Create executable with dependencies in other folder

Question

Hello guys. I created an application that uses some image files contained into a folder. The folder is in 'repos\aplication_name\bin\Debug\imagesfolder'. App runs perfect into VirtualStudio. When I compiled solution using 'Publish' option, image folder isn't included. I have been reading about declarated dependecies but I don't understand how to manage it, or even if this is the feature I need. Could you help me? Thanks a lot. PD: Sorry, my english is not so nice as I like!

Answer 1

Hello @JOSE LUIS OLIVA BRAVO Here’s a solution that might help: You can modify your .csproj file to include the image folder when you publish your application. Here’s how you can do it:

<ItemGroup>
  <Content Include="imagesfolder\**">
    <CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
 </Content> 
</ItemGroup> 

This code snippet tells Visual Studio to include all files in the imagesfolder directory and its subdirectories (** is a wildcard that matches any file or directory), and to copy them to the output directory whenever you build your project. If your imagesfolder is empty and you still want to include it in your published application, you can use this workaround:

<Target Name="CreateImagesFolder" AfterTargets="AfterPublish">
  <MakeDir Directories="$(PublishDir)imagesfolder" Condition="!Exists('$(PublishDir)imagesfolder')" />
</Target>

This code snippet creates the imagesfolder directory in your published application if it doesn’t already exist. I hope this helps! Please tag this as answered if this solves your solution. This helps other community readers who may have similar questions.

Answer 2

Hi @JOSE LUIS OLIVA BRAVO ,

Did you successfully include the imagesfolder?

In addition to @Pinaki Ghatak ‘s suggestions, you can right-click your project => Unload Project => right-click it again => Edit Project File to open the project file(.vbproj). After modifying it, right-click it and select Reload Project to reload your project.

The project file(.vbproj) can also be found under your project folder, for example: repos\application_name.

@Pinaki Ghatak shared you two methods, for the first method, you can just modify the properties for every images(in VS) and then directly publish your project. Make sure that following properties(for every images in imagesfolder) are set to Build Action => Content, Copy to Output Directory => Copy if newer.

For the second method, after you added the code into the project file, if it doesn’t work, try to change AfterTargets="AfterPublish" to AfterTargets="Publish" and publish again(the second method creates a new empty imagesfolder in the $(PublishDir)).

Best Regards,

Tianyu

Answer 3

Well, thanks to all people who try helping me. I tried other option. Once I made the release version of program, I copied the 'imagesfoldes' in same location of exe file, and all worked fine.
I don't need more. No comercial soft. And I can modify easyly the images I need, too. Otherwise, I'll try all options you told me. I need improve my knowledge about visual studio. I'm not a full time programmer, only use it when I need some software helping in my job, last time more than 10 years ago.... hi, hi.. Best wishes to all community!