Using MSBuild to Build Multiple Configurations

Question

I\'m trying to edit my project file to enable me to have a project that builds multiple build configs at once. I\'ve done this using a batching approach and using the MSBuil

Answer 1

It is important to realize that when you use a "MSBuild" task, a new child MSBuild process will be started. The implication of this is that any items and properties you define in the parent MSBuild process will not be automatically passed to/visible from the child MSBuild process unless you explicitely pass them via Properties attribute on MSBuild element (as in ).

To answer your question, I wrote the following self-contained example that runs a child MSBuild project for all the specified configurations:

1. First, create a directory for your MSBuild experiment (for example I used C:\temp\msbuildtest)

2. In this directory, create the first file, main.proj:

3. In the same directory, create the second file, child.proj (in your case this would be the actual C# project you're trying to build, but because I'm trying to illustrate my point, I am using a simple child project that instead of running C# compiler just prints values of properties :-) )

4. Now you can run the example. First the default, if you don't explicitly specify configurations to build:

   C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\msbuild main.proj
   > (cut the noise)
   > Build:
   >   Building configuration Debug with output path C:\temp_c\d\bin\Debug
   

   And then explicitly specified multiple configurations:

   C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\msbuild main.proj /property:Config=Debug+Release+Staging+Production
   > (cut the noise)
   > Build:
   >   Building configuration Debug with output path C:\temp_c\d\bin\Debug
   > Build:
   >   Building configuration Release with output path C:\temp_c\d\bin\Release
   > Build:
   >   Building configuration Staging with output path C:\temp_c\d\bin\Staging
   > Build:
   >   Building configuration Production with output path C:\temp_c\d\bin\Production
   

You should be able to adapt this technique to your situation.