Automating Build and Packing

It is possible to automate the process of creating a .rspak file whenever a new build of the Add-In is compiled in Visual Studio. We can implement this behavior using the Post-build events. This topic showcases how to create a simple script file that will copy the necessary files for creating a .rspak file.

Automatically make a .rspak file

  1. Create a .rspakspec file in the Add-In's project. See RSpakTool and Manifest file for more information. Make sure that the .rspakspec file is located in the root directory of the project (Default location). Below is a sample .rspakspec file illustrating a basic structure:

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- Template rspakspec which demonstrates RobotStudio and RobotWare add-ins and documentation -->
<!-- Add, remove and modify contents as required -->

<DistributionPackageSpec xmlns="urn:abb-robotics-robotstudio-distributionpackagespec">

  <!--Root directory in the form <name>-<version>. This is the identity of the package.-->
  <RootDir>Company.PackageName-0.1</RootDir>

  <!--This will be copied to manifest.xml-->
  <DistributionPackage>
    <Title>Package title</Title>
    <DisplayVersion>0.1</DisplayVersion>
    <Creator>Company</Creator>
    <Description>Description</Description>
    <Date />
  </DistributionPackage>

  <!--Specifies files inside the Root directory. Wildcards are supported for the file name. -->
  <Files>
    <File src="bin\Debug\RobotStudioEmptyAddIn2.dll" target="RobotStudio\Add-In" />
    <File src="RobotStudioEmptyAddIn2.rsaddin" target="RobotStudio\Add-In" replaceParameters="true" />
  </Files>
</DistributionPackageSpec>

  2. Open the Build Properties for the active project, accessible from the Solution Explorer by right clicking the Properties icon.

  3. Navigate to the Build Events tab and locate the Post-build event command line.

  4. Add the following command to the post-build event command line to create the rspak using RspakTool.

    Note

    Replace {version} with your RobotStudio SDK version name, and {fileName} with the name of your .rspakspec file.

    "C:\Program Files (x86)\ABB\SDK\RobotStudio {version} SDK\RspakTool.exe" -i "$(ProjectDir){fileName}.rspakspec" -p version=1.0

See Also