Failed to use use "MSBuild.ILMerge.Task" with PackageReference

Question

When using MSBuild.ILMerge.Task referenced via packagereference the following error came up:

error MSB4018: The "MSBuild.ILMerge.Task" task failed unexpectedly.
error MSB4018: System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Cannot find ILMerge 
executable.
error MSB4018:    at MSBuild.ILMerge.Task.LoadILMerge()
error MSB4018:    at MSBuild.ILMerge.Task.Execute()
error MSB4018:    at error MSB4018:    at Microsoft.Build.BackEnd.TaskBuilder.<ExecuteInstantiatedTask>d__26.MoveNext()

This is because the MSBuild.ILMerge.Task.dll can't find the ILMerge executable in its package location. I guess the main reason of this may be the different folder structure between package.config and PackageReference.

Has anyone else had this issue? Any help is appreciated in advance

Answer 1

You could try downgrading ILMerge to 2.14.1208.

This solved it for me.

https://github.com/emerbrito/ILMerge-MSBuild-Task/issues/13