NuGet how to make Package without "Bin" Folder - nuget

I am trying to get rid of Bin Folder in NuGet Package but preserve the structure.
part of my nuspec file:
<file src = "**\*.dll"/>
My Current package produces:
project1\bin\*.dll
project2\bin\*.dll
Desired Result:
project1\*.dll
project2\*.dll
Thank you.

Try: <file src="bin\*.dll" target=".\" />

Related

VSIX - Include PackageReference output groups

Currently we reference another project in the following way in order to include it completely in the VSIX package.
<ProjectReference Include="....csproj">
<Project>{8da36305-5468-465a-bf37-d87936b776d2}</Project>
<Name>ProjectName</Name>
<VSIXSubPath>SubDirectory</VSIXSubPath>
<IncludeOutputGroupsInVSIX>BuiltProjectOutputGroup%3bBuiltProjectOutputGroupDependencies%3bGetCopyToOutputDirectoryItems%3bSatelliteDllsProjectOutputGroup%3bDocumentationProjectOutputGroup%3b</IncludeOutputGroupsInVSIX>
<IncludeOutputGroupsInVSIXLocalOnly>DebugSymbolsProjectOutputGroup%3b</IncludeOutputGroupsInVSIXLocalOnly>
</ProjectReference>
This was working perfectly, until we have converted our 'old' Nuget references to the new PackageReference format. What we see is that the output files of the package references are not included in the VSIX package anymore. Is there an additional output group that we can include to solve this?
Can be solved by adding "ReferenceCopyLocalPathsOutputGroup" to IncludeOutputGroupsInVSIX.
Found it here: https://github.com/dotnet/msbuild/issues/3069
<ProjectReference Include="....csproj">
<Project>{8da36305-5468-465a-bf37-d87936b776d2}</Project>
<Name>ProjectName</Name>
<VSIXSubPath>SubDirectory</VSIXSubPath>
<IncludeOutputGroupsInVSIX>BuiltProjectOutputGroup%3bBuiltProjectOutputGroupDependencies%3bGetCopyToOutputDirectoryItems%3bSatelliteDllsProjectOutputGroup%3bDocumentationProjectOutputGroup%3bReferenceCopyLocalPathsOutputGroup%3b</IncludeOutputGroupsInVSIX>
<IncludeOutputGroupsInVSIXLocalOnly>DebugSymbolsProjectOutputGroup%3b</IncludeOutputGroupsInVSIXLocalOnly>
</ProjectReference>

