Item Functions

Starting with MSBuild 4.0, code in tasks and targets can call item functions to get information about the items in the project. These functions simplify getting Distinct() items and are faster than looping through the items.

String Item Functions

You can use string methods and properties in the .NET Framework to operate on any item value. For String methods, specify the method name. For String properties, specify the property name after "get_".

For items that have multiple strings, the string method or property runs on each string.

The following example shows how to use these string item functions.

<ItemGroup>
    <theItem Include="andromeda;tadpole;cartwheel" />
</ItemGroup>

<Target Name = "go">
    <Message Text="IndexOf  @(theItem->IndexOf('r'))" />
    <Message Text="Replace  @(theItem->Replace('tadpole', 'pinwheel'))" />
    <Message Text="Length   @(theItem->get_Length())" />
    <Message Text="Chars    @(theItem->get_Chars(2))" />
</Target>

  <!--
  Output:
    IndexOf  3;-1;2
    Replace  andromeda;pinwheel;cartwheel
    Length   9;7;9
    Chars    d;d;r
  -->

Intrinsic Item Functions

The table below lists the intrinsic functions available for items.

The following example shows how to use intrinsic item functions.

<ItemGroup>
    <TheItem Include="first">
        <Plant>geranium</Plant>
    </TheItem>
    <TheItem Include="second">
        <Plant>algae</Plant>
    </TheItem>
    <TheItem Include="third">
        <Plant>geranium</Plant>
    </TheItem>
</ItemGroup>

<Target Name="go">
    <Message Text="MetaData:    @(TheItem->Metadata('Plant'))" />
    <Message Text="WithMetadataValue: @(TheItem->WithMetadataValue('Plant', 'geranium'))" />
    <Message Text=" " />
    <Message Text="Reverse: @(theItem->Reverse())" />
</Target>

  <!-- 
  Output:
    MetaData:    geranium;algae;geranium
    WithMetadataValue: first;third

    Reverse: third;second;first
  -->

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