Question

I am very new to MSBuild. I am attempting two different paths toward a solution. Test is giving me errors and Compile is working but I’m not even sure if it does anything.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<Project xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">

<PropertyGroup>
<Configuration>Debug</Configuration>
<AssemblyName>MSBuildSample</AssemblyName>
<OutputPath>Output\</OutputPath>
</PropertyGroup>

<ItemGroup>
<Compile Include="**\*.cs" />
<Reference Include="**\*.dll"/>
</ItemGroup>

<ItemGroup>
 <ProjectsToBuild Include="**\*proj" Exclude="$(MSBuildProjectFile)"/>
</ItemGroup>

<Target Name="Test">
<MakeDir Directories="$(OutputPath)"      Condition="!Exists('$(OutputPath)')" />
<Csc Sources="@(Compile)"  References="@(Reference)" OutputAssembly="$(OutputPath)$(AssemblyName).exe" />
<Message Text="The output file is done"/>
</Target>

<Target Name="Clean">
<MSBuild Projects="@(ProjectsToBuild)" ContinueOnError="false" Targets="Clean"
        Properties="Configuration= $(Configuration)" />
</Target>

<Target Name="Compile" DependsOnTargets="Clean">
<MSBuild Projects="@(ProjectsToBuild)" ContinueOnError="false" Properties="Configuration=$(Configuration)">
  <Output ItemName="BuildOutput" TaskParameter="TargetOutputs"/>
</MSBuild>
</Target>

</Project>

Am I headed down the right path at all?

Answer 1

You can simply pass a solution file as project to the MSBuild task:

<MSBuild Projects="MySolution.sln"  />

OR

<MSBuild Projects="$(PathToSolutionFile)"  />

If this is not a case for you please let me know

EDIT: Answer to comments

From MSDN, MSBuild Task:

This task can process not only project files but also solution files.

MSBuild does NOT create solution files. Considering you have a solution file which includes both projects you’ve mentioned – you can just specify single solution file and MSBuild pickup all projects which are included.

Perhaps you need this one:
How to: Create Solutions and Projects