how to replace string in file using msbuild?

Question

I want to replace a string such "how r u" in file test.xml with a string "i am fine" in another file xy.xml.using regular expression in ms build.

ie i have to read string from one file(xy.xml) and replace it in another file test.xml. so please provide necessary steps to solve this issue with example

Answer 1

This is no longer required... you can now inject C# into the project/build file...

Define a custom task and parameters as follows:

<UsingTask TaskName="ReplaceFileText" TaskFactory="CodeTaskFactory" AssemblyFile="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.Build.Tasks.v4.0.dll">   <ParameterGroup>     <InputFilename ParameterType="System.String" Required="true" />     <OutputFilename ParameterType="System.String" Required="true" />     <MatchExpression ParameterType="System.String" Required="true" />     <ReplacementText ParameterType="System.String" Required="true" />   </ParameterGroup>   <Task>     <Reference Include="System.Core" />     <Using Namespace="System" />     <Using Namespace="System.IO" />     <Using Namespace="System.Text.RegularExpressions" />     <Code Type="Fragment" Language="cs">       <![CDATA[             File.WriteAllText(                 OutputFilename,                 Regex.Replace(File.ReadAllText(InputFilename), MatchExpression, ReplacementText)                 );           ]]>     </Code>   </Task> </UsingTask> 

Then simply call it like any other MSBuild task

<Target Name="AfterBuild">   <ReplaceFileText      InputFilename="$(OutputPath)File.exe.config"      OutputFilename="$(OutputPath)File.exe.config"      MatchExpression="\$version\$"      ReplacementText="1.0.0.2" /> </Target> 

The above example replaces "$version$" with "1.0.0.2" in the "File.exe.config" located in the output directory.

Answer 2

There is very simple approach to just replace string in a file:

  <Target Name="Replace" AfterTargets="CoreCompile">       <PropertyGroup>           <InputFile>c:\input.txt</InputFile>           <OutputFile>c:\output.txt</OutputFile>       </PropertyGroup>       <WriteLinesToFile           File="$(OutputFile)"           Lines="$([System.IO.File]::ReadAllText($(InputFile)).Replace('from','to'))"           Overwrite="true"           Encoding="Unicode"/>   </Target> 

See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/msbuild/property-functions?view=vs-2019 to explore inlinable C# code. [System.Text.RegularExpressions.Regex] included into the list.