Copy NuGet contentFiles transitively to referenced project

Question

I have a NuGet package in which is an extra file packaged as a Content in contentFiles folder.

Then I have two C# projects with SDK-style .csproj - A and B where Project B references Project A as a ProjectReference and there is a classic PackageReference of a NuGet package in the Project A like this:

NuGet package ← Project A ← Project B

My problem is that the extra file gets correctly copied to the build output of Project A, but it won't get copied to the output of Project B unless I do it manually.

Is there a way how to force copy the extra file from the NuGet dependency transitively to the Project B build output?

The only way I can think of is custom Post-build event with xcopy command but it's more of a workaround than a real solution.

Thanks for any advice in advance!

Answer 1

If you are in control of the NuGet package

You can add additional build targets in which you are able to specify that the content files should be copied.

Add build/MyNuGetPackage.targets to the NuGet package:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
  <ItemGroup>

    <!-- For all files in /contentFiles -->
    <Content Include="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)..\contentFiles\**\*.*">
      <!-- Copy to output directory on build -->
      <CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
    </Content>

  </ItemGroup>
</Project>

This will copy all content files of this package into the output folder, including cases where this package is transitively referenced.