Use Reserved XML Characters in Project Files

When you author project files, you might need to use reserved XML characters, for example, in property values or in task parameter values. However, some reserved characters must be replaced by a named entity so that the project file can be parsed.

In this example, double quotes are used to highlight the file name in the message that is output by the "Hello World" project file.
Reserved Characters

The following reserved characters must be replaced by the corresponding named entity so that the project file can be parsed:

Reserved Character Named Entity
< (less than) &lt;
> (greater than) &gt;
& (ampersand) &amp;
" (double quote) &quot;
' (apostrophe) &apos;

" Example
If you want to use double quotes to highlight a file name in a message such as
The output file is "@(EXEFile)"
replace the double quotes with &quot; in the project file, as shown in the following example:

<Message Text="The output file is "@(EXEFile)&quot;."/>

< Example
If you are writing an Exec task that redirects input using the less than symbol, such as

findstr "image" < data.txt

replace the less than symbol with < in the project file:
<Task Name="Exec"
Command="findstr "image&quot; < data.txt"/>

Building a Project

To build the Visual C# or Visual Basic "Hello World" project from the command line, navigate to the directory that contains the project file and type:
msbuild consolehwcs1.proj
or
msbuild consolehwvb1.proj

Project Files

Download Code - C#
Download Code - VB

Visual C# example

		    <Project 
		        DefaultTargets="Compile" 
		        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
	

<PropertyGroup>
<!-- Set the application name as a property -->
<appname>HelloWorldCS</appname>
</PropertyGroup>

<ItemGroup>
<!-- Specify the inputs by type and file name -->
<CSFile Include = "consolehwcs1.cs"/>
</ItemGroup>

<Target Name = "Compile">
<!-- Run the Visual C# compilation using input files of type CSFile -->
<Csc Sources="@(CSFile)">
<!-- Set the OutputAssembly attribute of the
CSC task to the name of the executable file
that is created -->
<Output

		                   		 TaskParameter="OutputAssembly" 
		                    		ItemName="EXEFile"/>
	

</Csc>

<!-- Log the file name of the output file -->
<Message

		                Text="The output file is "@(EXEFile)"."/>
	

</Target>

		    </Project>
	

Visual Basic example

		    <Project 
		        DefaultTargets="Compile" 
		        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
	

<PropertyGroup>
<!-- Set the application name as a property -->
<appname>HelloWorldVB</appname>
</PropertyGroup>

<ItemGroup>
<!-- Specify the inputs by type and file name -->
<VBFile Include="consolehwvb1.vb" />
</ItemGroup>

<Target Name="Compile">
<!-- Run the Visual Basic compilation using input files of type VBFile -->
<Vbc Sources="@(VBFile)">
<!-- Set the OutputAssembly output value to the EXEFile property -->
<Output

		                    		TaskParameter="OutputAssembly" 
		                    		ItemName="EXEFile" />
	

</Vbc>

<!-- Log the file name of the output file -->
<Message Text="The output file is "@(EXEFile)&quot;"/>
</Target>

		    </Project>