Renaming project output in visual studio using post build event generates error

Question

I want to rename the project exe output in visual studio 2010. Following the post Rename project output before being included into Setup project I always get the error The command rename ... exited with code 1

My command is:

rename $(TargetDir)$(TargetFileName) newname.exe

score 13 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 25 '16 at 14:32

13

Here is a correct command for the Post-build event

rename "$(TargetPath)" "newname.exe"

answered Jul 25 '16 at 14:32

GenZiy

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2

The second argument can not be a path. Took me a long time to figure it out. – Kobbe Jun 28 '19 at 13:19

score 9 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 04 '12 at 13:50

9

I want to rename the project exe output in visual studio 2010.

I suggest you go into the project settings and change the output assembly name then. That's going to be far simpler and more reliable than using a post-build event.

It's possible that the fact that your current post-build command has an unmatched double-quote is the problem, but I wouldn't try to fix it - I'd just avoid it.

answered Dec 04 '12 at 13:50

Jon Skeet

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For me, this is still coming out as setup.exe despite my assembly name being something else – Ben Jul 17 '13 at 18:52
@Webnet: Are you should you're not building an installer binary? I've never seen anything automatically create a setup.exe file other than for installers... – Jon Skeet Jul 17 '13 at 19:00
I don't know... This is my first C# app, so maybe I am? How can I check and/or change it so it comes out as `MyApp.exe`? – Ben Jul 17 '13 at 19:05
1

@Webnet: Well what project type have you got? It feels like you should probably start a new question with all the relevant information, to be honest - it's not ideal for a comment thread here. – Jon Skeet Jul 17 '13 at 19:08

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 21 '14 at 18:34

I use the Post-Build to execute a Batch file and/or PowerShell script to do whatever you want:

Post-Build cmd:

if "$(ConfigurationName)" == "Release" start "Version" /D "$(SolutionDir)" /WAIT Version.bat

Version.bat:

@powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -File "%~dp0Version.ps1"

IF ERRORLEVEL 1 (
    echo ERROR
    pause
) ELSE (echo OK)

Version.ps1:

# A lot of possibilities here
$scriptDirectory =  [System.IO.Path]::GetDirectoryName($MyInvocation.MyCommand.Definition)

Renaming project output in visual studio using post build event generates error

3 Answers3