Getting Error when using MSBuild from the command line, but building fine within VS

[michael_baum]

Hi,

I have an Installshield 2018 Lite project that I'm trying to build from the command line. It builds correctly when I build in Visual Studio, but when I use MSBuild, I get hundreds of identical errors.

The error is :

No outputs for project "" were provided, but the installation project references ".".

And I'm not omitting any project names from that, it's just empty and a period respectively.

Is there any idea on what could be causing this error?

Thanks,
Michael

[Jenifer]

michael.baum wrote:
Hi,

I have an Installshield 2018 Lite project that I'm trying to build from the command line. It builds correctly when I build in Visual Studio, but when I use MSBuild, I get hundreds of identical errors.

The error is :

No outputs for project "" were provided, but the installation project references ".".

And I'm not omitting any project names from that, it's just empty and a period respectively.

Is there any idea on what could be causing this error?

Thanks,
Michael

Hi,

Can you mention the command line you used for building InstallShield solution?

Can you post complete error log to give more insight on where it can go wrong?

One more quick check would be:Verify these files(InstallShield.targets &InstallShield.Tasks.dll) of InstallShield listed under C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\\


Thanks,
Jenifer

[michael_baum]

Hi Jenifer,

My command line was:

MSBuild.exe "C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isproj" /property:Configuration=SingleImage /verbosity:d /flp:logfile=C:\Temp\mylog.log /noconlog

Here is my log file, all the errors are in one spot, where I put ###ERRORS###:

Build started 2/27/2019 5:37:01 PM.
Project "C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isproj" on node 1 (default targets).
Building with tools version "4.0".
Target "Build" in file "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\InstallShield\2018 Lite\InstallShield.targets" from project "C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isproj" (entry point):
Task "Error" skipped, due to false condition; ('$(MSBuildToolsVersion)' < '3.5') was evaluated as ('4.0' < '3.5').
Task "AssignProjectConfiguration" skipped, due to false condition; ( '$(BuildingSolutionFile)' == 'true' and '@(ProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' == 'true' and '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_PrimaryOutput)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_DebugSymbols)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_Documentation)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_Satellites)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_SourceFiles)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ContentFiles)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(ProjectFolderReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Using "CreateItem" task from assembly "Microsoft.Build.Tasks.v4.0, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a".
Task "CreateItem"
Done executing task "CreateItem".
Using "Message" task from assembly "Microsoft.Build.Tasks.v4.0, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a".
Task "Message"
  Project Output Files:
  			InstallShieldPath='C:\Program Files (x86)\InstallShield\2018 Lite\System'
  			Project='C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isl'
  			ProductConfiguration='Express'
  			ReleaseConfiguration='SingleImage'
  			PatchConfiguration=''
  			ReleaseFlags=''
  			OutputGroups=''
  			MergeModulePath=''
  			ProductVersion=''
  			PropertyOverrides=''
  			PathVariables=''
  			PreprocessorDefines=''
  			PrerequisitePath=''
  			RunMsiValidator=''
              InstallShieldVerboseOutput=''
  			MSIPackageFileName=''	
  			SummaryInfoComments=''	
  		
Done executing task "Message".
Using "InstallShield" task from assembly "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\InstallShield\2018 Lite\InstallShield.Tasks.dll".
Task "InstallShield"
  Checking path C:\Program Files (x86)\InstallShield\2018 Lite\System for InstallShield System Folder
  Found IsWiBuild.dll.
  Loaded IsWiBuild.dll.
  InstallShield (R) Limited
  Release Builder
  Copyright (c) 2018 Flexera Software LLC.
  
