CODEWITHSUNDEEP
windowsvisual-studiocommand-linevisual-studio-2017
code_fodder
code_fodder

Reputation: 16341

visual studio 2017: open AND build solution from a command line call

In visual studio 2017 (or probably any version) I want to open a solution in the IDE and start it building from the command line. IF the solution is already open then I just want it to start building (in the IDE).

So I can open the solution like this:

devenv solution.sln

Or I can build it like this:

devenv /build solution.sln

There is also this:

devenv solution.sln /command ...

But the documentation on what "commands" there are is very difficult to find out about... The example is some user made macro, but I assume there are other built in commands? - this may help...?

But I am not sure how to:

Is there some way to do this?

My use case is to kick off the build from within IBM Rhapsody. In MSVS2012 it supported a Rhapsody addin which did these tasks... but addins have been deprecated since 2013 so I can get Rhapsody to do what I want by re-writing its make file content - the makefile will just call a batch file script which will do the commands that I am trying to do in this question - and then Rhapsody plugin done :)

Upvotes: 1

Views: 2017

Answers (2)

SubVision
SubVision

Reputation: 11

devenv solution.sln /Command "Build.RebuildSolution"

Upvotes: 1

Shadi Fayed
Shadi Fayed

Reputation: 397

Actually note that:

  1. devenv solution.sln only opens a solution in a new VS IDE instance.
  2. devenv /build solution.sln only builds projects that have changed since the last build without opening VS IDE. To build all projects in a solution, use /rebuild instead.

So, if you want to

Open a solution in the IDE and have it build straight away

you should run the two commands consecutively: 

devenv solution.sln  
devenv /rebuild solution.sln

Then at the second time use /rebuild only to avoid opening a new VS instance.

Update: you can make a .cmd or .bat file contains the following: 

tasklist /fi "imagename eq devenv.exe" /v | find /i "solution" 2>NUL
    if "%ERRORLEVEL%"=="0" goto solution_is_running
    if "%ERRORLEVEL%"=="1" goto solution_is_closed

:solution_is_running
devenv /rebuild solution.sln
goto:eof

:solution_is_closed
devenv solution.sln
devenv /rebuild solution.sln
goto:eof

Or use: 

Taskkill /IM devenv.exe /F
devenv solution.sln  
devenv /rebuild solution.sln

Upvotes: 2

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