Different ways to pass variables in MSBuild

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  • $(...)is used to access Property value (More info on Property element)

    <PropertyGroup>
  <Configuration>Debug</Configuration>
</PropertyGroup>

<Message Text="Configuration = $(Configuration)"/>

  • @(...) is used to access Item value (More info on Item element)

    <ItemGroup>
  <Reference Include="System.Data"/>
  <Reference Include="System.Web.*"/>
</ItemGroup>

<Message Text="References = @(Reference)"/>

  • %(...) is used to acces Item Metadata value (More info on Item Metadata). It’s also used to do batching.

    <ItemGroup>
  <Compile Include="Account\ChangePassword.aspx.cs">
    <DependentUpon>ChangePassword.aspx</DependentUpon>
    <SubType>ASPXCodeBehind</SubType>
  <Compile/>
</ItemGroup>

<Message Text="Element @(Compile) of subtype %(SubType) and depend of %(DependentUpon)"/>

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