Web.config is not transformed when debugging code

Question

I have a main Web.config file, and under that there is a Web.Test.config, Web.Development.Config etc.

When I preview the transformation via SlowCheetah on the Test config, it appears to transform the values correctly.

When I switch my build environment from Development to Testing and try to debug the application, the application runs under whatever values are in the main Web.config file (i.e. it is not transforming anything).

How do I make the build environment pick the correct config when debugging rather than just always using the base Web.config file? Is this possible?

Answer 1

You can transform Web.config on build. Add this target to *.csproj file:

<Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath32)\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v$(VisualStudioVersion)\WebApplications\Microsoft.WebApplication.targets" />
<Target Name="BeforeBuild">
    <TransformXml 
        Source="Web.Base.config" 
        Transform="Web.$(Configuration).config" 
        Destination="Web.config" />
</Target>

Keep the origin configuration in Web.Base.config. It's enough to enable transformation and it works for any XML config file. SlowCheetah is no longer needed at all.

To avoid unwanted transform on publish, use this (and check the comments and the link below for more details):

From a reminder in the comments I realized that I also have a problem with Visual Studio transforming the XML twice, when Publishing a project. The solution to this is to add a Condition to the Target-tag like this:

<Target Name="BeforeBuild" Condition="'$(PublishProfileName)' == '' And '$(WebPublishProfileFile)' == ''">

http://sebnilsson.com/a5410281/asp-net-transform-web-config-with-debug-release-on-build/