Summary
Information about using Devenv.exe and reasons to migrate to MSBuildSynopsis
When using Devenv.exe with a Visual Studio command build the isProj file is not recoginized on the build client.InstallShield supports the Microsoft Build engine (MSBuild) included with the .NET Framework. MSBuild support enables you to build Visual Studio solutions with InstallShield projects in build lab environments where Visual Studio is not installed. You can build a Visual Studio application by using the default build options in the IDE, at a command prompt, or by using Team Foundation Build. Each of these options use MSBuild as the underlying technology.
Using MSBuild is recommended. Consider and migrate existing build procedure/processes away from Devenv and implement MSBuild.
Discussion
Under some circumstances a build script involves devenv.exe. Devenv.exe is a Microsoft tool in Visual Studio that allows developers to automate tasks from the command line when executing devenv.exe. Devenv.exe is the file that starts the Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE).Devenv lets you set various options for the integrated development environment (IDE), and also build, debug, and deploy projects, from the command line. Use these switches to run the IDE from a script or a .bat file, for example, a nightly build script, or to start the IDE in a particular configuration.
Some of the common problems using Devenv.exe include:
1) Message indicating Unsupported. Microsoft Visual Studio does not recognize/support an InstallShield project. Trying to open InstallShield project indicates:
Unsupported. This version of Visual Studio is unable to open the following projects. The project types may not be installed or this version of Visual Studio may not support them.
2) Build hang or delay. Based on the version of Visual Studio involved the command prompt running Devenv.exe may stop responding. Problems described as the command line builds run longer than expected, and seem to freeze. It's because the process doesn't exit after the console output indicates that the build is complete.
3) Devenv.exe may require additional increased authentication. Reference: Devenv Command Line Switches
Workaround
Non-exhaustive list of descriptions to work around the situation:1) Manually Enable Integration with All Versions of Visual Studio .NET This article provides information regarding how to manually enable integration with all versions of Visual Studio .NET.
2) Microsoft provides hotfix for Visual Studio 2010. Please see: The Visual Studio 2010 command prompt stops responding when you build a setup project by using Devenv.com
3) FIX: Devenv.com process freezes after you execute devenv.com /build command in Visual Studio 2015
4) Run Devenv.exe as an administrator to avoid issues caused be certain switches requiring Admin privileges.
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