Determine assembly version during a post-build event

Question

Let\'s say I wanted to create a static text file which ships with each release. I want the file to be updated with the version number of the release (as specified in A

Answer 1

From that what I understand...

You need a generator for post build events.

1. Step: Writing a Generator

/*
* Author: Amen RA
* # Timestamp: 2013.01.24_02:08:03-UTC-ANKH
* Licence: General Public License
*/
using System;
using System.IO;

namespace AppCast
{
    class Program
    {
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // We are using two parameters.

            // The first one is the path of a build exe, i.e.: C:\pathto\nin\release\myapp.exe
            string exePath = args[0];

            // The second one is for a file we are going to generate with that information
            string castPath = args[1];

            // Now we use the methods below
            WriteAppCastFile(castPath, VersionInfo(exePath));
        }


        public static string VersionInfo(string filePath)
        {
            System.Diagnostics.FileVersionInfo myFileVersionInfo = System.Diagnostics.FileVersionInfo.GetVersionInfo(filePath);
            return myFileVersionInfo.FileVersion;
        }


        public static void WriteAppCastFile(string castPath, string exeVersion)
        {
            TextWriter tw = new StreamWriter(castPath);
            tw.WriteLine(@"");
            tw.WriteLine(@"");
            tw.WriteLine(@"");
            tw.WriteLine(@"" + exeVersion + "");
            tw.WriteLine(@"http://www.example.com/pathto/updates/MyApp.exe");
            tw.WriteLine(@"http://www.example.com/pathto/updates/MyApp_release_notes.html");
            tw.WriteLine(@"");
            tw.Close();
        }
    }
}

2. Step: Using it as a post build command in our IDE

After the application is running satisfyingly for you:

In your development IDE, use the following command line for post build events.

C:\Projects\pathto\bin\Release\AppCast.exe "C:\Projects\pathto\bin\Release\MyApp.exe" "c:\pathto\www.example.com\root\pathto\updates\AppCast.xml"