Recompile ASP.NET web project without giving it a virtual directory

Question

In my line of work I'm often retrieving very specific versions of crusty ASP.NET web apps from their long-forgotten repositories, making minor changes and then recompiling.

A major annoyance in this process is having to create a virtual directory for every web project that I need to recompile. I don't have any problems with the process, but it's tedious and still a very manual process on .NET 1 projects.

Is there a fairly simple way to recompile the binaries of the csproj without setting up a new virtual directory?

Edit: I don't mind using command line tools, or external solutions, as long as they're fairly simple and straightforward.

Answer 1

I'm not sure there's any other way unless you can convert the project to vs 2005.

Answer 2

I ran into a similar issue when i was dealing with a web project that i needed to manage a few branches that all wanted the same virtual directory. I wrote this small app that does some switching of the virtual for you automagically.

I have added on to the app to make it more functional (supporting more than just one project at once)... and i'm sorry to say i have never update the code on the blog. This might just serve as a good starting place for you to manage your virtual directories.

I will try to get the latest code up on the blog soon and i will update this post when i do.

but in the meantime check out the source here

ps. i know this version of the code needs to be cleaned up this version was just a proof of concept.