MSBuild error while compiling ASP.NET website

Question

I get the following error when I try to compile an asp.net site using a custom build script.

error ASPCONFIG: It is an error to use a section registered as allowDefinition='MachineToApplication' beyond application level.  This error can be caused by a virtual directory not being configured as an application in IIS.

Although the description is in detail I do not understand what it means exactly. I have not configured IIS to host this website and I don't think I will be able to as I am running Vista Home Basic version. So the website cannot be built using custom scripts?Please reply as I want to test this feature.

I too was deleting the obj folder until I had a conflict with a build script which required it. Catch-22, I used the accepted answer on the following SO link to move the location of the Obj folder to C:\Temp\BUILD. You have to do it per csproj file, but it is a great solution. Here is the link: stackoverflow.com/questions/261422/… — Valamas
– Valamas, Commented Nov 17, 2011 at 5:51
possible duplicate of allowDefinition='MachineToApplication' msbuild error — Flexo - Save the data dump
– Flexo - Save the data dump ♦, Commented Nov 17, 2011 at 10:31

Jason Wicker · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-20 03:27:41Z

48

I had this SAME EXACT problem and finally discovered a rogue Web.config was placed in my obj folder ... do yourself a favor and do a search in all the sub-directories for a web.config file. I deleted it and all was back to normal.

answered Jan 20, 2010 at 3:27

Jason Wicker

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9 Comments

Michael Wells Over a year ago

Thanks, that did the solved the problem for me.I had the same problem. I deleted the object\debug folder and it worked again.

Kyle Rosendo Over a year ago

+1 - Nice, thanks. Another note, if you create the backup folder within your project when converting, you will need to remove/rename the web.config there too.

Patricia Over a year ago

thanks! this was driving me crazy for hours. my stray web.config was in the /views folder. sigh

Daniel O Over a year ago

@Patricia that's normal for ASP.NET MVC - it's more likely a web.config in the obj folder created by doing a Publish

Jim Raden Over a year ago

@DanielO -- I tried to upvote your comment, as it is precisely the problem I had. Publish was indeed the source of the problem.

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Daniel O · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-14 14:26:15Z

15

The rogue web.config file in the obj folder is most likely to be caused when you do a Publish Web Site. So just clean it up after you've done the publish.

answered Jan 14, 2012 at 14:26

Daniel O

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Nekresh · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-01 08:11:08Z

5

if this happens after the virtual-directory is already created do the following:

right-click on web.config
- properties
  - Build Action: Content
  - Copy to Output directory: Do not copy
if transformed (apply to all configurations)
- properties
  - Build Action: None
  - Copy to Output directory: Do not copy

edited Sep 1, 2015 at 8:11

Nekresh

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answered May 1, 2015 at 18:43

mg3

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2 Comments

Nekresh Over a year ago

The first option worked fine for me, even though I have web config transformations.

FrankyBoy Over a year ago

Man, this issue tripped me up for so long. This was the issue!

Karmic Coder · Accepted Answer · 2009-02-06 18:57:59Z

4

It is likely that your web.config file is placed in a directory that is not the root of the application. On most versions of IIS, you can convert any folder on your web site to an application root:

Open IIS and navigate to the appropriate folder
Right-click on the folder, select properties
Under Application Settings, and beside Application name, click Create
Apply and close

If this does not fix your problem, there may be another configuration error, either with IIS or your application.

answered Feb 6, 2009 at 18:57

Karmic Coder

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Comments

Dave Harding · Accepted Answer · 2009-02-06 19:00:43Z

0

In IIS, go to the folder that the app runs under, right click it, go to properties. On the Directory tab, look for "Application settings". Click the create button.

answered Feb 6, 2009 at 19:00

Dave Harding

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