor.NET.MSBuild.2.3.0.0\lib\NET20\
    \build
        ProjectFile.csproj

In the csproj I have:

<UsingTask TaskName="CssCompressorTask" AssemblyFile="packages\YUICompressor.NET.MSBuild.2.3.0.0\lib\NET20\Yahoo.Yui.Compressor.Build.MsBuild.dll" />
<UsingTask TaskName="JavaScriptCompressorTask" AssemblyFile="packages\YUICompressor.NET.MSBuild.2.3.0.0\lib\NET20\Yahoo.Yui.Compressor.Build.MsBuild.dll" />

<Target Name="AfterBuild">
    <ItemGroup>
        <JavaScriptFiles Include="someFile.js" />
    </ItemGroup>
    <JavaScriptCompressorTask SourceFiles="@(JavaScriptFiles)" OutputFile="build\combined.js" DeleteSourceFiles="false" CompressionType="None" ObfuscateJavaScript="false" PreserveAllSemicolons="true" />
    <JavaScriptCompressorTask SourceFiles="@(JavaScriptFiles)" OutputFile="build\combined.min.js" DeleteSourceFiles="false" CompressionType="Standard" />
</Target>

Am I missing something? Can anyone help me? Thank you.

Answer 1

Did you try to download version 2.3.0.0 directly from codeplex? Then make sure that the Yahoo.Yui.Compressor.Build.MsBuild.dll and Yahoo.Yui.Compressor.dll reside in the same directory. Like this I was able to make it work.

Answer 2

It's been a while since i've played around with the AfterBuild .. but how this works is that the the msbuild program is ran from some directory .. and therefore looks for those assembly files RELATIVE to where the msbuild is being executed from.

I'm not sure if this means the msbuild is being run from C:\program files(x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\<whatever...>

TAKE NOTE: it's the folder/path (aka execution path) where visual studio is running the msbuild command from ... NOT where msbuild exists.

So therefore, it can't find the assemblies.

Try putting in the full path to the assemblies (just to see if that works).

eg. C:\Projects\Solution\packages\YUICompressor.NET.MSBuild.2.3.0.0\lib\NET20\Yahoo.Yui.Compressor.Build.MsBuild.dll

If it's running it from the \solution\bin directory, then you're in luck! cause then you can do ..\packages\YUICompressor.NET.MSBuild.2.3.0.0\lib\NET20\Yahoo.Yui.Compressor.Build.MsBuild.dll' (the..means: from thisbindirectory, go up one level tosolutionthen down intopackagesand then down intoYUIComp`... etc.

So the answer to your question is this: Find the location Visual Studio is running the msbuild command from, during an AfterBuild. Maybe put in some code in there to say 'write to file => current path i'm in :P'