Include files during publish

Question

I want to include some files from different project during publish. So for that in my file :

<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<CallTarget Targets="PublishWinService" />
</Target>
<Target Name="PublishWinService">
<Copy 
      SourceFiles ="$(SolutionDir)..\References\Test\**\*"   
      DestinationFolder="$(ProjectDir)" />
</Target>

But it gives me error saying that :

Unable to copy file "C:\PrakashSourceCode\Source\Abc ..\References\Test***" to "C:\PrakashSourceCode\Source\ Abc\Abc.web*". Illegal characters in path.

Now i changed it to:

     <Copy SourceFiles="@(YourFilesToCopy)" DestinationFolder="C:\Test56\" />
        <!--DestinationFolder="%(RecursiveDir)%(Filename)%(Extension)"-->
</Target>

But during publish iam not able to see files and during build i can see files.

There are 2 dots before References directory. Did you add this dots? If yes, why 2 dots? — Furkan Ekinci, May 27 '13 at 10:43
yes, but I think it doesn't work correctly. **C:\PrakashSourceCode\Source\Lancet.Engine** is your SolutionDir and your 2 dots comes after SolutionDir. What is your files path that you want to copy? — Furkan Ekinci, May 27 '13 at 10:49
did you try SourceFiles ="$(SolutionDir)\..\References\Test\\*\*\\*.\*" — Suresh Kumar Veluswamy, May 27 '13 at 10:51
So the 2 dots will trim Lance.Engine and the now the path will be C:\PrakashSourceCode\Source\References\Test and it will copy all the file from that folder.This works even in post build events but not here why i don't know? — praks, May 27 '13 at 10:53

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered May 27 '13 at 11:16

You may try if this simple solution works for you (It will only work if you can modify and save the .prj file):

Right Click on the file(s) which you want to publish -> Properties -> Copy to Output Directory.

The default value is Do not copy. Change this to Copy always or Copy if newer.

This will ensure that the file is in the build directory. You may pick it up from there.

Include files during publish

1 Answers1