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msbuildmsbuild-task

MSBuild Delete in csproj does nothing

I try to use MSBuild to delete some files in the OutDir but it never works. I have to use an Exec instead.

  <Target Name="ResetPackages" BeforeTargets="DispatchToInnerBuilds">
    <Exec Command = "del /Q /F $(OutDir)*.extension/>
    <Delete Files="$(OutDir)*.extension" />
  </Target>

The Exec command works while Delete does nothing. Can anybody explain me why ?

Solution

  • You need to pass an ItemGroup to Delete if you want wildcards to be expanded:

    <Project>
  <Target Name="Test">
     <ItemGroup>
       <_FilesToDelete Include="$(OutDir)*.extension"/>
     </ItemGroup>
     <Delete Files="@(_FilesToDelete)"/>
  </Target>
</Project>

    (The Exec-Task runs CMD.EXE which then does the wildcard expansion.)