Missing dll when trying to compile in two different versions of the framework in one build command

Question

I have the following proj file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
    <Platform Condition=" '$(Platform)' == '' ">AnyCPU</Platform>
    <ProductVersion>8.0.30703</ProductVersion>
    <SchemaVersion>2.0</SchemaVersion>
    <ProjectGuid>{4B942FFC-22E5-486B-A3D7-D5EDFFF016F8}</ProjectGuid>
    <OutputType>Library</OutputType>
    <AppDesignerFolder>Properties</AppDesignerFolder>
    <RootNamespace>Args</RootNamespace>
    <AssemblyName>Args</AssemblyName>
    <TargetFrameworkVersion>v4.0</TargetFrameworkVersion>
    <FileAlignment>512</FileAlignment>
    <SccProjectName>Svn</SccProjectName>
    <SccLocalPath>Svn</SccLocalPath>
    <SccAuxPath>Svn</SccAuxPath>
    <SccProvider>SubversionScc</SccProvider>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
    <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
    <DebugType>full</DebugType>
    <Optimize>false</Optimize>
    <OutputPath>bin\Debug\</OutputPath>
    <DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
    <ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
    <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU'">
    <DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
    <Optimize>true</Optimize>
    <OutputPath>bin\Release\</OutputPath>
    <DefineConstants>TRACE</DefineConstants>
    <ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
    <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
    <Framework>NET40</Framework>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release35|AnyCPU'">
    <TargetFrameworkVersion>v3.5</TargetFrameworkVersion>
    <DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
    <Optimize>true</Optimize>
    <OutputPath>bin\Release3.5\</OutputPath>
    <DefineConstants>TRACE</DefineConstants>
    <ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
    <WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Compile Include="Args.cs" />
    <Compile Include="ArgumentDefinition.cs" />
    <Compile Include="ArgumentParser.cs" />
    <Compile Include="DefaultModelBinder.cs" />
    <Compile Include="IArgumentParser.cs" />
    <Compile Include="IModelBinder.cs" />
    <Compile Include="InternalExtenstions.cs" />
    <Compile Include="ModelBinders.cs" />
    <Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs" />
    <Compile Include="Properties\Resources.Designer.cs">
      <AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
      <DesignTime>True</DesignTime>
      <DependentUpon>Resources.resx</DependentUpon>
    </Compile>
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <EmbeddedResource Include="Properties\Resources.resx">
      <Generator>ResXFileCodeGenerator</Generator>
      <LastGenOutput>Resources.Designer.cs</LastGenOutput>
    </EmbeddedResource>
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Reference Include="System" />
    <Reference Include="System.Core" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
  <!-- To modify your build process, add your task inside one of the targets below and uncomment it. 
       Other similar extension points exist, see Microsoft.Common.targets.
  <Target Name="BeforeBuild">
  </Target>-->
  <Target Name="AfterBuild">
    <MSBuild Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU'"
     Projects="$(MSBuildProjectFile)"    
     Properties="Configuration=Release35" />
  </Target>
</Project>

This is my expected result when I compile the project in Release|AnyCPU:

The dll and pdb file for the project to be located in the bin\Release directory, compiled against the 4.0 framework.
The dll and pdb file for the project to be located in the bin\Release3.5 directory, compiled against the 3.5 framework.

I get this result when I Build the project; however, when I Rebuild the project, the same is true with the exception that the dll in the bin\Release directory is missing. The other 3 files (pdb in Release and dll and pdb in Release3.5) are still there and have the correct modified date.

Any help would greatly appreciated.

Edit: After some help, it looks like it works fine when I run MSBuild from the command line, but when I am running the build through Visual Studio, that is when I get the problem I described above.

Edit2: Verbose output from Visual Studio with Rebuild command in release mode. I was only able to post "Normal" output, and not "Detailed" or "Diagnostics" due to the length. I did look through those, and I didn't see any steps for deleting Args.dll from the regular release directory AFTER it had been compiled and copied from obj to bin (there was a delete step before the compile, but I would expect that).

