How to output a variable value to the log from MSBuild
.NetDebuggingMsbuild.Net Problem Overview
How do I output a variable value to the log from MSBuild?
I am trying to debug an MSBuild script and would like to output a variable's value to the log.
.Net Solutions
Solution 1 - .Net
You can actually debug MSBuild scripts with Visual Studio 2010 now. It requires some hacking, and it isn't officially supported, but it is an option.
Otherwise use the Message
task. Normal rules for referencing Properties
, Items
and Item Metadata
(also referred to as batching) apply.
This example:
<Project DefaultTargets="Build"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<ItemGroup>
<TestItem Include="test1" />
<TestItem Include="test2" />
<TestItem Include="test3" />
</ItemGroup>
<PropertyGroup>
<TestProperty>Property Value</TestProperty>
</PropertyGroup>
<Target Name="TestMessage" AfterTargets="Build" >
<!-- Use $(Property Name) to reference a property -->
<Message Text="$(TestProperty)" Importance="high"/>
<!-- Use @(Item Name) to output a semi-colon
separated list of items on one line -->
<Message Text="@(TestItem)" Importance="high"/>
<!-- Use %(Item Name.Metadata Property Name) to
call the Message task once for each item. -->
<!-- This will output each item on a separate line -->
<Message Text="%(TestItem.Identity)" Importance="high"/>
</Target>
</Project>
Will produce this output:
Property Value
test1;test2;test3
test1
test2
test3