NuGet: Two packages with targets files lead to incorrectly copied DLLs

I have created two NuGet packages that contain Native Libraries. The first one has two subfolders (amd64 and x86) the second one includes the DLL flat under the build directory. The NativeLibraries of the the first package are supposed to be copied into subfolders of the OutputPath. The only DLL in the second package should be copied flat under the OutputPath. I used the following stackoverflow entry as a guide for creating the package: https://stackoverflow.com/a/30316946/4496150
The first NuGet package folder structure looks like this (amd64 and x86 subfolder under build):
build
amd64
DLL1.dll
DLL2.dll
x86
DLL1.dll
DLL2.dll
packagename.targets
First targets file:
<Project xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<ItemGroup>
<NativeLibs Include="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)**\*.dll" />
<None Include="#(NativeLibs)">
<Link>%(RecursiveDir)%(FileName)%(Extension)</Link>
<CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
</None>
</ItemGroup>
</Project>
Please notice $(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)** as NativeLibs Include and %(RecursiveDir) as part of Link attribute.
The second NuGet package structure looks like this (no subfolders under build):
build
DLL1.dll
packagename.targets
Second targets file:
<Project xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<ItemGroup>
<NativeLibs Include="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)\*.dll" />
<None Include="#(NativeLibs)">
<Link>%(FileName)%(Extension)</Link>
<CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
</None>
</ItemGroup>
</Project>
Please notice $(MSBuildThisFileDirectory) (without **) as NativeLibs Include and missing %(RecursiveDir) in Link attribute.
If you reference both packages, the DLLs from the first package are additionally copied flat into the output folder, which is not desired. I suspect this is because the second include step also reads the DLLs from the first package, but then does not use %(RecursiveDir).
A workaround is to also include in the second package both.
and NativeLibs Include="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)***.dll" /> exactly as in the first package.
However, I would prefer to understand why the second package ensures that the DLLs from the first are copied flat.
If I read https://learn.microsoft.com/de-de/visualstudio/msbuild/msbuild-reserved-and-well-known-properties?view=vs-2019 correctly, $(MSBuildThisFileDirectory) points to the folder in my NuGet cache where the targets file of the NuGet package is located. So actually everything would be correct. But still (probably) wrong DLLs are copied.
Edit
I added the following snippet in both targets files to get some output:
<Target Name="OutputPackage1NativeLibs" BeforeTargets="Build">
<Message Text="Package1 %(NativeLibs.Identity)" Importance="high"/>
</Target>
For the seconds targets file I changed the target name to OutputPackage2NativeLibs and started the text Output with Packag2.
When I clean my NuGet Package Cache and rebuild the solution everything is fine. But after the third or forth rebuild operation the DLLs of the first package are copied flat under the Output path and I get the following output:
Package1 C:\Users\USERNAME\.nuget\packages\PACKAGENAME1\1.2.3.4\build\amd64\DLL1.dll
Package1 C:\Users\USERNAME\.nuget\packages\PACKAGENAME1\1.2.3.4\build\amd64\DLL2.dll
Package1 C:\Users\USERNAME\.nuget\packages\PACKAGENAME1\1.2.3.4\build\x86\DLL1.dll
Package1 C:\Users\USERNAME\.nuget\packages\PACKAGENAME1\1.2.3.4\build\x86\DLL2.dll
Package1 C:\Users\USERNAME\.nuget\packages\PACKAGENAME2\1.0.0.0\build\DLL1.dll
Package2 C:\Users\USERNAME\.nuget\packages\PACKAGENAME1\1.2.3.4\build\amd64\DLL1.dll
Package2 C:\Users\USERNAME\.nuget\packages\PACKAGENAME1\1.2.3.4\build\amd64\DLL2.dll
Package2 C:\Users\USERNAME\.nuget\packages\PACKAGENAME1\1.2.3.4\build\x86\DLL1.dll
Package2 C:\Users\USERNAME\.nuget\packages\PACKAGENAME1\1.2.3.4\build\x86\DLL2.dll
Package2 C:\Users\USERNAME\.nuget\packages\PACKAGENAME2\1.0.0.0\build\DLL1.dll
So NativeLibs are added from the other NuGet package apparently after the third or fourth rebuild.
I think you are using Packages.config nuget package format with non-sdk net framework projects. If so, that could be explained.
For packages.config nuget management format, it imports the target files directly under csproj file. In my side, I created two nuget packages called flat 1.0.0 and faltt 1.0.0 nuget packages.
You can check my csproj file:
If so, the first import targets file flat.targets file is the same as your first nuget package's targets file:
It includes the x86 and amd64 folder files into output folder\x86 and output folder\amd64 folder, that is right as we excepted.
However, under pakckages.config, since the two targets file are in the same csproj file, they can access each other(they have the same life cycle in the same CSProj), when msbuild reads faltt.targets file after flat.targets file, also you did not change NativeLibs item for the second targets file, itself has the file:
C:\Users\xxx\source\repos\flat\packages\flat.1.0.0\build\amd64\Dll1.dll
C:\Users\xxx\source\repos\flat\packages\flat.1.0.0\build\amd64\Dll2.dll
C:\Users\xxx\source\repos\flat\packages\flat.1.0.0\build\x86\Dll1.dll
C:\Users\xxx\source\repos\flat\packages\flat.1.0.0\build\x86\Dll1.dll
When reads the flatt.targets file, it also includes C:\Users\xxx\source\repos\flat\packages\flatt.1.0.0\build\x86\Dll1.dll,
So it has five files under NativeLibs item.
And then it executes <Link>%(FileName)%(Extension)</Link>, the first nuget package's dlls will be executed under the second nuget packages's node, output to the output root folder.
Because of the special nature of Packages.config import targets files, they are interlaced.
You should note that
Under PackageReference nuget management format, the import targets files are stored under obj\xxx.csproj.nuget.g.targets file, like this:
<ImportGroup Condition=" '$(ExcludeRestorePackageImports)' != 'true' ">
<Import Project="$(NuGetPackageRoot)flatt\1.0.0\build\flatt.targets" Condition="Exists('$(NuGetPackageRoot)flatt\1.0.0\build\flatt.targets')" />
<Import Project="$(NuGetPackageRoot)flat\1.0.0\build\flat.targets" Condition="Exists('$(NuGetPackageRoot)flat\1.0.0\build\flat.targets')" />
</ImportGroup>
Since the content is not in csproj file and the particularity of the file xxx.csproj.nuget.g.targets, it will read the targets files in each nuget package separately. Each file is a separate life cycle, so it does not Will affect each other. This is also one of the advantages of the latest PackagesReference nuget management format.
Sorry for not telling you at the beginning that I was using packagesReference and I didn't notice packages.config.
So if you want to get the right behavior to separate them, try the two approaches:
1) do not change the two nuget packages, right-click on the packages.config file of the main project which installs the two nuget packages-->click Migrate packages.config to PackageReference option
After that, click Rebuild option to get that.
2) modify the nuget packages--> change the NativeLibs item's name to another for the second nuget package targets file:
<Project xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<ItemGroup>
<NativeLibs1 Include="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)*.dll" />
<None Include="#(NativeLibs1)">
<Link>%(FileName)%(Extension)</Link>
<CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
</None>
</ItemGroup>
</Project>
When re-pack your project, uninstall them first, delete all cache files under C:\Users\xxx\.nuget\packages. And then re-install the packages again.

