VS2015: warning MSB3884: Could not find rule set file

Question

After upgrading my WinForms VS2013 project to VS2015, I started seeing the MSB3884 "Could not find rule set file" warning.

A Google search turned up one MSDN article, which a Stack Overflow article points to as well as numerous other sites.

Similar Question: 33020507 MSDN: VS2015 MSB3884 Warning

I have both VS2013 and VS2015 installed.

The project files giving the warnings (and those that do not), do not have these entries.

<CodeAnalysisRuleSetDirectories>
<CodeAnalysisRuleDirectories> 

If I delete the other two entries from the project file, then the problem goes away, which is obvious, as there is no rule file set.

<CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRuleSets> 
<CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRules>

I am trying to build externally using msbuild, however VS2015 tends to show the problem too.

Interestingly enough, if I click on the open button in the project properties Code Analyzer area, I do get the file.

Specifying a different rule set makes no difference. That makes me think that possibly, there is an environment variable setting, not that any come to mind. Code Analyzers is a function of the project file. I can add a directory attribute, but the consensus is to take out paths, the <CodeAnalysisRule*Directories>.

The GUI uses defaults:

'

Here is a typical project file fragment.

  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|x86'">
    <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
    <OutputPath>bin\x86\Debug\</OutputPath>
    <DefineConstants>TRACE;DEBUG</DefineConstants>
    <DebugType>full</DebugType>
    <PlatformTarget>x86</PlatformTarget>
    <CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRuleSets>true</CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRuleSets>
    <CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRules>false</CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRules>
    <Prefer32Bit>false</Prefer32Bit>
    <TreatWarningsAsErrors>true</TreatWarningsAsErrors>
    <CodeAnalysisRuleSet>BasicCorrectnessRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|x64'">
    <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
    <OutputPath>bin\x64\Debug\</OutputPath>
    <DefineConstants>TRACE;DEBUG</DefineConstants>
    <DebugType>full</DebugType>
    <PlatformTarget>x64</PlatformTarget>
    <CodeAnalysisRuleSet>MinimumRecommendedRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
    <CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRules>false</CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRules>
  </PropertyGroup>

Without getting rid of the Code Analysis lines from the project file, though saving a project file again would just add it back, how can I eliminate/fix the warning?

Answer 1

I've just had the same problem after upgrading from VS2013 to VS2015.

My solution was:

1. On the project properties go to the Code Analysis section.
2. Select the Browse option on the list of rule sets.
3. Browse to the VS2015 rule sets folder. C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Team Tools\Static Analysis Tools\Rule Sets
4. Pick a rule set. The default used by new projects is: MinimumRecommendedRules.ruleset
5. Rebuild. Check the warning has gone.

Answer 2

I hit this warning after migrating from VS 2013 to VS 2015 as well. In my case the error was Could not find rule set file "AllRules.ruleset". The fix for me was to change the VisualStudioVersion setting in the .csproj file to be 14.0 so that it looks in the correct rule set folder:

After that and a rebuild, the warning was resolved. Much easier.