How to convert NAnt function "path::combine(path1, path2)" to MSBuild?

Question

I need to convert the function "path::combine(path1, path2)". Please help me if you have some idea. Thank you!

Cornall

It's true that the CombinePath Task is not listed in the summary page but only in the tree navigation under "MSBuild Task reference". – Stentor

I see where you mean. It looks like MSBuild Team added it recently in the list (the alphabetical order shows that). – Cornall

I updated my example with a workaround which should return the BasePath if an empty Path is passed to the CombinePath Task. – Stentor

Answer 1

Use the CombinePath Task:

<Project DefaultTargets="DefaultTarget" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
    <PropertyGroup>
        <MyBasePath>.\a\b</MyBasePath>
        <MySecondPath>c\d</MySecondPath>
    </PropertyGroup>

    <Target Name="Combine">
        <PropertyGroup>
            <MySecondPath Condition="$(MySecondPath)==''">.\</MySecondPath>
        </PropertyGroup>
        <CombinePath BasePath="$(MyBasePath)" Paths="$(MySecondPath)">
            <Output TaskParameter="CombinedPaths" PropertyName="CombineOutput" />
        </CombinePath>
    </Target>

    <Target Name="DefaultTarget" DependsOnTargets="Combine">
        <Message Text="Result from Combine is $(CombineOutput)" />
    </Target>

</Project>

Stentor

Thank you! It's so strange because I look for the task in MSBuild Task Reference from msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/7z253716(v=VS.90).aspx. Microsoft doesn't list <CombinePath... > there. :( – Cornall

I've tested I found that: When the second path is empty, CombinePath doesn't return the first path. So, we should note this small difference when compared with NAnt path::combine. – Cornall

Answer 2

Updating this post for newer MsBuild versions. From MSBuild 4.0 and up, you can use property functions

$([System.IO.Path]::Combine($(Path1),$(Path2)))

Colubrine