[wix-users] unable to build any WIX projects in VS2015 and Win10

[Brian Enderle]

This might have something to do with installed frameworks (see
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/astebner/archive/2007/03/14/mailbag-what-version-of-the-net-framework-is-included-in-what-version-of-the-os.aspx).
Windows 7 came with .NET 3.5 installed and Windows 10 comes with 4.5
installed and 3.5 as an option which you can add via "Programs and
Features".

Check which version of .NET you are targeting in your application project
(right-click on project name and look under Application for Target
Framework).  If you are targeting .NET 3.5 there are DLLs for both
"Microsoft.Build.Utilities" and "Microsoft.Build.Utilities.v3.5".  In .NET
4.0+ there is just "Microsoft.Build.Utilities.v4.0"

The error message "Could not load file or assembly
'Microsoft.Build.Utilities, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a' or one of its dependencies" would seem to
indicate you are attempting to reference .NET 3.5 and the project is
targeting .NET 4.0+. There is no "Microsoft.Build.Utilities" available in
.NET 4.0+

If the application's framework is .NET 4.0 or higher, check
the application's references and if there is a reference to
Microsoft.Build.Utilities, remove it and add the Microsoft.Build.Utilities.v4.0
reference.



Brian

If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.  -
Albert Einstein

On Sun, Nov 29, 2015 at 9:30 PM, Ian Bell <ib at ianbellsoftware.com> wrote:

> Hello,
>
>
>
> I have just starting learning WIX and am unable to build WIX projects in
> VS2015 under Win10 Pro.   In particular, the problem appears related to
> Win10 because I am able to build/run my test WIX projects under Windows 7
> but not under Win10.
>
>
>
> I am working with the WIX Toolset v3.10.  Problems only occur when building
> WIX projects in Visual Studio under Win10 (i.e. not Win7).  So  the
> problems
> appear to be specifically related to Win10.   For example, under Win7, I am
> able to successfully create and build the Simple Setup project described in
> the Win tutorial.   In contrast, when I copy the entire VS2015 test
> solution
> that includes the Simple Setup project to the Win10 computer then attempts
> to build it generate the following error message:
>
>
>
>
> Severity
>
> Code
>
> Description
>
> Project
>
> File
>
> Line
>
>
> Error
>
>
>
> The "CreateProjectReferenceDefineConstants" task could not be loaded from
> the assembly C:\Program Files (x86)\WiX Toolset v3.10\bin\\WixTasks.dll.
> Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.Build.Utilities,
> Version=2.0.0.0,
> Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a' or one of its
> dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified. Confirm that the
> <UsingTask> declaration is correct, that the assembly and all its
> dependencies are available, and that the task contains a public class that
> implements Microsoft.Build.Framework.ITask.
>
> MySetup
>
> C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft\WiX\v3.x\wix2010.targets
>
> 1279
>
>
>
> As mentioned, I have successfully created, built and run a my own build
> simple WIX projects under Win7.   However, copying or simply rewriting them
> in VS2015  on the Win10 computer, all of them generates various error
> messages such as the following:
>
> msb4062: the "generatecompilewithobjectpath" task could not be loaded from
> the assembly c:\program files (x86)\wix toolset v3.10\bin\\wixtasks.dll
>
>
>
> My attempts at researching  such error messages lead to irrelevant
> responses
> and no answers.  I am hoping you will be able to offer some assistance to
> the immediate problem of getting the WIX Simple Setup tutorial to
> successfully build under VS2015 and Win10 (i.e. which is my targeted
> development environment).
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
>
>
> Ian
>
>
>
>
>
>
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