FIX: You receive a "Could not copy built outputs to the Web" error message when you build a project in Visual Studio .NET 2003 (890625)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2003), Enterprise Architect Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2003), Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2003), Enterprise Developer Edition

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003, when you build a Web project that is several levels deeper than the root Web folder, the project does not compile. You may receive an error message in the output window that is similar to the following message:
Could not copy built outputs to the Web. Unable to add folder '../SubFolderLevelTwo' to Web project. Server error: '../SubFolderLevelTwo' does not refer to a page or folder in this web. It may be a page or folder in a subweb, or it could be a badly formed URL.

Note You create the project in File Share mode.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when you create Web pages that are located more than one level under a virtual root entry in a local Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) Web site. When Visual Studio .NET 2003 builds the path, it concatenates the base path with the remaining URL. Visual Studio does not convert URL or forward slash characters ("/") to path or backward slash characters ("\"). This behavior causes downstream problems for code that expects backward slash marks.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Visual Studio .NET 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

This hotfix is available in the following languages:
  • English (ENG)
  • French (FRA)

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You may have to restart the computer if any services or applications are running that use files that are listed in the "File information" section.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.
  Date         Time      Version      Size       File name
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  22-Mar-2004  12:21:49  7.10.4077.0    286,720  Cmddefui.dll
  18-Mar-2004  17:15:26  7.10.4077.0  1,024,000  Csproj.dll
  22-Mar-2004  12:26:21  7.10.4077.0    208,896  Csprojui.dll
  18-Mar-2004  16:58:04  7.10.4077.0    327,680  Dirprj.dll
  22-Mar-2004  12:21:50  7.10.4077.0     98,304  Msenvmui.dll
  18-Mar-2004  17:09:01  7.10.4077.0  1,515,520  Msvbprj.dll
  22-Mar-2004  12:25:36  7.10.4077.0    212,992  MmsvbprjUI.dll
  18-Mar-2004  14:14:30  7.10.4077.0  1,036,288  Vjsproj.dll
  18-Mar-2004  16:54:17  7.10.4077.0     45,056  Vsa7Director.dll
  18-Mar-2004  17:10:11  7.10.4077.0     81,920  Vsapkg.dll
  18-Mar-2004  16:54:06  7.10.4077.0    917,504  Vsavb7dt.dll
  18-Mar-2004  17:10:33  7.10.4077.0    835,584  Vsavbproj.dll
  18-Mar-2004  17:11:53  7.10.4077.0    344,064  Vsmacros.dll
  18-Mar-2004  16:47:46  7.10.4077.0     40,960  Vsmsvr.exe

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem without using this hotfix, do not create projects that are more than two levels deep past the Web root in the folder. For example, if the C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\Level1 folder exists, you can successfully create a project at C:\Inentpub\wwwroot\Level1\Level2.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to reproduce the behavior

  1. Create a sub-folder that is named Level1 under C:\Inetpub\wwwroot.
  2. In Visual Studio .NET 2003, create a new solution that is named Level2 in the C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\Level1 folder. To create a new solution, click New on the File menu, click Blank Solution, and then click OK.
  3. Make sure that you set the Web access mode to File Share. To do this, click Options on the Tools menu, click Projects, click Web Settings, click File Share under Web access Mode, and then click OK
  4. Add a new project that is named Level3 to the open solution. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. In Solution Explorer, right-click Add, and then click Add Project.
    2. In the Add New Project window, type http://WebServerName/Level1/Level2/Level3 in the location field, and then click OK.

      Note The project name is Level3.
  5. Build the solution multiple times. You will receive the error that is described in the "Symptoms" section.
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/15/2006
Keywords:kbQFE kbDevStudio kbDev kbprb kbfix kbbug kbHotfixServer KB890625 kbAudDeveloper
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