MSBuild Inline Task - Reference non-standard Microsoft assemblies

Question

I am using the new MSBuild Inline Task to leverage the TransformXml (XDT Transform) in the Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks.dll assembly.

Here's what my task (snipped) looks like:

<Task>
  <Reference Include="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v10.0\Web\Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks.dll"/>
  <Reference Include="System.Xml" />
  <Using Namespace="System"/>
  <Using Namespace="System.Linq"/>
  <Using Namespace="System.IO" />
  <Using Namespace="System.Xml"/>
  <Using Namespace="Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks"/>
  <Code Type="Fragment" Language="cs">...</Code>
</Task>

This compiles fine and the DLL is loaded, however, when executed it fails because it is trying to find the assembly in the appbase path which is: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319. I would have expected it to look at the path I gave it.

Fusion log shows this:

=== Pre-bind state information ===\r
  LOG: User = xxx\Kamran\r
  LOG: DisplayName = Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a
   (Fully-specified)\r
  LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v4.0.30319/\r
  LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL\r
  Calling assembly : (Unknown).\r
  ===\r
  LOG: This bind starts in default load context.\r
  LOG: Using application configuration file: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\MSBuild.exe.Config\r
  error MSB4018: LOG: Using host configuration file: \r
  error MSB4018: LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config.\r
  error MSB4018: LOG: Post-policy reference: Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a\r
  error MSB4018: LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v4.0.30319/Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks.DLL.\r
  error MSB4018: LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v4.0.30319/Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks/Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks.DLL.\r
  error MSB4018: LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v4.0.30319/Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks.EXE.\r
  error MSB4018: LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v4.0.30319/Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks/Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks.EXE.\r

Is there any way to fix this or will I be forced to create a task assembly instead?

Answer 1

I would still like a real answer to this, but I was able to workaround this issue using reflection and just loading the assembly.

You can see the full source in my gist.