c# - Publish one web project from solution with msbuild

Question

I'm trying to deploy one of the web projects in my solution to a server. I am using msbuild on TeamCity like so:

msbuild MySolution.sln /t:WebSite:Rebuild /p:DeployOnBuild=True /p:PublishProfile=Prod ...

However, when I run it, msbuild still tries to build my WebService project, even though my WebSite project does not depend on it (but it does depend on a Services project also in the solution). How do only publish one project, aka just WebSite?

I have also tried building the project file using

msbuild WebSite/WebSite.csproj /p:DeployOnBuild=True ...

but it then complains that it can't restore packages:

[07:47:17]WebSiteWebSite.csproj.teamcity: Build target: Build
[07:47:17][WebSiteWebSite.csproj.teamcity] RestorePackages
[07:47:17][RestorePackages] Exec
[07:47:17][Exec] C:TeamCityuildAgentworkcab8a3d752df3a51.nugetNuGet.targets(90, 15): error MSB4064: The "LogStandardErrorAsError" parameter is not supported by the "Exec" task. Verify the parameter exists on the task, and it is a settable public instance property.
[07:47:17][Exec] C:TeamCityuildAgentworkcab8a3d752df3a51.nugetNuGet.targets(89, 9): error MSB4063: The "Exec" task could not be initialized with its input parameters. 
[07:47:17][WebSiteWebSite.csproj.teamcity] Project WebSiteWebSite.csproj.teamcity failed.

When I disable NuGet Package Restore, CoreCompile (Csc) fails with errors I've never heard of and shouldn't be happening:

[07:54:43]WebSiteWebSite.csproj.teamcity: Build target: Build (13s)
[07:54:55][WebSiteWebSite.csproj.teamcity] CoreCompile
[07:54:55][CoreCompile] Csc
[07:54:56][Csc] AreasApiServicesTripService.cs(19, 104): error CS0241: Default parameter specifiers are not permitted
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(11, 35): error CS1031: Type expected
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(11, 53): error CS1002: ; expected
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(16, 28): error CS1519: Invalid token '(' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(16, 37): error CS1519: Invalid token ',' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(17, 27): error CS1519: Invalid token '(' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(17, 32): error CS1519: Invalid token ')' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(23, 17): error CS1519: Invalid token 'for' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(23, 26): error CS1519: Invalid token '<=' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(23, 45): error CS1519: Invalid token '-' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(23, 51): error CS1519: Invalid token '++' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(24, 34): error CS0270: Array size cannot be specified in a variable declaration (try initializing with a 'new' expression)
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(24, 37): error CS1519: Invalid token '==' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(24, 51): error CS1519: Invalid token ')' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(24, 63): error CS1519: Invalid token '++' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(25, 41): error CS1519: Invalid token '>' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(25, 53): error CS1519: Invalid token ')' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(27, 36): error CS1519: Invalid token '=' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(27, 48): error CS1519: Invalid token ';' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(28, 36): error CS1519: Invalid token '=' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(29, 37): error CS1519: Invalid token '=' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(29, 48): error CS0270: Array size cannot be specified in a variable declaration (try initializing with a 'new' expression)
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(29, 50): error CS1519: Invalid token ';' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(30, 33): error CS1519: Invalid token '=' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(30, 44): error CS0270: Array size cannot be specified in a variable declaration (try initializing with a 'new' expression)
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(30, 50): error CS1519: Invalid token ';' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(32, 21): error CS0116: A namespace does not directly contain members such as fields or methods
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(35, 50): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(38, 21): error CS0116: A namespace does not directly contain members such as fields or methods
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(40, 50): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersStatisticsUtility.cs(42, 21): error CS1022: Type or namespace definition, or end-of-file expected
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(8, 59): error CS1031: Type expected
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(8, 80): error CS1002: ; expected
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(10, 55): error CS1519: Invalid token '(' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(10, 60): error CS1520: Class, struct, or interface method must have a return type
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(10, 82): error CS1002: ; expected
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(13, 23): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(15, 60): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(18, 23): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(20, 25): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(23, 28): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(26, 28): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(29, 24): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(29, 84): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(32, 28): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(35, 9): error CS1022: Type or namespace definition, or end-of-file expected
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(23, 26): error CS0101: The namespace '<global namespace>' already contains a definition for '?'
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(26, 26): error CS0101: The namespace '<global namespace>' already contains a definition for '?'
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(29, 22): error CS0101: The namespace '<global namespace>' already contains a definition for '?'
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(29, 83): error CS0101: The namespace '<global namespace>' already contains a definition for '?'
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersUrlHelperExtensions.cs(32, 26): error CS0101: The namespace '<global namespace>' already contains a definition for '?'
[07:54:56][Csc] ControllersSessionController.cs(13, 51): error CS0241: Default parameter specifiers are not permitted
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(13, 44): error CS1031: Type expected
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(13, 72): error CS1041: Identifier expected, 'object' is a keyword
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(13, 91): error CS1002: ; expected
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(16, 38): error CS1519: Invalid token '=' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(16, 59): error CS1519: Invalid token ';' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(17, 64): error CS1519: Invalid token '=' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(17, 90): error CS1519: Invalid token ';' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(18, 32): error CS1519: Invalid token '=' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(18, 46): error CS1519: Invalid token ';' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(19, 33): error CS1519: Invalid token ';' in class, struct, or interface member declaration
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(22, 23): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(25, 37): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(32, 23): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(35, 37): error CS1518: Expected class, delegate, enum, interface, or struct
[07:54:56][Csc] HelpersJsonNetResult.cs(40, 9): error CS1022: Type or namespace definition, or end-of-file expected
[07:54:56][Csc] MailersITripMailer.cs(13, 132): error CS0241: Default parameter specifiers are not permitted
[07:54:56][Csc] MailersTripMailer.cs(54, 85): error CS0241: Default parameter specifiers are not permitted
[07:54:56][Csc] ServicesImplAuthorizationService.cs(12, 70): error CS0241: Default parameter specifiers are not permitted
[07:54:56][Csc] ServicesImplAuthorizationService.cs(43, 77): error CS0241: Default parameter specifiers are not permitted
[07:54:56][WebSiteWebSite.csproj.teamcity] Project WebSiteWebSite.csproj.teamcity failed.

