MSBuild Task Configuration Property

Three VS Solutions. First is configured to build as Release, and the other two set to build as Debug.

When running a simple MSBuild script explicitly stating the configuration to build (Debug) the first project is still built as Release.

Sample script:

    <Target Name="Build">
    <ItemGroup>
      <ProjectToBuild Include="$(SolutionsPath)\Solution1.sln"/>
      <ProjectToBuild Include="$(SolutionsPath)\Core\Solution2.sln"/>
      <ProjectToBuild Include="$(SolutionsPath)\UI\Solution3.sln"/>
    </ItemGroup>

    <MSBuild Projects="@(ProjectToBuild)" Targets="Rebuild" Properties="Configuration=Debug;Platform=Any CPU"/>

  </Target>

I have tried variations of the above such as:

    <Target Name="Build">
    <ItemGroup>
      <ProjectToBuild Include="$(SolutionsPath)\Solution1.sln"><Properties>Configuration=Debug</Properties></ProjectToBuild>
      <ProjectToBuild Include="$(SolutionsPath)\Core\Solution2.sln"><Properties>Configuration=Debug</Properties></ProjectToBuild>
      <ProjectToBuild Include="$(SolutionsPath)\UI\Solution3.sln"><Properties>Configuration=Debug</Properties></ProjectToBuild>
    </ItemGroup>

    <MSBuild Projects="@(ProjectToBuild)" Targets="Rebuild" Properties="Platform=Any CPU"/>

  </Target>

but always end up with the same result.

I note there is a similar question but that is specific to TFS and Teambuild. I am talking pure MSBuild with a simple project file created from scratch.

Any ideas?

From stackoverflow

• Have you tried running with /v:diag?

  Also, aside: I think you want "AnyCPU" (no space).

  crowleym : FYI Any CPU is correct... : error MSB4126: The specified solution configuration "Debug|AnyCPU" is invalid. Please specify a valid solution configuration using the Configuration and Platform properties (e.g. MSBuild.exe Solution.sln /p:Configuration=Debug /p:Platform="Any CPU")

• OK I have found the issue. Nothing related to MSBuild, but instead the solution being built. Posting to save someone else the heartache.

  For whatever reason the Debug configuration was configured within the solution like so:

  

  So MSBuild was only doing what it was told too...

• I was getting this same error. The solution was to explicitly specify the target platform with:

  msbuild.exe /p:Platform="Any CPU"
  

  This only started happening since I upgraded to windows 7, so I guess it is something to do with that.