Reputation: 5520
If I have some files I want to copy from my project into the .\bin\debug\
folder on compilation, then it seems I have to put them into the root of the project. Putting them into a subfolder seems to copy them into the .\bin\debug\
folder in the same structure they're stored in.
Is there any way to avoid this?
Just to be clear: if I have a MyFirstConfigFile.txt
and MySecondConfigFile.txt
in a ConfigFiles
folder and I set their Copy to Output to be Copy..., then they appear in the .\bin\debug\ConfigFiles\
folder. I want them to appear in the .\bin\debug\
folder.
Upvotes: 118
Views: 162628
Reputation: 31
Looking for a solution I've tried a command "xcopy /y $(ProjectDir)yourfile $(ProjectDir)$(OutDir)" but it is not OS agnostic, so I faced problems when it executed on Linux.
I tried this instead. It is operational systems agnostic:
<ItemGroup>
<Content Include="YourFolderHere\*">
<CopyToOutputDirectory>Always</CopyToOutputDirectory>
</Content>
</ItemGroup>
Upvotes: 2
Reputation: 7822
Personally I prefer this way.
Modify the .csproj
to add
<ItemGroup>
<ContentWithTargetPath Include="ConfigFiles\MyFirstConfigFile.txt">
<CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
<TargetPath>%(Filename)%(Extension)</TargetPath>
</ContentWithTargetPath>
</ItemGroup>
or generalizing, if you want to copy all subfolders and files, you could do:
<ItemGroup>
<ContentWithTargetPath Include="ConfigFiles\**">
<CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
<TargetPath>%(RecursiveDir)\%(Filename)%(Extension)</TargetPath>
</ContentWithTargetPath>
</ItemGroup>
Upvotes: 37
Reputation: 161
copy from subfolder to subfolder
if not exist "$(ProjectDir)$(OutDir)subfolder" mkdir "$(ProjectDir)$(OutDir)subfolder"
copy "$(ProjectDir)subfolder\" "$(ProjectDir)$(OutDir)subfolder\"
Upvotes: 3
Reputation: 2096
You can also put the files or links into the root of the solution explorer and then set the files properties:
Build action = Content
and
Copy to Output Directory = Copy if newer
(for example)
For a link drag the file from the windows explorer into the solution explorer holding down the shift and control keys.
Upvotes: 49
Reputation: 67128
You could do this with a post build event. Set the files to no action on compile, then in the macro copy the files to the directory you want.
Here's a post build Macro that I think will work by copying all files in a directory called Configuration to the root build folder:
copy $(ProjectDir)Configuration\* $(ProjectDir)$(OutDir)
Upvotes: 107
Reputation: 137792
I found this question searching for "copy files into the application folder at compile time". OP seems to have this sorted already, but if you don't:
In Visual Studio right-click the file, select properties, then change the option 'copy to output' to 'always'. See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0c6xyb66.aspx
Upvotes: -1
Reputation: 21685
You can use the PostBuild event of the project. After the build is completed, you can run a DOS batch file and copy the desired files to your desired folder.
Upvotes: 0
Reputation: 10230
You want to use a Post-Build event on your project. You can specify the output there and there are macro values for frequently used things like project path, item name, etc.
Upvotes: 1
Reputation: 18013
You can use a MSBuild task on your csproj, like that.
Edit your csproj file
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<Copy SourceFiles="$(OutputPath)yourfiles" DestinationFolder="$(YourVariable)" ContinueOnError="true" />
</Target>
Upvotes: 60