------ Rebuild All started: Project: Args, Configuration: Release Any CPU ------
Build started 2/15/2011 8:23:57 AM.
CoreClean:
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\bin\Release\Args.dll".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\bin\Release\Args.pdb".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\obj\Release\Args.Properties.Resources.resources".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\obj\Release\GenerateResource.read.1.tlog".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\obj\Release\GenerateResource.write.1.tlog".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\obj\Release\Args.dll".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\obj\Release\Args.pdb".
CoreResGen:
  "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\bin\NETFX 4.0 Tools\resgen.exe" /useSourcePath /r:"C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.0\mscorlib.dll" /r:"C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.0\System.Core.dll" /r:"C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.0\System.dll" /compile Properties\Resources.resx,obj\Release\Args.Properties.Resources.resources
  Processing resource file "Properties\Resources.resx" into "obj\Release\Args.Properties.Resources.resources".
GenerateTargetFrameworkMonikerAttribute:
Skipping target "GenerateTargetFrameworkMonikerAttribute" because all output files are up-to-date with respect to the input files.
CoreCompile:
  C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Csc.exe /noconfig /nowarn:1701,1702 /nostdlib+ /errorreport:prompt /warn:4 /define:TRACE /reference:"C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.0\mscorlib.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.0\System.Core.dll" /reference:"C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.0\System.dll" /debug:pdbonly /filealign:512 /optimize+ /out:obj\Release\Args.dll /resource:obj\Release\Args.Properties.Resources.resources /target:library Args.cs ArgumentDefinition.cs ArgumentParser.cs Configuration.cs IInitializeModelBindingStrategy.cs ModelBindingStrategy.cs DefaultModelBinder.cs IArgsTypeConverter.cs IArgumentParser.cs IModelBinder.cs InternalExtenstions.cs InvalidArgsFormatException.cs InvalidModelDefinitionException.cs LambdaArgsTypeConverter.cs ModelBinders.cs Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs Properties\Resources.Designer.cs "C:\Users\Brian\AppData\Local\Temp\.NETFramework,Version=v4.0.AssemblyAttributes.cs"
CopyFilesToOutputDirectory:
  Copying file from "obj\Release\Args.dll" to "bin\Release\Args.dll".
  Args -> C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\bin\Release\Args.dll
  Copying file from "obj\Release\Args.pdb" to "bin\Release\Args.pdb".
CoreClean:
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\bin\Release3.5\Args.dll".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\bin\Release3.5\Args.pdb".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\obj\Release35\Args.Properties.Resources.resources".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\obj\Release35\ResGen.read.1.tlog".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\obj\Release35\ResGen.write.1.tlog".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\obj\Release35\Args.dll".
  Deleting file "C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\obj\Release35\Args.pdb".
CoreResGen:
  C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\bin\NETFX 4.0 Tools\x64\Tracker.exe @"C:\Users\Brian\AppData\Local\Temp\e35fa3c4055b4fd18515148e01c79912.tmp"  /c "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\Bin\ResGen.exe" /useSourcePath /r:C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\mscorlib.dll /r:"C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\v3.5\System.Core.dll" /r:C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\System.dll /compile Properties\Resources.resx,obj\Release35\Args.Properties.Resources.resources 
CoreCompile:
  C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Csc.exe /noconfig /nowarn:1701,1702 /nostdlib+ /errorreport:prompt /warn:4 /define:TRACE /reference:C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\mscorlib.dll /reference:"C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\v3.5\System.Core.dll" /reference:C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\System.dll /debug:pdbonly /filealign:512 /optimize+ /out:obj\Release35\Args.dll /resource:obj\Release35\Args.Properties.Resources.resources /target:library Args.cs ArgumentDefinition.cs ArgumentParser.cs Configuration.cs IInitializeModelBindingStrategy.cs ModelBindingStrategy.cs DefaultModelBinder.cs IArgsTypeConverter.cs IArgumentParser.cs IModelBinder.cs InternalExtenstions.cs InvalidArgsFormatException.cs InvalidModelDefinitionException.cs LambdaArgsTypeConverter.cs ModelBinders.cs Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs Properties\Resources.Designer.cs
CopyFilesToOutputDirectory:
  Copying file from "obj\Release35\Args.dll" to "bin\Release3.5\Args.dll".
  Args -> C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Args\Args\bin\Release3.5\Args.dll
  Copying file from "obj\Release35\Args.pdb" to "bin\Release3.5\Args.pdb".