NuGet package: Copy DLLs to subdirectories in buildoutput

I want to create a NuGet package that copies the DLLs into a subdirectory of the output directory.
This is what the folder structure of my package looks like:
Package root
lib
net48
x64
First.dll
Second.dll
x86
First.dll
Second.dll
The DLLs should be copied to the respective subdirectory in the output folder as follows:
Output directory
x64
First.dll
Second.dll
x86
First.dll
Second.dll
I have tried the files attribute in the nuspec file:
<files>
<file src="lib\net48\amd64\*.dll" target="amd64\" />
<file src="lib\net48\x86\*.dll" target="x86\" />
</files>
When building the package the following warning appears for each DLL I use:
WARNING: NU5100: The assembly 'amd64\First.dll' is not inside
the 'lib' folder and hence it won't be added as a reference when the
package is installed into a project. Move it into the 'lib' folder if
it needs to be referenced.
Neither the subfolders are created nor the DLLs are copied into the output folder after I restored all packages.
How can I configure the nuspec file so that the DLLs are copied into the subfolders? Do I need an install.ps1 script?
I'm using .NET Core (and .NET 5) projects. And packaging one component with multiple project DLLs. Can do this by modifying prject files.
So if you also have .NET Core projects add the following section to your .csproj file (to the project which should be packaged) to package DLL, change the DLL names and path as you need it.
<ItemGroup>
<_PackageFiles Include="$(OutputPath)\First.dll">
<BuildAction>None</BuildAction>
<PackagePath>x64</PackagePath>
</_PackageFiles>
<_PackageFiles Include="$(OutputPath)\First.dll">
<BuildAction>None</BuildAction>
<PackagePath>x86</PackagePath>
</_PackageFiles>
</ItemGroup>

