Question

When I run MSDeploy from a build script, I get this NullReferenceException. The funny thing is, the project deploys. This has been driving me crazy. Note: This is a web site project, not a web application project.

I’m using this in my build targets file:

    <ItemGroup>     
        <DeploySource Include="DirPath">
            <Path>C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\PrecompiledWeb\Source</Path>
            <ComputerName>myComputer</ComputerName>
            <UserName>anAdminAccount</UserName>
            <Password>itsPassword</Password>
        </DeploySource>
    </ItemGroup>

    <ItemGroup>
        <TestDeployDest Include="DirPath">
            <Path>C:\TFS_Build\POC\Test</Path>
            <ComputerName>myComputer</ComputerName>
            <UserName>anAdminAccount</UserName>
            <Password>itsPassword</Password>
        </TestDeployDest>
    </ItemGroup>    

    <Target name="Deploy">

        <PropertyGroup>
            <WhatIf Condition="'$(WhatIf)'==''">false</WhatIf>
            <MSDeployPath Condition="'$(MSDeployPath)'==''">C:\Program Files\IIS\Microsoft Web Deploy V2</MSDeployPath>
        </PropertyGroup>

        <MSDeploy Condition="'@(TestDeployDest)'!=''"
            Whatif="$(WhatIf)"
            Verb="sync"
            Source="@(DeploySource)"
            Destination="@(TestDeployDest)"
            ExePath="$(MSDeployPath)"
        />
</target>

Here’s the error:

"C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\source.csproj" (Deploy target) (1) ->
(Deploy target) ->  

C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\Deploy.Targets(54,3): error MSB4018: The "MSDeploy" task failed unexpectedly.\r [C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\source.csproj]

C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\Deploy.Targets(54,3): error MSB4018: System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.\r [C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\source.csproj]

C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\Deploy.Targets(54,3): error MSB4018:    at Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks.Common.Utility.MsDeployEndOfExecuteMessage(Boolean bSuccess, String destType, String destRoot, TaskLoggingHelper Log)\r [C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\source.csproj]

C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\Deploy.Targets(54,3): error MSB4018:    at Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks.MSDeploy.Execute()\r [C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\source.csproj]

C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\Deploy.Targets(54,3): error MSB4018:    at Microsoft.Build.BackEnd.TaskExecutionHost.Microsoft.Build.BackEnd.ITaskExecutionHost.Execute()\r [C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\source.csproj]

C:\TFS\MySiteBranch\Source\Deploy.Targets(54,3): error MSB4018:    at Microsoft.Build.BackEnd.TaskBuilder.ExecuteInstantiatedTask(ITaskExecutionHost taskExecutio

Any ideas for something I can try?

Answer 1

I was able to get the deploy working with a Web Deploy Project.