C# why empty src folders are copied to the debug and release directory after build?

Question

We are using Visual Studio 2008 professional. We have created an entity data model in our src\systeminfo folder. Since then our release and debug folder have a empty src\systeminfo folder. we don't need them. how to stop VS to create that empty folder structure? thanks

EDIT:

current directory tree:

project\Properties
project\References
project\src
project\src\common
.
.
project\src\systeminfo
project\src\util
project\App.config
project\Settings.cs

Can you show us where this folder is in the Solution tree? – Jon Limjap May 27 '10 at 14:38 — Jon Limjap, May 27 '10 at 14:38
refer to the EDIT section please – 5YrsLaterDBA May 27 '10 at 14:44 — 5YrsLaterDBA, May 27 '10 at 14:44

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered May 27 '10 at 16:19

You'd have to dig through the msbuild .target files to find out what build rule creates this folder. You might get a hint from looking at the build log if you switch it to diagnostic. Tools + Options, Project and Solutions, Build and Run.

A more pragmatic approach would be to just delete the folders in a post build event. Like:

if exist "$(TargetDir)src\systeminfo" rmdir "$(TargetDir)src\systeminfo"
if exist "$(TargetDir)src" rmdir "$(TargetDir)src"

Even more pragmatic is to not worry about it...

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 27 '10 at 14:38

0

There is an option to 'Copy to Output Directory' on the properties window. Set it to 'Do not copy' for these folders

answered May 27 '10 at 14:38

Julius A

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checked before the question, no that option for folders – 5YrsLaterDBA May 27 '10 at 14:41
You have to select a file,NOT the folder for this option to appear. – Julius A May 27 '10 at 14:45
my issue is those empty folders – 5YrsLaterDBA May 27 '10 at 14:48
All files inside that folder are NOT TO COPY – 5YrsLaterDBA May 27 '10 at 14:49
2

I'd say try 'Clean' build and see if the empty folders were not created a long while ago. Pls check out this:http://stackoverflow.com/questions/221803/visual-studio-2008-clean-solution-option – Julius A May 27 '10 at 14:54

C# why empty src folders are copied to the debug and release directory after build?

2 Answers2