msbuild include / copy from subdirectory to root directory - possible?

Question

Can I include a file from a subdirectory, but have it placed in the root directory of the bulid instead of its original sub directory?

Example: We have multiple robots.txt files for different release configurations. The files are in the solution as \IncludeTest\Development\robots.txt and \IncludeTest\Production\robots.txt

I can dynamically grab them appropriately using something like:

  <ItemGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == 'Development' ">
    <Content Include="IncludeTest\Development\robots.txt">
      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
    </Content>
  </ItemGroup>

but when I do that, I maintain the \IncludeTest\Development\ (or \IncludeTest\Production) directory. Any way to just include it in the root directory, where robots.txt is supposed to be?

Answer 1

The above still did not work for me entirely, but I was able to find a work around based on how you set up the itemgroup:

Including the file in the solution as a link puts it in the root directory. And with your $(Configuration) hint, I was able to do this, and just include it dynamically as a link, rather than copy it over to the root.

<Content Include="..\Robots_Source\$(Configuration)\robots.txt">
  <Link>robots.txt</Link>
</Content>

Answer 2

Not sure I got your question right, let me know whether this work as you expected:

 <ItemGroup>
    <Content Include = "IncludeTest\$(Configuration)\robots.txt">
      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
    </Content>
  </ItemGroup>

Copy to root:

<Copy SourceFiles="@(Content)" 
   DestinationFiles="@(Content ->'..\%(RecursiveDir)%(Filename)%(Extension)')" />

EDIT: It could be problem when files are in nested directories, so try out:

 <Copy SourceFiles="@(Content)" 
   DestinationFiles="@(Content ->'$(MSBuildProjectDirectory)..\%(RecursiveDir)%(Filename)%(Extension)')" />