how to use msbuild properties in sqlproj (SQL Server 2012) script - visual-studio-2012

Question

I just upgraded my existing SQL Server 2008 r2 .dbproj to a SQL Server 2012 .sqlproj (using SQL Server Data Tools).
Previously, I was able to define a SQLCMD variable in my project, and then define the value by editing the project file to use msbuild values by adding the following element:
<ItemGroup>
<SqlCommandVariableOverride Include="ProjectDirectory=$(MSBuildProjectDirectory)" />
</ItemGroup>
Which I could then use in my PostDeployment script like this:
SELECT * INTO dbo.MyTable FROM dbo.MyTable WHERE 1=2
BULK INSERT dbo.MyTable
FROM '$(ProjectDirectory)\data\dbo.MyTable.dat'
WITH (DATAFILETYPE = 'widenative')
However, after the upgrade, this no longer seems to work.
I have tried adding that same entry to the new sqlproj, but the Publish functionality doesn't seem to pick it up and wants me to supply a value. If I supply $(MSBuildProjectDirectory), that is interpreted literally and fails.
Under the new regime, what is the mechanism for specifying a local filepath and/or using msbuild values?

Answer 1

In a sql server 2012 sqlproj (SSDT database project) you use publishing profiles. You can start off by right-clicking your database project and choosing 'Publish'.
You can then set desired options and save these in a so-called publishing profile in your project. Double-clicking this profile launches the publishing wizard with the correct options set.
In your publish profile you can include hard-coded values for sqlcmd variables:
<ItemGroup>
<SqlCmdVariable Include="ProjectDirectory">
<Value>UNKNOWN</Value>
</SqlCmdVariable>
</ItemGroup>
If desired, you can update these with dynamic values during build. In your msbuild project:
<Target Name="SetProjectDirectoryInPublishXml">
<ItemGroup>
<Namespaces Include="nsMsbuild">
<Prefix>nsMsbuild</Prefix>
<Uri>http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003</Uri>
</Namespaces>
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<SSDTPublishFiles Include="$(SolutionBinFolder)\**\*.publish.xml" />
</ItemGroup>
<MSBuild.ExtensionPack.Xml.XmlFile Condition="%(SSDTPublishFiles.Identity) != ''"
TaskAction="UpdateElement"
File="%(SSDTPublishFiles.Identity)"
Namespaces="#(Namespaces)"
XPath="//nsMsbuild:SqlCmdVariable[#Include='ProjectDirectory']/nsMsbuild:Value"
InnerText="$(MSBuildProjectDirectory)"/>
</Target>
This requires an extension to update the XML. I use the msbuild extension pack.
Credits for this mechanism go to Jamie Thomson