How can I get MSBUILD to evaluate and print the full path when given a relative path?

Question

How can I get MSBuild to evaluate and print in a task an absolute path given a relative path?

Property Group

Answer 1

In MSBuild 4.0, the easiest way is the following:

$([System.IO.Path]::GetFullPath('$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)\your\path'))

This method works even if the script is ed into another script; the path is relative to the file containing the above code.

(consolidated from Aaron's answer as well as the last part of Sayed's answer)

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In MSBuild 3.5, you can use the ConvertToAbsolutePath task:

  
    ..\..\..\Public\Server\
    c:\Program Files (x86)\Program\
  

  
    
      

    
    
  

Relevant output:

Project "P:\software\perforce1\main\XxxxxxXxxx\Xxxxx.proj" on node 0 (default targets).
  Copying "P:\software\Public\Server\" to "c:\Program Files (x86)\Program\".

A little long-winded if you ask me, but it works. This will be relative to the "original" project file, so if placed inside a file that gets ed, this won't be relative to that file.

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In MSBuild 2.0, there is an approach which doesn't resolve "..". It does however behave just like an absolute path:

    $(MSBuildProjectDirectory)\$(Source_Dir)

The $(MSBuildProjectDirectory) reserved property is always the directory of the script that contains this reference.

This will also be relative to the "original" project file, so if placed inside a file that gets ed, this won't be relative to that file.