Building nuget file from nuspec with Azure Pipelines

I have ran into a strange problem and have been trying to fix for a couple of days. Locally, I can build my project just fine with the following nuspec file. The nuspec file is saved in the repo and copied local when built from the c# project and it is under a sub folder called "nugetcreation". Locally, I can run the nuspec file as is and it generates the nuget package.
Folder setup:
project
-project files
-nugetcreation
-readme and nuspec files
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/packaging/2011/08/nuspec.xsd">
<metadata>
<id>my.Utility.TraceWriter</id>
<version>1.0.0-beta</version>
<title>my.Utility.TraceWriter</title>
<authors>justme</authors>
<owners>justme</owners>
<requireLicenseAcceptance>false</requireLicenseAcceptance>
<description>custom trace items</description>
<releaseNotes>initial release</releaseNotes>
</metadata>
<files>
<file src="Content\MyReadMes\My.Utility.TraceWriter.md" target="content\net461\MyReadMes\My.Utility.TraceWriter.md" />
<file src="..\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll" target="lib\net461\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll" />
<file src="..\My.Utility.TraceWriter.pdb" target="lib\net461\My.Utility.TraceWriter.pdb" />
</files>
</package>
The problem:
When I am building an Azure Pipeline, I tell it to run the nuspec file and I am getting an error
##[error]The nuget command failed with exit code(1) and error(Error NU5019: File not found: '..\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll'.
But it is absolutely being generated correctly from the vsbuild process
CopyFilesToOutputDirectory:
Copying file from "d:\a\1\s\My.Utility.TraceWriter\My.Utility.MethodTracer\obj\Release\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll" to "d:\a\1\s\My.Utility.TraceWriter\My.Utility.MethodTracer\bin\Release\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll"
The nuget creation step in the azure pipeline is pretty basic, nothing fancy. All of the fancy stuff I am keeping in the nuspec file. I am trying to get this to work on a basic project with the nuspec file because I have much more complicated nuget packaging coming later so this is my test version.
- task: NuGetCommand#2
displayName: 'Creating nuget package'
inputs:
command: 'pack'
packagesToPack: '**/*.nuspec'
versioningScheme: 'off'
arguments: '--configuration $(buildConfiguration)'
So far I have tried using:
**\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll (no error, but no dlls are in the lib folder. acts as if that line is just skipped)
bin**\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll
.\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll
$configuration$\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll
**\$configuration$\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll
...nothing works. Does anyone have any ideas about why the azure pipeline doesn't accept the correct (..\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll) relative path entry on the nuspec file and how to fix it?
My forehead hurts from banging my keyboard against it...
--EDIT--
A little more info. It appears that 2 things are happening when the nuget pack command is ran. The entire output is below but it looks like after the nuget successfully builds it is trying to pack it again and this time can't find the files??
Added file '_rels/.rels'.
Added file 'My.Utility.TraceWriter.nuspec'.
Added file 'content/net461/MyReadMes/My.Utility.TraceWriter.md'.
Added file 'lib/net461/My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll'.
Added file 'lib/net461/My.Utility.TraceWriter.pdb'.
Added file 'package/services/metadata/core-properties/f2a4d059fea6458dac5889de57641f5b.psmdcp'.
Successfully created package 'D:\a\1\a\My.Utility.TraceWriter.1.0.0-beta.nupkg'.
WARNING: NU5128: Some target frameworks declared in the dependencies group of the nuspec and the lib/ref folder do not have exact matches in the other location. Consult the list of actions below:
- Add a dependency group for .NETFramework4.6.1 to the nuspec
Attempting to pack file: D:\a\1\s\My.Utility.TraceWriter\My.Utility.MethodTracer\nuget information\My.Utility.TraceWriter.nuspec
C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\NuGet\5.4.0\x64\nuget.exe pack "D:\a\1\s\My.Utility.TraceWriter\My.Utility.MethodTracer\nuget information\My.Utility.TraceWriter.nuspec" -NonInteractive -OutputDirectory D:\a\1\a -Properties Configuration=Release -Verbosity Detailed
Error NU5019: File not found: '..\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll'.
NuGet Version: 5.4.0.6315
NuGet.Packaging.Core.PackagingException: File not found: '..\My.Utility.TraceWriter.dll'.
Stupid. the packagesToPack: '**/*.nuspec' is pulling both nuspecs: the one in source AND the one copied to the output bin folder.
redefining fixed the issue

