`msbuild` command not found, but `msbuild.exe` works fine

Question

I run MSys/Bash as distributed in Git for Windows. I added the folder C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319 to my path, so I could run msbuild but it doesn't work

$ msbuild
C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin\sh.exe: msbuild: command not found

Yet msbuild.exe does:

$ msbuild.exe
Microsoft (R) Build Engine version 4.0.30319.17929

Yet the command explorer resolves fine. What's going on?

Other folk have the same problem with `mplayer` under MSys http://mingw.5.n7.nabble.com/Directory-with-same-name-as-program-confuses-bash-td28382.html — Colonel Panic, Jan 21 '13 at 23:35
I'm having the same problem, but msbuild.exe also do not work. I tried both answeres but only when I call the msbuild.exe directly by its full Path then it works. — Sebastian, Aug 14 '14 at 06:20
Add msbuild.exe to your system PATH variable. That worked for me — Shaswat Rungta, Aug 30 '17 at 06:45

score 17 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 11 '12 at 11:23

17

It's a bug in MSys where the same name is shared by a folder and a file (minus the extension). In this case:

File C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\MSBuild.exe
Folder C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\MSBuild

You'll have to workaround by writing msbuild.exe

answered Dec 11 '12 at 11:23

Colonel Panic

132,665
89
401
465

3

You can also work around this by making a link named `msbuild` to `msbuild.exe`, in a directory that precedes the `...\Framework\v4.0.30319` directory in `PATH`. – danwyand Jan 30 '14 at 19:39

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 16 '22 at 15:53

0

If the exe file outputs not found, do copy C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\MSBuild.exe ProjectPath
And then run msbuild.exe

answered Jan 16 '22 at 15:53

berriz44

62
1
1
13

I'd rather create a symlink... – HolyBlackCat Jan 16 '22 at 16:25

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered May 20 '14 at 03:03

-1

If msbuild.exe cannot be found, it needs to be configured.

Open a command prompt and run the file vsvars32.bat located in your Visual Studio Common7/Tools folder..

i.e C:\Program Files x86\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\Tools\vsvars32.bat

This will correctly setup all the neccessary variables for msbuild.exe to be found.

answered May 20 '14 at 03:03

Greg Quinn

1,927
1
23
26

This is not working on my Windows 8.1 with Visual Studio 2013. There is also no output from the vsvars32.bat?! I have tried it also with a admin shell without success. – Sebastian Aug 14 '14 at 06:18
1

For me, it's now located on `C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Community\Common7\Tools\vsdevcmd\ext`. – Earlee Apr 30 '21 at 03:34

`msbuild` command not found, but `msbuild.exe` works fine

3 Answers3

Linked

Related