  All Rights Reserved.
  Using Release Flags: 
  Stop at first error: False
  Building Product Configuration: Express
  Building Release: SingleImage
  Only Upgrading: False
  Allowing upgrade validation: True
  Building project: C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isl
  Created release folders
  AdminExecuteSequence table successfully built
  AdminUISequence table successfully built
  AdvtExecuteSequence table successfully built
  AdvtUISequence table successfully built
  InstallExecuteSequence table successfully built
  InstallUISequence table successfully built
  Directory table successfully built
  Feature table successfully built
  FeatureComponents table successfully built
  Component table successfully built
  Loading File table
  Building File table
###ERRORS###
###ERRORS###
###ERRORS###
###ERRORS###
###ERRORS###
###ERRORS###
  File table successfully built
  Building MsiFileHash table
  MsiFileHash table successfully built
  Class table successfully built
  Extension table successfully built
  ActionText table successfully built
  AppSearch table successfully built
  CCPSearch table successfully built
  Condition table successfully built
  AppId table successfully built
  Property table successfully built
  Embedding file C:\Program Files (x86)\InstallShield\2018 Lite\Redist\Language Independent\x64\ISBEW64.exe into isregsvr.dll
  Started signing isregsvr.dll ...
  Binary table successfully built
  CompLocator table successfully built
  ControlCondition table successfully built
  ControlEvent table successfully built
  CreateFolder table successfully built
  CustomAction table successfully built
  Error table successfully built
  DrLocator table successfully built
  DuplicateFile table successfully built
  Environment table successfully built
  EventMapping table successfully built
  Font table successfully built
  ProgId table successfully built
  ISIISItem table successfully built
  ISIISProperty table successfully built
  ISSelfReg table successfully built
  IniFile table successfully built
  IniLocator table successfully built
  LaunchCondition table successfully built
  MIME table successfully built
  MoveFile table successfully built
  MsiAssembly table successfully built
  MsiAssemblyName table successfully built
  MsiDigitalCertificate table successfully built
  MsiDigitalSignature table successfully built
  MsiPackageCertificate table successfully built
  MsiPatchCertificate table successfully built
  MsiShortcutProperty table successfully built
  PatchPackage table successfully built
  PublishComponent table successfully built
  RegLocator table successfully built
  Registry table successfully built
  RemoveFile table successfully built
  RemoveIniFile table successfully built
  RemoveRegistry table successfully built
  ReserveCost table successfully built
  SelfReg table successfully built
  ServiceControl table successfully built
  ServiceInstall table successfully built
  Shortcut table successfully built
  Signature table successfully built
  TextStyle table successfully built
  TypeLib table successfully built
  UIText table successfully built
  Upgrade table successfully built
  Verb table successfully built
  _Validation table successfully built
  Searching project for extract-at-build components...
  Building scanned MsiAssembly records
  Building scanned MsiAssemblyName records
  Validating Custom Action sequencing
  Embedding manifest SetupExe.Highest.manifest into setup.exe
  Dialog AdminChangeFolder for language English (United States) built
  Dialog AdminNetworkLocation for language English (United States) built
  Dialog AdminWelcome for language English (United States) built
  Dialog CancelSetup for language English (United States) built
  Dialog CustomSetup for language English (United States) built
  Dialog CustomSetupTips for language English (United States) built
  Dialog CustomerInformation for language English (United States) built
  Dialog DatabaseFolder for language English (United States) built
  Dialog DestinationFolder for language English (United States) built
  Dialog DiskSpaceRequirements for language English (United States) built
  Dialog FilesInUse for language English (United States) built
  Dialog InstallChangeFolder for language English (United States) built
  Dialog InstallWelcome for language English (United States) built
  Dialog LicenseAgreement for language English (United States) built
  Dialog MaintenanceType for language English (United States) built
  Dialog MaintenanceWelcome for language English (United States) built
  Dialog MsiRMFilesInUse for language English (United States) built
  Dialog OutOfSpace for language English (United States) built
  Dialog PatchWelcome for language English (United States) built
  Dialog ReadmeInformation for language English (United States) built
  Dialog ReadyToInstall for language English (United States) built
  Dialog ReadyToRemove for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupCompleteError for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupCompleteSuccess for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupError for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupInitialization for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupInterrupted for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupProgress for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupResume for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupType for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SplashBitmap for language English (United States) built
  Resolving strings...
  Language English (United States) built
  Building .cab files...
  Data1.cab built
  Files built
  Media table successfully built
  Started signing certificate.msi ...
  Started signing Outlook Add-In.msi ...
  Setup.exe created
  Started signing setup.exe ...
  Automatic update notification disabled
  Express\SingleImage - 0 error(s), 0 warning(s)
  Log file has been created: 

Done executing task "InstallShield" -- FAILED.
Done building target "Build" in project "OutlookAddInSetup.isproj" -- FAILED.
Done Building Project "C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isproj" (default targets) -- FAILED.

And I verified that both

C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\InstallShield\2018 Lite\InstallShield.targets
C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\InstallShield\2018 Lite\InstallShield.Tasks.dll

exists and are on my machine.

