How to exclude files and folders in .Net for deployment

Scope

We want to exclude some files or folders when we deploy / publish a project. They are mostly development only or internal folders that is not needed in productions.

Code

1. Create a new XML file in the project folder (the same folder that holds the .csproj or .vbproj file) and name it <projectname>.wpp.targets.
2. Use the following as the base, and modify to include what folders / files to exclude.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<project toolsversion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
  <itemgroup>
    <excludefrompackagefolders include="[semi-colon-separated-folder-list]">
    </excludefrompackagefolders>
    <excludefrompackagefiles include="[semi-colon-separated-files-list]">
    </excludefrompackagefiles>
  </itemgroup>
</project>

Further Reading

• http://www.asp.net/web-forms/overview/deployment/advanced-enterprise-web-deployment/excluding-files-and-folders-from-deployment
• https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff398069