NuGet Assembly outside lib folder

I'm going to bang out a couple of questions here...first, with NuGet is it possible to create a package from a few DLLs? There is no visual studio project, just the command line and a couple of pre-compiled DLL files.
Second, assuming that is possible, why do I continuously get the "Assembly outside of the lib folder" warning? I've tried everything I can think of to get associated assemblies to add themselves as references inside of the NuGet package.
My file structure looks like this
Root
- File1.dll
- lib
- File2.dll
- File3.dll
When I tell NuGet to pack it using a .nuspec like this
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<package >
<metadata>
<id>File1.dll</id>
<version>1.0.0</version>
<authors>thisguy</authors>
<owners>thisguysmom</owners>
<requireLicenseAcceptance>false</requireLicenseAcceptance>
<description>This is some library</description>
<releaseNotes>Porting to NuGet</releaseNotes>
<copyright>Copyright 2012</copyright>
<references>
<reference file="File2.dll" />
<reference file="File3.dll" />
</references>
</metadata>
</package>
I receive that warning. From what I'm reading, I shouldn't even have to define the references node in any of my projects, as the lib folder items should automatically be added as references?
Does anyone out there understand this NuGet mess?
I just ran into this problem. Nuget is expecting a structure that looks like:
root
- lib
- net40
- File1.dll
- File2.dll
- File3.dll
net40 or net20 or net45 as appropriate to your .net version.
run
nuget pack yourlibrary.nuspec
to package it up.
That will pack up the dir wholesale and put it in the nupkg. The error messages will disappear at that point.
Any dll that you want referenced should be under the lib folder. The warning is because file1.dll is outside lib and will be ignored during package installation. (Other special folder are "content" and "tools")
I'd used this structure :
Root
- lib
- File1.dll
- File2.dll
- File3.dll
See : http://docs.nuget.org/docs/creating-packages/creating-and-publishing-a-package#Package_Conventions for additional details.
With the version of NuGet that is current as of this post (and I assume later versions as well), you can use the .csproj file, in tandem with the .nuspec file to create the package. What we did was make a .nuspec file (using nuget spec and then customizing it) and include it in the project.
With the customized .nuspec file, we used the command:
nuget pack sample.csproj -IncludeReferencedProjects
At that point it built the .nupkg and did not emit issues. The .nupkg file showed up in the normal output folder (in my default case, bin\debug).
You may add references to another dll by adding below inside tag in nuspec file
<package>
<metadata>
...
</metadata>
<files>
<file src="..\ReferencedFolder\*.*" target="lib\net40\" />
</files>
</package>
Alexandre is referring to the "lib" folder that gets created when you create a NuGet package. You can open the .nupkg just like you would any zip file. In there, you will see a lib\netXX folder where XX is the version of the .NET framework you're targeting. So when you're packing your NuGet file, make sure File1.dll is inside the lib folder.
I used Prof Von Lemongargle' solution, and for me was a great solution.
Important:
Include spec file (with right-click-> Include in project) in the project
Give to spec file THE SAME FILENAME of your project (myproject.csproj, myproject.nuspec)
This work perfectly in Visual Studio 2012.
They get into the "lib" folder by being included in your bin\debug or bin\release folder in .NET. So you need to get the project compile to copy local on the external DLLs so it includes them in the bin folder on compile.
If dependencies or libraries have been changed, old files affect the packaging operation.
Remove obj and bin folders from project.
Run dotnet restore
Run nuget pack yournuspecfile.nuspec -properties Configuration=Release -IncludeReferencedProjects or your command whatever.