Modify MSBuild ItemGroup Metadata

Question

Is it possible to modify a ItemGroup's metadata after it is declared.

For Example:

  <ItemGroup>     <SolutionToBuild Include="$(BuildProjectFolderPath)\MySolution.sln">       <Targets></Targets>       <Properties></Properties>     </SolutionToBuild>    </ItemGroup>    <Target Name="BuildNumberOverrideTarget">      <!--Code to get the version number from a file (removed)-->       <!--Begin Pseudo Code-->      <CodeToChangeItemGroupMetaData             ItemToChange="%(SolutionToBuild.Properties)"             Condition ="'%(SolutionToBuild.Identity)' ==                        '$(BuildProjectFolderPath)\MySolution.sln'"            NewValue="Version=$(Version)" />      <!--End Pseudo Code-->             </Target> 

I am hoping there is a way that does not require me to remove the item then re-declare it.

Thanks for any answers. Vaccano

Answer 1

Yes you can modify or add to an <ItemGroup>'s meta data after it is defined (MSBuild 3.5)

<Project xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">    <!-- Define ItemGroup -->   <ItemGroup>     <TestItemGroup Include="filename.txt">       <MyMetaData>Test meta data</MyMetaData>     </TestItemGroup>     <TestItemGroup Include="filename2.txt">       <MyMetaData>Untouched</MyMetaData>     </TestItemGroup>   </ItemGroup>    <Target Name="ModifyTestItemGroup" BeforeTargets="Build">     <!-- Show me-->     <Message Text="PRE:  %(TestItemGroup.Identity)  MyMetaData:%(TestItemGroup.MyMetaData)  OtherMetaData:%(TestItemGroup.OtherMetaData)" Importance="high" />      <!-- Now change it - can only do it inside a target -->     <ItemGroup>       <TestItemGroup Condition="'%(TestItemGroup.MyMetaData)'=='Test meta data' AND 'AnotherCondition'=='AnotherCondition'">         <MyMetaData>Well adjusted</MyMetaData>         <OtherMetaData>New meta data</OtherMetaData>       </TestItemGroup>     </ItemGroup>      <!-- Show me the changes -->     <Message Text="POST: %(TestItemGroup.Identity)  MyMetaData:%(TestItemGroup.MyMetaData)  OtherMetaData:%(TestItemGroup.OtherMetaData)" Importance="high" />   </Target>    <Target Name="Build" /> </Project> 

Reference: MSDN Library: New Methods for Manipulating Items and Properties (MSBuild)

Answer 2

There is a new to modify metadata by using the Update attribute E.g.

<ItemGroup>     <Compile Update="somefile.cs">  // or Update="*.designer.cs"         <MetadataKey>MetadataValue</MetadataKey>     </Compile> </ItemGroup>   

More in the MSBuild documentation