c# - Why is MsBuild's ItemGroup->EndWith not working for '.exe'? -

i'm trying make item group of dll's , exe's filtering out msi's , test.dll's.

the following snippet doesn't include .exe in uniqueassemblies itemgroup. contain dll's , removes msi expected though. uniquecompiledfiles contain expected output files (.test.dll, .dll, .msi, .exe)

<target name="customcompile"> <msbuild   buildinparallel="true"   projects="@(projectfiles)"   properties="$(projectproperties)" >   <output taskparameter="targetoutputs" itemname="compiledfiles" /> </msbuild> <removeduplicates inputs="@(compiledfiles)">   <output taskparameter="filtered" itemname="uniquecompiledfiles" /> </removeduplicates>  <itemgroup>   <uniqueassemblies     include="%(uniquecompiledfiles.identity)"     condition=" '@(uniquecompiledfiles->endswith('.dll'))' == 'true' " />   <uniqueassemblies     include="%(uniquecompiledfiles.identity)"     condition=" '@(uniquecompiledfiles->endswith('.exe'))' == 'true' " /> </itemgroup> 

i figured out workaround filter .exe.

<itemgroup>   <uniqueassemblies2       include="%(uniquecompiledfiles.identity)"       condition=" $([system.string]::new('%(uniquecompiledfiles.identity)').endswith('.exe')) " /> </itemgroup> 

found out culprit lines removed fix problem doesn't answer question.

<itemgroup>   <!-- workaround msbuild defect: https://github.com/microsoft/msbuild/issues/69 -->   <uniquecompiledfiles include="project\bin\release\project.exe">     <msbuildsourceprojectfile>project\project.csproj</msbuildsourceprojectfile>     <platform>x86</platform>   </uniquecompiledfiles> </itemgroup> 

why @(uniquecompiledfiles->endswith('.exe')) syntax not working expected?

you're trying use property function on item (instead of property).

you should able desired result using this:

<itemgroup>   <uniqueassemblies2     include="%(uniquecompiledfiles.identity)"     condition=" '%(extension)' == '.exe' " /> </itemgroup>