How To: Build Non-MSBuild Projects with MSBuild

Building non-MSBuild projects is possible. For example you have to build VS2003, Installer, C++, Delphi projects etc. How can you do it? It's simple.

The MSBuild has a built-in task: Exec task. This task calls cmd.exe instead of directly invoking a process and runs the specified program or command with the specified arguments. You can use it in order to build non-MSBuild projects.

For example, in order to build a Visual Studio 2003 Project you should modify the MSBuild file as:

   1:  <PropertyGroup>

   2:  <VS2003_Devenv>$(ProgramFiles)\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003\Common7\IDE\devenv.com</VS2003_Devenv>

   3:  <VS2003_SolutionName>$(SolutionRoot)\vs2003\VS2003Application\VS2003SLN.sln</VS2003_SolutionName>

   4:  <VS2003_Configuration>Debug</VS2003_Configuration>

   5:  </PropertyGroup>

   6:   

   7:   

   8:  <Target Name="AfterCompile">

   9:  <Exec Command="&quot;$(VS2003_Devenv)&quot; &quot;$(VS2003_SolutionName)&quot; /build $(VS2003_Configuration)"/>

  10:   

  11:  <MakeDir

  12:  Directories="$(BinariesRoot)\$(VS2003_Configuration)"

  13:  Condition="!Exists('$(BinariesRoot)\$(VS2003_Configuration)')" />

  14:   

  15:  <Copy

  16:  SourceFiles="$(SolutionRoot)\vs2003\VS2003Application\bin\$(VS2003_Configuration)\**\*.*"      

  17:  DestinationFiles="$(SolutionRoot)\vs2003\VS2003Application\bin\$(VS2003_Configuration)\**\*.* ->'$(BinariesRoot)\$(VS2003_Configuration)\%(RecursiveDir)%(Filename)%(Extension)')"

  18:  />

  19:  </Target>

Read here for more information about the target names and the MSBuild configuration file.

First declare some variables to use them during the build. (Lines 1 - 5) . Next in the AfterCompile target, use the MSBuild Exec task to build the VS2003 project by invoking the devenv.com program (Lines 9 -10). After that make a directory (using MakeDir task) for the output (if not exists) (Lines 11 - 13). Finally copy (using the Copy task)the output files to the build binaries root (Lines 15 - 18).

Notice that this assumes VS 2003 is installed on the build machine.

Good Luck!

Data Dude: How to Select From Other Database Server

When you have a View or other T-SQL Select statement that referenced to other server (even Oracle) , the VSTS for DB Professionals returns TSD4001: Could not find server SERVER NAME. Now build and deployment of the SQL Server database are blocked.

What can you do in order to solve it? the best workaround is to make sure the scripts are using 4 part names (ServerName.DatabaseName.DatabaseOwner.TableName) and you add the linked servers to the design database server. After that, you should be able to get the error to go away and you might be left with a warning about the cross-server dependencies not being able to be verified, but that shouldn't block your build and deployment of the SQL Server database.

ADO.NET Data Services ("Project Astoria") CTP is Released

Earlier this day I wrote about the release of ASP.NET 3.5 Extensions Preview release . The ASP.NET 3.5 Extensions Preview is a new release that provides new functionality being added to ASP.NET 3.5 and ADO.NET in 2008. This release delivers a set of new features that target:

1. Enabling High Productivity Data Scenarios - including MVC, Entity Framework, ADO.NET Data Services and dynamic data
2. Supporting Test Driven Development - including a powerful and extensible MVC framework
3. Creating the best server for Rich Clients - including Ajax history support and Silverlight controls for ASP.NET

This release also includes the first CTP of the production version of ADO.NET Data Services (aka "Astoria") .

ADO.NET Data Services

ADO.NET Data Services provide new services that find, manipulate and deliver data over the web using simple URIs. Benefits include an easy and flexible way to access data over the web, while enabling the separation of presentation and data access code.

Astoria team blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/astoriateam/default.aspx

ASP.NET 3.5 Extensions Preview Released

The ASP.NET 3.5 Extensions Preview is a preview of new functionality being added to ASP.NET 3.5 and ADO.NET. The release includes an ASP.NET MVC, ASP.NET Dynamic Data, Silverlight controls for ASP.NET, ADO.NET Data Services, Entity Framework runtime, and new features for ASP.NET AJAX.

• Download ASP.NET 3.5 Extensions (includes MVC)
• Download here the Toolkit

HTML helpers pages: ASP.NET MVC Preview: Using The MVC UI Helpers

How to Unit Testing with MVC: TDD and Dependency Injection with ASP.NET MVC

Team Explorer 2008 Download

To connect to Team Foundation Server, you must run a separate installer for Team Explorer. This installer is located in the [Drive]:\TFC\ folder on both the Team Suite 2008 media and the Team Foundation Server 2008 media.

Team Explorer 2008  is now also available to download.

Download Visual Studio Team Explorer 2008 (~384mb).

Technorati Tags: Team System

GMAIL New Feature

Do you need help with keyboard shortcuts in Gmail? Just type ? (question mark) and you'll see a list of the most important keyboard shortcuts. To use it, you need to enable keyword shortcuts in the Settings before using them (the option is disabled by default).

I really like it!

Technorati Tags: Gmail,Google

Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 - Early Review

I like LINQ and I posted about it in my blog.

In the last 2 weeks I have been reading the book Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008  by Joseph C. Rattz, Jr.  | ISBN: 1-59059-789-3 which I have had access to via the Early Access Program as a PDF ebook.

This book provides superb coverage of LINQ where it shows the reader how to leverage all the new LINQ C# 2008 language features including extension methods, lambda expressions, anonymous data types, and partial methods.

The book refers to all kinds of LINQ including LINQ to Objects, LINQ to SQL, LINQ to XML, LINQ to DataSet. The book starts with an introduction of what LINQ is (the first and second chapters, "Hello LINQ" & "C# 3.0 Language Enhancements for LINQ") and builds this more and more throughout the book and the next chapters.  Even if you don't a proficient C# developer, you'll find the book useful. It provides a very good high level overview of all the sections, however goes deep into the inner works of LINQ.

The question whether to use LINQ or not is answered: the book gives you an in-depth understanding about LINQ when and where it is required. 

I like the writing style to Joseph: at eye level and very coherent.

If LINQ interesting you and you would like to know it well - I highly recommend you get this book. Once I get the final version of the book, I will give it another read.

You can download the first chapter for free:

http://www.apress.com/book/view/1590597893

Table of Contents

PART 1 Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008
CHAPTER 1 Hello LINQ
CHAPTER 2 C# 3.0 Language Enhancements for LINQ

PART 2 LINQ to Objects
CHAPTER 3 LINQ to Objects Introduction
CHAPTER 4 Deferred Operators
CHAPTER 5 Nondeferred Operators

PART 3 LINQ to XML
CHAPTER 6 LINQ to XML Introduction
CHAPTER 7 The LINQ to XML API
CHAPTER 8 LINQ to XML Operators
CHAPTER 9 Additional XML Capabilities

PART 4  LINQ to DataSet
CHAPTER 10 LINQ to DataSet Operators
CHAPTER 11 Additional DataSet Capabilities

PART 5 LINQ to SQL
CHAPTER 12 LINQ to SQL Introduction
CHAPTER 13 LINQ to SQL Tips and Tools
CHAPTER 14 LINQ to SQL Database Operations
CHAPTER 15 LINQ to SQL Entity Classes
CHAPTER 16 The DataContext
CHAPTER 17 Concurrency Conflicts
CHAPTER 18 Additional SQL Capabilities

 

Technorati Tags: LINQ