Project Element (MSBuild)

Article
11/15/2016

Note

This article applies to Visual Studio 2015. If you're looking for the latest Visual Studio documentation, see Visual Studio documentation. We recommend upgrading to the latest version of Visual Studio. Download it here

Required root element of an MSBuild project file.

Syntax

<Project InitialTargets="TargetA;TargetB"  
         DefaultTargets="TargetC;TargetD"  
         TreatAsLocalProperty="PropertyA;PropertyB"  
         ToolsVersion=<version number>  
         xmlns="https://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">  
    <Choose>... </Choose>  
    <PropertyGroup>... </PropertyGroup>  
    <ItemGroup>... </ItemGroup>  
    <Target>... </Target>  
    <UsingTask.../>  
    <ProjectExtensions>... </ProjectExtensions>  
    <Import... />  
</Project>

Attributes and Elements

The following sections describe attributes, child elements, and parent elements.

Attributes

Attribute	Description
`DefaultTargets`	Optional attribute. The default target or targets to be the entry point of the build if no target has been specified. Multiple targets are semi-colon (;) delimited. If no default target is specified in either the `DefaultTargets` attribute or the MSBuild command line, the engine executes the first target in the project file after the Import elements have been evaluated.
`InitialTargets`	Optional attribute. The initial target or targets to be run before the targets specified in the `DefaultTargets` attribute or on the command line. Multiple targets are semi-colon (;) delimited.
`ToolsVersion`	Optional attribute. The version of the toolset MSBuild uses to determine the values for $(MSBuildBinPath) and $(MSBuildToolsPath).
`TreatAsLocalProperty`	Optional attribute. Property names that won't be considered to be global. This attribute prevents specific command-line properties from overriding property values that are set in a project or targets file and all subsequent imports. Multiple properties are semi-colon (;) delimited. Normally, global properties override property values that are set in the project or targets file. If the property is listed in the `TreatAsLocalProperty` value, the global property value doesn't override property values that are set in that file and any subsequent imports. For more information, see How to: Build the Same Source Files with Different Options. Note: You set global properties at a command prompt by using the /property (or /p) switch. You can also set or modify global properties for child projects in a multi-project build by using the `Properties` attribute of the MSBuild task. For more information, see MSBuild Task.
`Xmlns`	Required attribute (in MSBuild 15.x and earlier). The `xmlns` attribute must have the value of `https://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003`.

Child Elements

Element	Description
Choose	Optional element. Evaluates child elements to select one set of `ItemGroup` elements and/or `PropertyGroup` elements to evaluate.
Import	Optional element. Enables a project file to import another project file. There may be zero or more `Import` elements in a project.
ItemGroup	Optional element. A grouping element for individual items. Items are specified by using the Item element. There may be zero or more `ItemGroup` elements in a project.
ProjectExtensions	Optional element. Provides a way to persist non-MSBuild information in an MSBuild project file. There may be zero or one `ProjectExtensions` elements in a project.
PropertyGroup	Optional element. A grouping element for individual properties. Properties are specified by using the Property element. There may be zero or more `PropertyGroup` elements in a project.
Target	Optional element. Contains a set of tasks for MSBuild to sequentially execute. Tasks are specified by using the Task element. There may be zero or more `Target` elements in a project.
UsingTask	Optional element. Provides a way to register tasks in MSBuild. There may be zero or more `UsingTask` elements in a project.

Parent Elements

None.