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I'm building an application that has quite a few files that need to be included in the destination directory. So far, there haven't been very many files so I would simply change the settings of each file individually to Copy to Output Directory :: Copy if newer. The problem now is that I'm adding files at an exponential rate.

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Do any of you know how to make all of the files that are sub of the "Some_Directory" have the Copy to Output Directory :: Copy if newer set how I want it?

Freesnöw
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3 Answers3

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You can write your own custom Post-Build event (Select project -> Properties -> Build Events) with xcopy command. You can use $(solution) macro for your solution directory and specify relative path to your files.

Legoless
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You cam use a post-build event.

Using following posts, I made a post event that does exactly what you want:

Now, you can easily edit Post-build events, go to your project settings and go to the Compile tab, now click the Build Events and put following line in the *Post-build event command line" text box:

xcopy "$(ProjectDir)Test\*.*" "$(TargetDir)Test\\" /E /I /F /Y

See this image: post-build event

In your case you will have to change "Test" by "some_directory" and that's all.

There is one caveat, however. This copies every file every time my project builds. The folder that is being copied is over 3MB (I'm developing quite a large project). This makes debugging take quite a long time because every time I do a build it has to move all of the content over. Is there a way to make it only copy over files that have been updated since the last build? This is why I was using the Copy if newer option.

You can add the /D parameter (you can look that up with xcopy /? in your command prompt).

/D:m-d-y     Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
             If no date is given, copies only those files whose
             source time is newer than the destination time.
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Styxxy
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  • These links show answers that are to vague. I'm also utilizing Vb.net, not C#. I need very specific answers and in depth explanations on how to solve my particular situation. – Freesnöw Jun 08 '12 at 08:52
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    It is both .NET, really, there is not that much difference. The offered solutions are not that vague, they are pretty clear to me. I updated my post to include the solution, all ready for you. I hope you can use it. – Styxxy Jun 09 '12 at 16:47
  • Hey, that worked really well. Sorry that I'm so dumb :P. There is one caveat, however. This copies every file every time my project builds. The folder that is being copied is over 3MB (I'm developing quite a large project). This makes debugging take quite a long time because every time I do a build it has to move all of the content over. Is there a way to make it only copy over files that have been updated since the last build? This is why I was using the `Copy if newer` option. +1 for you for the help so far, though! – Freesnöw Jun 10 '12 at 18:41
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    You can add the `/D` parameter (you can look that up with `xcopy /?` in your command prompt). `/D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the specified date. If no date is given, copies only those files whose source time is newer than the destination time.` I updated the answer. – Styxxy Jun 10 '12 at 20:28
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I had the same issue, but the accepted answer didn't solve it. What worked for me was to enable deployment in Local.testsettings (under Solution Items).

ibz
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