Thanks for your help,
Michael

[Jenifer]

michael.baum wrote:
Hi Jenifer,

My command line was:

MSBuild.exe "C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isproj" /property:Configuration=SingleImage /verbosity:d /flp:logfile=C:\Temp\mylog.log /noconlog

Here is my log file, all the errors are in one spot, where I put ###ERRORS###:

Build started 2/27/2019 5:37:01 PM.
Project "C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isproj" on node 1 (default targets).
Building with tools version "4.0".
Target "Build" in file "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\InstallShield\2018 Lite\InstallShield.targets" from project "C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isproj" (entry point):
Task "Error" skipped, due to false condition; ('$(MSBuildToolsVersion)' < '3.5') was evaluated as ('4.0' < '3.5').
Task "AssignProjectConfiguration" skipped, due to false condition; ( '$(BuildingSolutionFile)' == 'true' and '@(ProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' == 'true' and '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_PrimaryOutput)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_DebugSymbols)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_Documentation)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_Satellites)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_SourceFiles)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "MSBuild" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ConfiguredProjectReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(_ContentFiles)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Task "CreateItem" skipped, due to false condition; ( '@(ProjectFolderReference)' != '' ) was evaluated as ( '' != '' ).
Using "CreateItem" task from assembly "Microsoft.Build.Tasks.v4.0, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a".
Task "CreateItem"
Done executing task "CreateItem".
Using "Message" task from assembly "Microsoft.Build.Tasks.v4.0, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a".
Task "Message"
  Project Output Files:
  			InstallShieldPath='C:\Program Files (x86)\InstallShield\2018 Lite\System'
  			Project='C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isl'
  			ProductConfiguration='Express'
  			ReleaseConfiguration='SingleImage'
  			PatchConfiguration=''
  			ReleaseFlags=''
  			OutputGroups=''
  			MergeModulePath=''
  			ProductVersion=''
  			PropertyOverrides=''
  			PathVariables=''
  			PreprocessorDefines=''
  			PrerequisitePath=''
  			RunMsiValidator=''
              InstallShieldVerboseOutput=''
  			MSIPackageFileName=''	
  			SummaryInfoComments=''	
  		
Done executing task "Message".
Using "InstallShield" task from assembly "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\InstallShield\2018 Lite\InstallShield.Tasks.dll".
Task "InstallShield"
  Checking path C:\Program Files (x86)\InstallShield\2018 Lite\System for InstallShield System Folder
  Found IsWiBuild.dll.
  Loaded IsWiBuild.dll.
  InstallShield (R) Limited
  Release Builder
  Copyright (c) 2018 Flexera Software LLC.
  
  All Rights Reserved.
  Using Release Flags: 
  Stop at first error: False
  Building Product Configuration: Express
  Building Release: SingleImage
  Only Upgrading: False
  Allowing upgrade validation: True
  Building project: C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isl
  Created release folders
  AdminExecuteSequence table successfully built
  AdminUISequence table successfully built
  AdvtExecuteSequence table successfully built
  AdvtUISequence table successfully built
  InstallExecuteSequence table successfully built
  InstallUISequence table successfully built
  Directory table successfully built
  Feature table successfully built
  FeatureComponents table successfully built
  Component table successfully built
  Loading File table
  Building File table
###ERRORS###
###ERRORS###
###ERRORS###
###ERRORS###
###ERRORS###
###ERRORS###
  File table successfully built
  Building MsiFileHash table
  MsiFileHash table successfully built
  Class table successfully built
  Extension table successfully built
  ActionText table successfully built
  AppSearch table successfully built
  CCPSearch table successfully built
  Condition table successfully built
  AppId table successfully built
  Property table successfully built
  Embedding file C:\Program Files (x86)\InstallShield\2018 Lite\Redist\Language Independent\x64\ISBEW64.exe into isregsvr.dll
  Started signing isregsvr.dll ...
  Binary table successfully built
  CompLocator table successfully built
  ControlCondition table successfully built
  ControlEvent table successfully built
  CreateFolder table successfully built
  CustomAction table successfully built
  Error table successfully built
  DrLocator table successfully built
  DuplicateFile table successfully built
  Environment table successfully built
  EventMapping table successfully built
  Font table successfully built
  ProgId table successfully built
  ISIISItem table successfully built
  ISIISProperty table successfully built
  ISSelfReg table successfully built
  IniFile table successfully built
  IniLocator table successfully built
  LaunchCondition table successfully built
  MIME table successfully built
  MoveFile table successfully built
  MsiAssembly table successfully built
  MsiAssemblyName table successfully built
  MsiDigitalCertificate table successfully built
  MsiDigitalSignature table successfully built
  MsiPackageCertificate table successfully built
  MsiPatchCertificate table successfully built
  MsiShortcutProperty table successfully built
  PatchPackage table successfully built
  PublishComponent table successfully built
  RegLocator table successfully built
  Registry table successfully built
  RemoveFile table successfully built
  RemoveIniFile table successfully built
  RemoveRegistry table successfully built
  ReserveCost table successfully built
  SelfReg table successfully built
  ServiceControl table successfully built
  ServiceInstall table successfully built
  Shortcut table successfully built
  Signature table successfully built
  TextStyle table successfully built
  TypeLib table successfully built
  UIText table successfully built
  Upgrade table successfully built
  Verb table successfully built
  _Validation table successfully built
  Searching project for extract-at-build components...
  Building scanned MsiAssembly records
  Building scanned MsiAssemblyName records
  Validating Custom Action sequencing
  Embedding manifest SetupExe.Highest.manifest into setup.exe
  Dialog AdminChangeFolder for language English (United States) built
  Dialog AdminNetworkLocation for language English (United States) built
  Dialog AdminWelcome for language English (United States) built
  Dialog CancelSetup for language English (United States) built
  Dialog CustomSetup for language English (United States) built
  Dialog CustomSetupTips for language English (United States) built
  Dialog CustomerInformation for language English (United States) built
  Dialog DatabaseFolder for language English (United States) built
  Dialog DestinationFolder for language English (United States) built
  Dialog DiskSpaceRequirements for language English (United States) built
  Dialog FilesInUse for language English (United States) built
  Dialog InstallChangeFolder for language English (United States) built
  Dialog InstallWelcome for language English (United States) built
  Dialog LicenseAgreement for language English (United States) built
  Dialog MaintenanceType for language English (United States) built
  Dialog MaintenanceWelcome for language English (United States) built
  Dialog MsiRMFilesInUse for language English (United States) built
  Dialog OutOfSpace for language English (United States) built
  Dialog PatchWelcome for language English (United States) built
  Dialog ReadmeInformation for language English (United States) built
  Dialog ReadyToInstall for language English (United States) built
  Dialog ReadyToRemove for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupCompleteError for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupCompleteSuccess for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupError for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupInitialization for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupInterrupted for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupProgress for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupResume for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SetupType for language English (United States) built
  Dialog SplashBitmap for language English (United States) built
  Resolving strings...
  Language English (United States) built
  Building .cab files...
  Data1.cab built
  Files built
  Media table successfully built
  Started signing certificate.msi ...
  Started signing Outlook Add-In.msi ...
  Setup.exe created
  Started signing setup.exe ...
  Automatic update notification disabled
  Express\SingleImage - 0 error(s), 0 warning(s)
  Log file has been created: 

