Run a bat file on Visual Studio build event

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Hi all,

I want to run a bat file on my project build. So I set the pre-build event command line as follows.

$(ProjectDir)\build.bat

However, seems it is not working. Can anybody give me a clue to solve it.

BTW, I am using VS 2008 and the project is C# console app.

Thanks in advance.

Posted 20-Feb-12 2:35am

CodingLover

Updated 26-Dec-21 5:07am

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Richard MacCutchan · Answer 1 · 2012-02-20T02:53:00

Solution 1

it is not working
This gives us absolutely nothing to go on.

I would suggest you edit your project so the event reads:

echo $(ProjectDir)\build.bat

That should help you to figure out what may be happening. You should also check your build output screen and logs for any error or warning messages.

Posted 20-Feb-12 2:53am

Richard MacCutchan

Comments

CodingLover 20-Feb-12 22:00pm

Actually what my bat file does is compile a *.chm file, a help package to my project. So all the page in place and once I double-click on the bat it create the help successfully, without any error.

However as I mention above once I build the project it says "Unable to open Help.hhp" which is my config file. Any idea why it is really happens?

Richard MacCutchan 21-Feb-12 3:52am

Well I guess the file may be in use, the path is incorrect, the filename is spelled wrong ...
You need to do some closer examination of your parameters to see why.

CodingLover 21-Feb-12 4:11am

Here what I have tried,

Simply print the path of the file and it is available in the relevant path. So no issue was there.

I couldn't find a direct way to identify that my hhp file is in use by another app. Simply restart the PC and still didn't work. However, if I double click on my bat file it is successfully compiled and create the chm file.

Richard MacCutchan 21-Feb-12 5:17am

There must still be something amiss with your configuration or settings. Where does this message get produced from, and have you checked the logs from this part of the build?

alekseich · Answer 2 · 2012-02-20T04:52:00

Solution 2

$(ProjectDir) variable already contains trailing slash '\'. Thus you should not write it again. Try to use the following string:
$(ProjectDir)build.bat

Posted 20-Feb-12 4:52am

alekseich

Comments

CodingLover 20-Feb-12 22:02pm

It doesn't work.

Richard MacCutchan 21-Feb-12 3:54am

Stop saying "It doesn't work." in response to suggestions. How can you expect people to help you if the best you can do is respond with this useless piece of non-information? Try and help yourself by collecting some useful diagnostic information, and explain exactly what happens.

CodingLover 21-Feb-12 4:08am

I am just replying on what that OP suggest, not asking any question in that particular post mate.

Richard MacCutchan 21-Feb-12 5:15am

Yes, and as I pointed out, your reply is pointless as it conveys no information whatsoever.

marlo_1981 · Answer 3 · 2021-12-26T05:07:00

Solution 4

I think excluding the slash should be half of the problem. Also, if your path contains spaces, surround the whole thing with double quotes so it ends up like this:

"$(ProjectDir)build.bat"

This should work.

Posted 26-Dec-21 5:07am

marlo_1981

Updated 26-Dec-21 5:08am

v2

Member 10970146 · Answer 4 · 2014-07-24T19:45:00

Solution 3

you need to use the call command and loose the trailing slash

call $(ProjectDir)build.bat

Posted 24-Jul-14 19:45pm

Member 10970146