Visual Studio 2012 Post Build Events - Error Code 255

Question

Here is my attempt to copy my application executable to another folder changing it's name:

IF $(ConfigurationName) == Release (
    SET DESTINATION=$(ProjectDir)Output\Distribution

    IF NOT EXIST "%DESTINATION%" ( MD "%DESTINATION%" )

    XCOPY /Q /Y "$(TargetPath)" "%DESTINATION%"
    RENAME "%DESTINATION%\$(TargetFileName)" "$(TargetName).Plain$(TargetExt)"
)

I've tried everything to make it work, but it always throw error code 255 or 1, it depends. Running that code with a plain batch file works like a charm!

Answer 1

You need to enable delayed expansion , using the SETLOCAL EnableDelayedExpansion command. Do it at the top of the post-build event. After that, you can access your variable by using not %VARIABLE_NAME%, but !VARIABLE_NAME! (use an exclamation symbol on either side of the variable name, not the percentage symbol which you would use in a regular batch file).

So, for example

SETLOCAL EnableDelayedExpansion
IF $(ConfigurationName) == Release (
    SET DESTINATION=$(ProjectDir)Output\Distribution
    echo My destination dir is !DESTINATION!
)

This will output something like

My destination dir is D:\Work\Projects\PBExample\Output\Distribution.

Answer 2

Since the Post-build event command line actually runs as a batch file you need to escape characters like % by doubling them to %%:

https://stackoverflow.com/a/13552702/74585