Copying files into the application folder at compi

Question

If I have some files I want to copy from my project into the .\bin\debug\ folder on compilation, then it seems I have to put them into the root of the project. Putting them into a subfolder seems to copy them into the .\bin\debug\ folder in the same structure they're stored in.

Is there any way to avoid this?

Just to be clear: if I have a MyFirstConfigFile.txt and MySecondConfigFile.txt in a ConfigFiles folder and I set their Copy to Output to be Copy..., then they appear in the .\bin\debug\ConfigFiles\ folder. I want them to appear in the .\bin\debug\ folder.

Answer 1

I found this question searching for "copy files into the application folder at compile time". OP seems to have this sorted already, but if you don't:

In Visual Studio right-click the file, select properties, then change the option 'copy to output' to 'always'. See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0c6xyb66.aspx

Answer 2

You can also put the files or links into the root of the solution explorer and then set the files properties:

Build action = Content

and

Copy to Output Directory = Copy if newer (for example)

For a link drag the file from the windows explorer into the solution explorer holding down the shift and control keys.

Answer 3

copy from subfolder to subfolder

 if not exist "$(ProjectDir)$(OutDir)subfolder" mkdir "$(ProjectDir)$(OutDir)subfolder"

 copy "$(ProjectDir)subfolder\"  "$(ProjectDir)$(OutDir)subfolder\"

Answer 4

You can use the PostBuild event of the project. After the build is completed, you can run a DOS batch file and copy the desired files to your desired folder.

Answer 5

You can use a MSBuild task on your csproj, like that.

Edit your csproj file

  <Target Name="AfterBuild">
    <Copy SourceFiles="$(OutputPath)yourfiles" DestinationFolder="$(YourVariable)" ContinueOnError="true" />
  </Target>

Answer 6

You could do this with a post build event. Set the files to no action on compile, then in the macro copy the files to the directory you want.

Here's a post build Macro that I think will work by copying all files in a directory called Configuration to the root build folder:

copy $(ProjectDir)Configuration\* $(ProjectDir)$(OutDir)