Changing csproj OutputType based on project configuration

Question

I need to build a C# project as either WinExe or Library depending on the project's configuration.

I've tried both of these methods with no luck:

1) In the general PropertyGroup:

<OutputType Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == 'Release' ">WinExe</OutputType> <OutputType Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == 'Debug' ">Library</OutputType>

2) In a conditional PropertyGroup:

<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == 'Release' "> <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType> </PropertyGroup>

<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == 'Debug' "> <OutputType>Library</OutputType> </PropertyGroup>

Neither of these methods work and the OutputType is always WinExe. The odd thing is that if I change all instances of WinExe to Library, then it's always Library. This is making me think that it is reading them successfully, but either in a strange order or that WinExe takes precedence over Library.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

In the top of your .csproj file you will have two sections that look a bit like this:

<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|x86' ">
  <OutputType>Library</OutputType>
  <!-- Other properties go here -->
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|x86' ">
  <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
  <!-- Other properties go here -->
</PropertyGroup>

Add your OutputType elements to these two conditional PropertyGroup sections and make sure that you remove all other OutputType elements - I've just tested it and it does exactly what you are asking for.

Yes this is very similar to what you have already done, but I know for a fact that the above method works because I've just tried it - my only guess is that something somewhere else in your build is messing things up.