Copy entire directory to output folder maintaining the folder structure?

Question

I want a specific directory to be copied to output folder ("bin") on every build. I think it can be handled via post build scripts. But I'm not sure how to copy a directory itself. I know how to handle specific files.

For eg, this works for a file:

In

Project > Properties > Build Events> Post Build

COPY "$(SolutionDir)Resources\Release Notes.pdf" "$(TargetDir)" 

---

But suppose I have a directory Template, now I need everything under Template to come to bin folder upon successful build maintaining the folder structure.

I tried this:

COPY "$(SolutionDir)Resources\Template\" "$(TargetDir)" 

Only the files in Template directory gets copied this way and not the sub directories and the files inside Template folder. I want the folder Template itself to come inside my output bin folder. In other words, bin should look like:

bin > Template > abc.xxx                    xxx.yyy                  Subdirectory1 > asd.qwe                                  zxc.qwe                   Subdirectory2 > ... 

This could be a duplicate, but I couldn't find a relevant thread. Thanks.

Answer 1

I just added this to my *.csproj file (right click Edit Project File)

<ItemGroup>     <Content Include="MYCUSTOMFOLDER\**">         <CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>     </Content> </ItemGroup> 

I think for this the directory needs to be on same hierarchy level as *.csproj file or bellow that.

Answer 2

This worked for me. /S is the key which copies everything recursively.

XCOPY "$(SolutionDir)Resources\Template" "$(TargetDir)\Template\" /S 

Since I wanted files to be overwritten every time without a prompt, I added a /Y switch as well.

XCOPY "$(SolutionDir)Resources\Template" "$(TargetDir)\Template\" /S /Y