I have a error building a .vdproj on msbuild with nant

Question

I'm getting used to using nant for build releases. But I have started to use asp.net MVC, and i choice make the setup for installation with a .vdproj .

But, when I call the:

< exec program="${dotnet.dir}/msbuild.exe" commandline='"./Wum.sln" /v:q /nologo /p:Configuration=Release' />

in nant, my result is:

[exec] D:\My Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\Wum\Wum.sln : warning MS
B4078: The project file "Wum.Setup\Wum.Setup.vdproj" is not supported by MSBuild
and cannot be built.

Someone have some clue, or a solution?

If I use the devenv, I'll have a problem?

Sorption

Answer 1

MSBuild cannot build .vdproj projects. You should use Visual Studio (devenv.com) for this.

Disaster

... or move from Visual Studio .NET Setup and Deployment Project to WiX which is going to be supported in VS 2010 anyway. – Shamrao

WHY NOT MSBuild cannot build .vdproj projects ? any full reference in MSDN ? Anyways, Wix has very huge learning curve – Oocyte

@TheChairman Wix has very huge learning curve and Microsoft has Visual Studio Extensions for Installer Projects in VS 2013, VS 2015 and VS 2017 – Oocyte

Answer 2

Here is how I did this recently using devenv as msbuild will not do .vdproj files. This article really helped with updating the .vdproj file first: http://www.hanselman.com/blog/BuildingMSIFilesFromNAntAndUpdatingTheVDProjsVersionInformationAndOtherSinsOnTuesday.aspx

<target name="someTarget">
    <!-- full path to setup project and project file (MSI -> vdproj) -->
    <property name="DeploymentProjectPath" value="fullPath\proj.vdproj" />
    <!-- full path to source project and project file (EXE -> csproj) -->
    <property name="DependencyProject" value="fullPath\proj.csproj" />
    <script language="C#">
    <code>
      <![CDATA[
        public static void ScriptMain(Project project)
        {
            //Purpose of script: load the .vdproj file, replace ProductCode and PackageCode with new guids, and ProductVersion with 1.0.SnvRevisionNo., write over .vdproj file

            string setupFileName = project.Properties["DeploymentProjectPath"];
            string productVersion = string.Format("1.0.{0}", project.Properties["svn.revision"]);
            string setupFileContents;

            //read in the .vdproj file          
            using (StreamReader sr = new StreamReader(setupFileName))
            {
                setupFileContents = sr.ReadToEnd();
            }

            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(setupFileContents))
            {
                Regex expression2 = new Regex(@"(?:\""ProductCode\"" = \""8.){([\d\w-]+)}");
                Regex expression3 = new Regex(@"(?:\""PackageCode\"" = \""8.){([\d\w-]+)}");
                Regex expression4 = new Regex(@"(?:\""ProductVersion\"" = \""8.)(\d.\d.\d+)");
                setupFileContents = expression2.Replace(setupFileContents,"\"ProductCode\" = \"8:{" + Guid.NewGuid().ToString().ToUpper() + "}");
                setupFileContents = expression3.Replace(setupFileContents,"\"PackageCode\" = \"8:{" + Guid.NewGuid().ToString().ToUpper() + "}");
                setupFileContents = expression4.Replace(setupFileContents,"\"ProductVersion\" = \"8:" + productVersion);

                using (TextWriter tw = new StreamWriter(setupFileName, false))
                {
                    tw.WriteLine(setupFileContents);
                }
            }
        }
       ]]>
    </code>
    </script>

    <!-- must build the dependency first (code project), before building the MSI deployment project -->
    <exec program="Devenv.exe" commandline='"fullPath\solution.sln" /rebuild "Release" /project "${DependencyProject}" /out "fullPath\somelog.log"'/>
    <exec program="Devenv.exe" commandline='"fullPath\solution.sln" /rebuild "Release" /project "${DeploymentProjectPath}" /out "fullPath\somelog.log"'/>
</target>

Shovel

@GarrisonNeely did you tried any script like %DevEnv% "%BaseSln%" /build "%BuildConfiguration%|%BuildPlatform%" /Project "%BaseVdproj%" /Out "vs_errors.txt" ? – Oocyte

Applies too MSBuild script (*.targets) ? – Oocyte

Answer 3

FYI this is still not supported in .NET 4.0

Weaner

Answer 4

Just to expand on CRise's post - building a vdproj project using VS2010 devenv through command line doesn't work. Pre-2010 works fine I believe (see link text)

Millsaps

Looks like there are some issues, I was using 2008. Microsoft have stated "The current estimate for the hotfix is mid August." – Shovel