Build succeeded.

Time Elapsed 00:00:00.98
========== Rebuild All: 1 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 skipped ==========

Can you run Rebuild in VS in verbose mode and post the log? See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1211841/how-can-i-make-visual-studios-build-be-very-verbose — Sergio Rykov, Feb 15 '11 at 07:27
Updated with information requested from @Sergio, but could only post a certain level of detail (can't post full detail to do question length restriction). — Brian Ball, Feb 15 '11 at 13:27
The log shows that everething is OK. There could be the situation when VS changes the project in memory and uses additional custom actions. And diagnostic log is required to identify the reason. Can you send on my mail zipped solution and diagnostic log? "ry_s at mail.ru" — Sergio Rykov, Feb 15 '11 at 13:44

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 16 '11 at 21:33

3

Why

<TargetFrameworkVersion>v4.0</TargetFrameworkVersion>

is under main PropertyGroup and not just under conditions <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' "> and <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU'"> ?

Hmmm... What happens if you add a command like

<Exec Command="attrib +r $(TargetPath)"/>

to AfterBuild, PreBuildEvent or BeforeBuild ? (Where TargetPath should be the dll file...)

answered Feb 16 '11 at 21:33

Tuomas Hietanen

4,650
2
35
43

I moved the TargetFrameworkVersion, but it didn't seem to have any impact. I went the Exec route (in the AfterBuild step). Used some variables to target the right folder/dll and after the "sub" build was done, I ran another command remove the read-only flag and it seems to work great. A bit of a hack, but I'm assuming the source of this issue is Visual Studio being "helpful", so I don't mind countering a hack with another hack. Thanks! – Brian Ball Feb 17 '11 at 02:38

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 20 '20 at 09:12

Couldn't reproduce your issue. I used both MSbuild.exe from framework 3.5 and 4.0 in mode

MSbuild.exe yourproject.csproj /p:Configuration=Release /t:Build
MSbuild.exe yourproject.csproj /p:Configuration=Release /t:Rebuild

The only thing I can recommend is to call in verbose mode with flag /v:diag.

And try disable calling AfterBuild target.

EDIT: Do you really need to compile both versions in IDE?

If not I can recommend to disable building inside IDE and leave it to the build script:

  <Target Name="AfterBuild"
          Condition="'$(BuildingInsideVisualStudio)'!='true'" >
    <MSBuild Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU'"
     Projects="$(MSBuildProjectFile)"    
     Targets="Clean;Build"
     Properties="Configuration=Release35" />
  </Target>

EDIT: Try ProcMon with filter "Process Name is devenv.exe" and see file IO activity for bin\Release\Args.dll during Rebuild.

Try search diagnostic output in VS for bin\Release\Args.dll. You will see every move/rename/delete action with that file.

Diagnostic log shows that everything should be OK:

Task "Copy"
  Copying file from "obj\Release\Args.dll" to "bin\Release\Args.dll".
Done executing task "Copy".
Task "Message"
  Args -> C:\Users\Brian\Documents\Visual Studio     2010\Projects\Args\Args\bin\Release\Args.dll
Done executing task "Message".

The log shows that there is no external interference from other tools. Even with full data I couldn't reproduce your issue.

