Automate Delphi 2010 project build with MSBuild

Question

I'm looking to compile my Delphi 2010 project using MSBuild, but something isn't right, I just couldn't make MSBuild to compile my project.

I tried this command line:

"C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\msbuild.exe" "C:\MyProject\Myapp.dproj" /t:Release

and this:

"C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\msbuild.exe" "C:\MyProject\Myapp.dproj" /p:Configuration=Release /t:Release

But MSBuild won't recognize my build configuration!

I also changed [ rsvars.bat ] but it didn't work!

@SET BDS=C:\Program Files (x86)\Embarcadero\RAD Studio\7.0
@SET BDSCOMMONDIR=C:\Users\Public\Documents\RAD Studio\7.0
@SET FrameworkDir=C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319
@SET FrameworkVersion=v4.0.30319
@SET FrameworkSDKDir=
@SET PATH=%FrameworkDir%;%FrameworkSDKDir%;%PATH%
@SET LANGDIR=EN

The MSBuild error is:

C:\MyProject\Myapp.dproj : error MSB4057: The target "Release" does
not exist in the project.

Any help to get me build my app with MSBuild would be greatly appreciated.

(Yes, I'm fully aware of tools like FinalBuilder, I just want to learn how to do this with MSBuild)

Thanks!

Thank you, OK (1) I changed rsvars.bat back (but still can't compile :(), (2) DOS doesn't recognize msbuild without full path. — TheDude
– TheDude, Commented Feb 17, 2012 at 19:39
If you run the rsvars.bat file before running msbuild the windows console (which is not the same as DOS, as a side note) will recognize a plain call to 'msbuild.exe' as rsvars.bat modifies the PATH variable (see line 6). You can also permanently edit the environment variables - that way you don't have to run rsvars.bat every time. — Chris
– Chris, Commented Feb 17, 2012 at 19:41
2. It certainly does recognise msbuild, if you run rsvars.bat before calling msbuild. Read the docs. They explain all of this. — David Heffernan
– David Heffernan, Commented Feb 17, 2012 at 19:44
Doh! Yes, I see now, I run the rsvars.bat (don't laugh! I was double-clicking on it before!) and now Chris's line works! — TheDude
– TheDude, Commented Feb 17, 2012 at 19:53
You need to delete the bogus file C:\Users\Admin\msbuild.exe. — David Heffernan
– David Heffernan, Commented Feb 17, 2012 at 20:25

Chris · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-17 19:31:18Z

14

You need to switch the parameters. The target parameter (/t) tells MSBuild which target to create. This can be either 'Make', 'Clean' or 'Build' (or a combination of those - seperate them with ';' in this case).

The property parameter (/p) forwards properties to the actual compiler. You can specify for example the configuration using /p:config=

So if you want to clean and then build a project using the release configuration, specify the paramters like this:

msbuild.exe "/t:Clean;Build" "/p:config=Release" Myapp.dproj

answered Feb 17, 2012 at 19:31

Chris

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4 Comments

TheDude Over a year ago

Thank you, Chris but now I'm getting this:

TheDude Over a year ago

Microsoft (R) Build Engine Version 4.0.30319.1 [Microsoft .NET Framework, Version 4.0.30319.1] Build started 2/17/2012 20:37:11 PM. Project "D:_Software\test.dproj" on node 1 (Clean;Build target(s)) . D:_Software\test.dproj : error MSB4057: The target "Clean" does no t exist in the project. Done Building Project "D:_Software\test.dproj" (Clean;Build target (s)) -- FAILED. Build FAILED. "D:_Software\test.dproj" (Clean;Build target) (1) -> D:_Software\test.dproj : error MSB4057: The target "Clean" does not exist in the project. 0 Warning(s) 1 Error(s)

Chris Over a year ago

@David Heffernan I'm using powershell, and it seperates commands by semicolons. That makes it necessary to put quotes around them. The standard console does not require this though

Lars Truijens Over a year ago

@chris alternative is to use /t twice (/t:clean /t:build) or use a back tick to escape the ; (/clean`;build)

Rafael Piccolo · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-04 20:05:24Z

1

Change /p:Configuration=Release to /p:config=Release

answered May 4, 2012 at 20:05

Rafael Piccolo

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