Multiple Pre-Build Events in Visual Studio?

Question

I've followed a blog post by Scott Hanselman for managing configuration with PreBuild Events and have it working fine.

I now want to split up my configuration into a couple of different files, so need to exectue the command again before the build. The problem is the PreBuild event text all gets executed as one console command. How can I split it up as several commands?

Answer 1

You should be able to put the commands on a separate line, and then each command will be executed in sequence. Alternatively, a "cheater" way to do the same thing is as follows:

• Create a second batch file that runs the desired portion of new functionality, then create a parent batch that runs the two component batch files, and run that new batch in your pre-build event. For example: batch1.bat modifies file 1, batch2.bat modifies file 2, then batch3.bat runs both batch1.bat and batch2.bat

Answer 2

Turns out the problem is Scott's example doesn't include the call command at the start of the line. This is fine as long as you don't want to execute the .bat file multiple times with different parameters.

This:

call "$(ProjectDir)copyifnewer.bat" "$(ProjectDir)connectionStrings.config.$(ConfigurationName)" "$(ProjectDir)connectionStrings.config"
call "$(ProjectDir)copyifnewer.bat" "$(ProjectDir)appSettings.config.$(ConfigurationName)" "$(ProjectDir)appSettings.config"

worked fine for me.

Answer 3

I had similar problem and "call" worked for me. Thanks community.

Answer 4

Same here, new line doesn't work while call is working