Get the path to the most recent msbuild.exe from the registry:
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| @echo off | |
| :: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/328017/path-to-msbuild | |
| :: http://www.csharp411.com/where-to-find-msbuild-exe/ | |
| :: http://timrayburn.net/blog/visual-studio-2013-and-msbuild/ | |
| :: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudio/archive/2013/07/24/msbuild-is-now-part-of-visual-studio.aspx | |
| setlocal | |
| :vswhereModernTry | |
| :: https://github.com/Microsoft/vswhere/wiki/Find-MSBuild | |
| :: Normal output example of `vswhere -legacy -latest -property installationPath` has no trailing back-slash: | |
| :: `C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\` | |
| for /f "usebackq tokens=*" %%i in (`vswhere -latest -products * -requires Microsoft.Component.MSBuild -property installationPath`) do ( | |
| set InstallDir=%%i | |
| ) | |
| :: without ENABLEEXTENSIONS, %InstallDir% is only available outside the above loop. | |
| for %%v in (15.0, 14.0) do ( | |
| if exist "%InstallDir%\MSBuild\%%v\Bin\MSBuild.exe" ( | |
| set msBuildExe="%InstallDir%\MSBuild\%%v\Bin\MSBuild.exe" | |
| goto :finish | |
| ) | |
| ) | |
| :manualTry | |
| :: order of the versions is important: get the most recent one | |
| for %%v in (14.0, 12.0, 4.0, 3.5, 2.0) do ( | |
| for /f "usebackq tokens=2* delims= " %%c in (`reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSBuild\ToolsVersions\%%v" /v MSBuildToolsPath`) do ( | |
| set msBuildExe="%%dMSBuild.exe" | |
| goto :finish | |
| ) | |
| ) | |
| :vswhereLegacyTry | |
| :: -legacy is not compatible with -products or -requires | |
| :: note there is no Visual Studio 13.0 (just like there is no Office 13.0) likely because USA superstition. | |
| :: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Visual_Studio#History | |
| :: msbuild was introduced in Visual Studio 8.0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSBuild#History | |
| :: Legacy output example of `vswhere -legacy -latest -property installationPath` has trailing back-slash: | |
| :: `C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\` | |
| for /f "usebackq tokens=*" %%i in (`vswhere -legacy -latest -property installationPath`) do ( | |
| set InstallDir=%%i | |
| ) | |
| :: without ENABLEEXTENSIONS, %InstallDir% is only available outside the above loop. | |
| for %%v in (14.0, 12.0, 11.0, 10.0, 9.0, 8.0) do ( | |
| if exist "%InstallDir%MSBuild\%%v\Bin\MSBuild.exe" ( | |
| set msBuildExe="%InstallDir%MSBuild\%%v\Bin\MSBuild.exe" | |
| goto :finish | |
| ) | |
| ) | |
| :: nothing found | |
| :finish | |
| endlocal & if not [%msBuildExe%]==[] if exist %msBuildExe% ( echo %msBuildExe% ) |
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| for /f "usebackq tokens=*" %%c in (`"%~dp0get-msbuildExe-path.bat"`) do ( | |
| call %%c %* | |
| ) |
With help from:
- .net – Path to MSBuild – Stack Overflow.
- Where to Find MSBuild.exe : C# 411.
- TimRayburn.net – Visual Studio 2013 and MSBuild.
- MSBuild is now part of Visual Studio! – The Visual Studio Blog – Site Home – MSDN Blogs.
Note
This needs adoption for Visual Studio 2017 (15.0) and up; see the comments at the above gist:
–jeroen
The Wiert Corner - irregular stream of stuff 
lextm commented on Mar 9, 2017 •
vswhereis now recommended to locate MSBuild 15,https://github.com/Microsoft/vswhere
n9 commented on May 17, 2017
vswhere -products *to get standalone installation of BuildTools. (See Microsoft/vswhere#61.)