How do I specify the platform for MSBuild?

Question

I am trying to use MSBuild to build a solution with a specified target platform (I need both binaries, x86 and x64). This is how I tried it:

C:WINDOWSMicrosoft.NETFrameworkv3.5>MsBuild SolutionPathSolution.sln /t:Rebuild /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform="x86"

However the build always fails if the platform is different from "Any CPU". What am I doing wrong?

This is the while output MSBuild prints:

C:WINDOWSMicrosoft.NETFrameworkv3.5>MsBuild SolutionPathSolution.sln /t:Rebuild /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform="x86" Microsoft (R) Build Engine Version 3.5.30729.1 [Microsoft .NET Framework, Version 2.0.50727.3082] Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation 2007. All rights reserved.

Build started 1.7.2010 8:28:10. Project "SolutionPathSolution.sln" on node 0 (Rebuild targe t(s)). SolutionPathSolution.sln : error MSB4126: The specified sol ution configuration "Release|x86" is invalid. Please specify a valid solution c onfiguration using the Configuration and Platform properties (e.g. MSBuild.exe Solution.sln /p:Configuration=Debug /p:Platform="Any CPU") or leave those prope rties blank to use the default solution configuration. Done Building Project "SolutionPathSolution.sln" (Rebuild t arget(s)) -- FAILED.

Build FAILED.

"SolutionPathSolution.sln" (Rebuild target) (1) -> (ValidateSolutionConfiguration target) -> SolutionPathSolution.sln : error MSB4126: The specified s olution configuration "Release|x86" is invalid. Please specify a valid solution configuration using the Configuration and Platform properties (e.g. MSBuild.ex e Solution.sln /p:Configuration=Debug /p:Platform="Any CPU") or leave those pro perties blank to use the default solution configuration.

0 Warning(s)
1 Error(s)

Time Elapsed 00:00:00.03

If I try to build it for x86/x64 with devenv it works perfectly, however I am trying to set up a build server without installing all the necessary versions of Visual Studio. By the way, if there is a better free tool (that supports .NET framework 4) out there, I'd love to hear about it.

Answer 1

In MSBuild or Teamcity use command line

MSBuild yourproject.sln /property:Configuration=Release /property:Platform=x64

or use shorter form:

MSBuild yourproject.sln /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=x64

However you need to set up platform in your project anyway, see the answer by Julien Hoarau.