Where can I download the .NET 4.5 Multitargeting Pack for my build server?

47
votes

I want to build a .net 4.5/VS2012 solution in TeamCity. My builds work on the agent that has VS2012 installed, but on the agent that doesn't have VS2012, I get warnings like this:

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Microsoft.Common.targets(983,5): warning MSB3644: The reference assemblies for framework ".NETFramework,Version=v4.5" were not found.

To resolve this, install the SDK or Targeting Pack for this framework version or retarget your application to a version of the framework for which you have the SDK or Targeting Pack installed. Note that assemblies will be resolved from the Global Assembly Cache (GAC) and will be used in place of reference assemblies. Therefore your assembly may not be correctly targeted for the framework you intend.

Can I install the targets without installing all of Visual Studio 2012, like I could with .NET 4.0?

Where's the download?

(I feel ridiculous asking this...but I have searched and searched for it! Honest! This site suggests it's only available with VS2012, which seems like madness.)

8
.netcontinuous-integration.net-4.5
Have you installed .NET 4.5 itself on the build agent? That may be enough. – Jon Skeet
Yes, I have--the 48mb download. It doesn't seem to be enough. – Michael Haren
Hmmm. Maybe this particular issue is actually only giving me build warnings, not errors. Not as big of a deal, but I'm still curious if there's a way... – Michael Haren
I gave up and just installed Visual Studio 2012 Express (for web). That fixed it. – Michael Haren
Same here. Builds fine with build agent on development machine. Fails with same problem on the build server agent. Copying the folder and rebooting didn't help - guess it doesn't register it with the GAC correctly. Installing VS2012 for web now ... Damn you MS and your assembly fragmentation! – Ales Potocnik Hahonina

8 Answers

87
votes

You don't need to install any SDK. Just copy the following folder from your development machine into the same folder of your TFS build machine:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.5

If this doesn't work for you, refer to: http://getdotnet.azurewebsites.net/target-dotnet-platforms.html where you'll find the SDKs you need. However note the comment from @Lu55: Link to "Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows 8" from .NET Framework 4.5 section unexpectedly redirects to "Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows 8.1" which is for .NET Framework 4.5.1.

@dotarj mentions: The link for Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows 8, which is actually for .NET Framework 4.5, is: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/windows-8-sdk

27
votes

If you're looking for proof it's in the Windows SDK here's the installer :

enter image description here

Note: This still doesn't give you Microsoft.WebApplication.targets for which you still need to either copy it manually, or install VS on your server.

I just went ahead with the free Visual Studio Express 2013 which fixed this.

6
votes

try to install the Windows SDK for Windows 8, http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh852363.aspx, it worked for me.

3
votes

This is the official solution which worked for me (TFS 2012) http://dotnetnsqlcorner.blogspot.nl/2012/11/microsoftcommomtargets-warning-983.html

In short:

  1. Install SDK or Targetting-Pack for .NET Framework 4.5. But they are considerably large in size.
  2. The other option is to copy following folder from your development machine to your TFS build machine. C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework.NETFramework\v4.5
1
votes

This page lists .NET SDKs for each Visual Studio version. http://getdotnet.azurewebsites.net/target-dotnet-platforms.html

For a smaller download choose the 'developer pack' or 'targeting pack' rather than the full Windows SDK.

0
votes

I was getting the error below on Windows Server 2016

The reference assemblies for framework ".NETFramework, Version=4.6.1" were not found

I went on my build server "C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework" and noticed that I didn't have the required versions.

I then Installed the latest .NET Framework version from https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/

0
votes

I'm running into this problem in my project using Visual Studio 2013 and .NET 4.5. Seems like a problem because I moved the project to another directory.

You can fix this issue by verifying that the HintPath in the project file is correct or not (.csproj file).

<HintPath>..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETCore\v4.5.1\System.Runtime.WindowsRuntime.dll</HintPath>

Since I created a new directory and moved my project into that directory, I found that the relative path to the System.Runtime.WindowsRuntime.dll in the HintPath was no longer correct, and thus, could not find the library.

Fixing this path resolved the issue for me.

-1
votes

My OS is Win7 x64

I have the same problem and based on another answer I found a solution:

I have only "C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework.NETFramework\v4.5.2" in my system and to resolve it I renamed v4.52 to v4.5 and it worked.

So for the long run I've made a junction to the 4.5.2 folder and renamed the junction point v.4.5 and it work. 😊