Answer 1

I blogged about this at http://sedodream.com/2013/03/06/HowToPublishOneWebProjectFromASolution.aspx a few months back. I've copied the details here as well, see below.

---

Today on twitter @nunofcosta asked me roughly the question “How do I publish one web project from a solution that contains many?”

The issue that he is running into is that he is building from the command line and passing the following properties to msbuild.exe.

/p:DeployOnBuild=true
/p:PublishProfile='siteone - Web Deploy'
/p:Password=%password%

You can read more about how to automate publishing at http://sedodream.com/2013/01/06/CommandLineWebProjectPublishing.aspx.

When you pass these properties to msbuild.exe they are known as global properties. These properties are difficult to override and are passed to every project that is built. Because of this if you have a solution with multiple web projects, when each web project is built it is passed in the same set of properties. Because of this when each project is built the publish process for that project will start and it will expect to find a file named siteone – Web Deploy.pubxml in the folder *PropertiesPublishProfiles*. If the file doesn’t exist the operation may fail.

Note: If you are interested in using this technique for an orchestrated publish see my comments at https://stackoverflow.com/a/14231729/105999 before doing so.

So how can we resolve this?

Let’s take a look at a sample (see links below). I have a solution, PublishOnlyOne, with the following projects.

1. ProjA
2. ProjB

ProjA has a publish profile named ‘siteone – Web Deploy’, ProjB does not. When trying to publish this you may try the following command line.

msbuild.exe PublishOnlyOne.sln /p:DeployOnBuild=true /p:PublishProfile=’siteone – Web Deploy’ /p:Password=%password%

See publish-sln.cmd in the samples.

If you do this, when its time for ProjB to build it will fail because there’s no siteone – Web Deploy profile for that project. Because of this, we cannot pass DeployOnBuild. Instead here is what we need to do.

1. Edit ProjA.csproj to define another property which will conditionally set DeployOnBuild
2. From the command line pass in that property

I edited ProjA and added the following property group before the Import statements in the .csproj file.

<PropertyGroup>
<DeployOnBuild Condition=" '$(DeployProjA)'!='' ">$(DeployProjA)</DeployOnBuild>
</PropertyGroup>

Here you can see that DeployOnBuild is set to whatever value DeployProjA is as long as it’s not empty. Now the revised command is:

msbuild.exe PublishOnlyOne.sln /p:DeployProjA=true /p:PublishProfile=’siteone – Web Deploy’ /p:Password=%password%

Here instead of passing DeployOnBuild, I pass in DeployProjA which will then set DeployOnBuild. Since DeployOnBuild wasn’t passed to ProjB it will not attempt to publish.

You can find the complete sample at https://github.com/sayedihashimi/sayed-samples/tree/master/PublishOnlyOne.