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

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.)


Solution 1:

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

Solution 2:

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.

Solution 3:

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

Solution 4:

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

Solution 5:

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. 😊