Copy files to bundle depending on active configuration

Question

is it possible to control which files are copied to the bundle depending on the active configuration? I don't want to add another target for this, so this not an option.

The real life example is a splash video which is in fact 8mb in size and is long. Every start of the app shows this video which is annoying. I don't want to break too much code so the solution is a very short splash video, which is the candidate to be copied to the bundle when the debug configuration is active.

Yes, I could make the debug video very small so it doesn't hurt if it is shipped with the release but for the sake of learning new things I need a way to control which file is copied depending on the configuration. I suppose a Run Script would do this, but maybe there is a simple solution which I don't see.

Thanks in advance!

A good question, and if I am asked, I would say no. I am just doing this for a customer and I'd like to protect my sanity from this video so there is no real choice :) — Nick Weaver, Mar 24 '11 at 23:29
I understand your point, and it's nice question to find out. This should reduce the build time a lot after cleaning up the target too. — tia, Mar 28 '11 at 06:32

score 35 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 04 '19 at 20:51

35

I didn't find any better solution than using a Run Script. Best reference is Copy file to the App Resources directory if debug configuration is selected.

I solved my problem with this run script:

RESOURCE_PATH=$SRCROOT/ResourcesCopiedByRunScript

FILENAME_IN_BUNDLE=splashVideo.mp4

BUILD_APP_DIR=${BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR}/${FULL_PRODUCT_NAME}

if [ "$CONFIGURATION" == "Debug" ]; then
    cp "$RESOURCE_PATH/shortDebugSplashVideo.mp4" "$BUILD_APP_DIR/$FILENAME_IN_BUNDLE"
else
    cp "$RESOURCE_PATH/productionSplashVideo.mp4" "$BUILD_APP_DIR/$FILENAME_IN_BUNDLE"
fi

edited Oct 04 '19 at 20:51

jamix

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answered Apr 24 '11 at 13:10

Nick Weaver

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Does this then put the file in the "Copy Bundle Resources" place under Build Phases? I'm trying it out and not seeing my test file show up there. – Ethan Parker Apr 24 '14 at 20:13
It's been a while since I answered myself, but I assume it is not placing the file in that particular list. It will copy the file directly to the bundle. Best explored with the simulator. – Nick Weaver Apr 30 '14 at 09:34
Right. I noticed the the files are indeed included in the bundle but do not show up in the "Copy Bundle Resources" place under Build Phases. Thanks for the solution though! – Ethan Parker May 01 '14 at 17:23
My paths contained spaces, which made cp choke. Edited the code with a fix. – jamix Oct 04 '19 at 20:53

score 17 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 07 '18 at 07:15

17

The best way to do it using Exclude Source File Names under Build Settings as it shown in the image.

answered Nov 07 '18 at 07:15

Ramis

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No need of scripts, build phase, Xcode default option. – rgkobashi Dec 10 '19 at 11:01
1

Perfect, this was by far the easiest solution. No need for a script. – Daniel Jun 04 '20 at 22:24

JWWalker · Answer 3 · 2011-04-02T20:44:20.693

If you can give the two different files the same name, you can put them in the build products folders for the appropriate configuration. Then add one of them to the project, and make it a reference relative to the build product.

If you want to have the files live elsewhere, you can put symbolic links in the build products folders. But I'm not sure if it would work if the files have different names but the symlinks have the same name.

I've done this trick on Mac projects, I'm assuming it would work for iOS too.

Edit: Here's an example of something I've done: I want the debug build of my app to link against the debug build of a certain library, and I want the release build of the app to link against the release build of the library. So I put the debug library (or a symlink to it) into the Debug subfolder of the app build folder, and I put the release library into the Release subfolder of the app build folder. Then, when I add the library to the project, I specify that the reference is "relative to build product".

I'm a bit uncertain how to do what you suggested. Can you give some kind of example? — Nick Weaver, Apr 02 '11 at 19:35
@Justin: Good point, that wipes out the symlinks... actually, I have a script build phase that creates the symlinks. — JWWalker, Jun 25 '13 at 18:31

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 03 '18 at 09:25

You can replace one file to another using run script before compile step

RESOURCE_PATH=$SRCROOT/SampleProject/SupportingFiles/

LICENSE=license.txt
LICENSE_PROD=license_prod.txt

if [ "$CONFIGURATION" == "Release" ]; then
cp $RESOURCE_PATH/$LICENSE_PROD $RESOURCE_PATH/$LICENSE
fi

Copy files to bundle depending on active configuration

4 Answers4