To build both configurations from VS I can suggest to create additional Targets file in the Args directory named BuildArgs.csproj and add it to VS sln:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" DefaultTargets="Build"     xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
    <Platform Condition=" '$(Platform)' == '' ">AnyCPU</Platform>
    <BuildingProject>$(MSBuildProjectDirectory)\Args.csproj</BuildingProject>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <ItemGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU'">
     <BuildConfigurations Include="Release">
        <Visible>False</Visible>
     </BuildConfigurations>    
     <BuildConfigurations Include="Release35">
        <Visible>False</Visible>
     </BuildConfigurations>
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release35|AnyCPU'">
     <BuildConfigurations Include="Release35">
        <Visible>False</Visible>
     </BuildConfigurations>
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU'">
     <BuildConfigurations Include="Debug">
        <Visible>False</Visible>
     </BuildConfigurations>    
  </ItemGroup>

  <Target Name="Build"
          Condition="'@(BuildConfigurations)'!=''"
          Inputs="%(BuildConfigurations.Identity)"
          Outputs="_Non_Existent_Item_To_Batch_">
    <Message Text="Building Configuration %(BuildConfigurations.Identity)" Importance="high" />
    <MSBuild 
        Targets="Build" 
        Projects="$(BuildingProject)" 
        Properties="Configuration=%(BuildConfigurations.Identity)" />
  </Target>

  <Target Name="Rebuild"
          Condition="'@(BuildConfigurations)'!=''"
          Inputs="%(BuildConfigurations.Identity)"
          Outputs="_Non_Existent_Item_To_Batch_">
    <Message Text="Rebuilding Configuration %(BuildConfigurations.Identity)" Importance="high" />
    <MSBuild 
        Targets="Rebuild" 
        Projects="$(BuildingProject)" 
        Properties="Configuration=%(BuildConfigurations.Identity)" />
  </Target>

  <Target Name="Clean"
          Condition="'@(BuildConfigurations)'!=''"
          Inputs="%(BuildConfigurations.Identity)"
          Outputs="_Non_Existent_Item_To_Batch_">
    <Message Text="Cleaning Configuration %(BuildConfigurations.Identity)"     Importance="high" />
    <MSBuild 
        Targets="Clean" 
        Projects="$(BuildingProject)" 
        Properties="Configuration=%(BuildConfigurations.Identity)" />
  </Target>
</Project>

It will responce on every VS build command. You can reduce it just to build only Release35 configuration when building Configuration=Release in VS. That kind of script is absolutely universal for building any project.

One piece of information I left out was that I am doing these actions through Visual Studio. One would like to think that it doesn't matter, but apparently it does. When I use MSBuild on the command line, it appears to work correctly. +1 for showing me the command line works! — Brian Ball, Feb 10 '11 at 13:39

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 10 '11 at 11:54

I'm pretty sure it's because you don't pass your target property to your AfterBuild call i.e. when you rebuild your solution in Release it does the following :

Rebuild - Release (BeforeClean, Clean, AfterClean,BeforeBuild,Build,AfterBuild)
Build - Release35

Unfortunately it's hard to get the target requested (by command line or VS). If your build does not take too much time I would recommend to always pass the target Rebuild (or Clean;Build) :

<Target Name="AfterBuild">
  <MSBuild Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU'"
   Projects="$(MSBuildProjectFile)"
   Targets="Clean;Build"
   Properties="Configuration=Release35" />
</Target>

I tried both Clean;Build and Rebuild, nothing has changed. As I commented on @Sergio answer, I was running through Visual Studio, and when I tried the build through the command-line, it appears to work fine. Between the command-line working, and "Build" through Visual Studio working, I have what I need, but I'm going to hold out for an answer that will get what I want through using ReBuild in Visual Studio, but from what I've ready, VS likes to do its own thing sometimes, so it may not be possible. — Brian Ball, Feb 10 '11 at 13:44

Missing dll when trying to compile in two different versions of the framework in one build command

3 Answers3