Done executing task "InstallShield" -- FAILED.
Done building target "Build" in project "OutlookAddInSetup.isproj" -- FAILED.
Done Building Project "C:\DevMichael\OutlookAddIn\OutlookAddInSetup\OutlookAddInSetup.isproj" (default targets) -- FAILED.

And I verified that both

C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\InstallShield\2018 Lite\InstallShield.targets
C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\InstallShield\2018 Lite\InstallShield.Tasks.dll

exists and are on my machine.

Thanks for your help,
Michael

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.I couldn't see any specific error in the log you had updated.In fact installshield outputs 0 errors:
Express\SingleImage - 0 error(s), 0 warning(s)
Log file has been created:

But generic reason for this error "No outputs for project " were provided, but the installation project references "would be:
InstallShield-derived MSBuild isn't known to the project/option/configuration you had appended.

One more quick check is:Make sure you run MSBuild from the path "c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\\MSBuild\15.0\Bin>


Thanks,
Jenifer

[michael_baum]

I have been running MSBuild from "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319>", but I just ran from your suggested path and I'm still getting the errors.

It seems that it is only an issue with how MSBuild interprets the isproj, because the project ends up building a working installer.

The only issue is that because of these errors, I have to check the logs each time the project is built to see if these are the only errors or if there are actually harmful errors.

Can you explain more what you mean by "InstallShield-derived MSBuild isn't known to the project/option/configuration you had appended."?

Thanks for your help so far,
Michael

[Christopher_Pai]

Maybe this old thread will help:

https://community.flexerasoftware.com/showthread.php?191551-MSBuild-No-outputs-for-project-x-were-provided-but-the-installation-project


Last time I checked InstallShield requires 32bit MSBuild.

[michael_baum]

Christopher Painter wrote:
Maybe this old thread will help:

https://community.flexerasoftware.com/showthread.php?191551-MSBuild-No-outputs-for-project-x-were-provided-but-the-installation-project


Last time I checked InstallShield requires 32bit MSBuild.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I checked my .isl and .isproj files, but none of the project paths or file names were being cutoff. The only thing I saw was that, in the Files table, the key column had names that got cut off. The Component, File Name, and ISBuildSourcePath were all correct though. I assumed that the key just needs to match the keypath in another table, which they all do, and the number of errors doesn't correlate with the number being cutoff.