Microsoft.CompactFramework.CSharp.targets was not found while opening projects

Question

I tried to create a smart device project in Visual Studio 2008.

Target Platform: Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC SDK .

.NET Compact Framework version: .NET Compact Framework 3.5

But I get the following error:

Answer 1

It is poorly documented.

Both .NET Compact Framework Redistributable and Power Toys must be installed for all necessary files (such as MSBuild targets files) to be available for compilation.

Answer 2

For all those who end up here as a result of the Windows 10 "anniversary update" note that the file Microsoft.Compactframework.CSharp.Targets can be found in the C:\\Windows.old\\WINDOWS\\Microsoft.NET\\Framework\\v3.5 directory and copied back to where it belongs!

(Same with Microsoft.CompactFramework.Common.targets, Microsoft.CompactFramework.VisualBasic.targets)

Answer 3

It also happened to me, and more than just once, with two projects for Visual Studio 2008 Professional.

It's quite easy for me to solve this problem: just re-install (I use the "Repair" option that seems to work great) the Power Toys for .NET Compact Framework 3.5 . You can find this tool here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13442

I think that sometimes, maybe after some Windows/.NET framework automatic updates, this problem can still occur. But the solution is quite easy in this case, and there is no need to edit the .vbproj/.csproj file!

Answer 4

I met the same mistake . Solution vs2008 repair.

Answer 5

For people landing here via a Google search and using Jetbrains Ryder:

I'm using both VS2008 and Jetbrains Ryder next to each other for development. My VS2008 was working fine whilst Ryder was not. I had to manually copy a few files from one folder to another to make it work.

To fix it you'll have to copy a few targets files from one folder to another.

Go to the folder C:\\Windows\\Microsoft.NET\\Framework\\v3.5 and copy the following files:

• Microsoft.CompactFramework.Common.targets
• Microsoft.CompactFramework.CSharp.targets
• Microsoft.CompactFramework.VisualBasic.targets

Now go to C:\\Program Files (x86)\\MSBuild\\14.0\\Bin and paste the copied files here.

Finally, restart Ryder and you're good to go!

The above steps did the trick for me for the Ryder IDE but if you're having the same troubles with VS2008 it might be worth a shot as well.

Answer 6

Open your csproj file in notepad and Find the below line:

  <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />

and change it into

  <Import Project="$(MSBuildBinPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />

I hope this helped.

Answer 7

I had the same problem Old line:

> <Import
> Project="$(MSBuildBinPath)\Microsoft.CompactFramework.CSharp.targets"
> />

change into:

>  <Import Project="$(MSBuildBinPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />

it works