Is there a way to apply VS 2010 Web.Config transformations outside of web deployment, say during debugging? It would give me a great boost to be able to freely switch between different environments.
Yes, you can perform a Web.config transformation explicitly by invoking the TransformXml MSBuild task during the AfterBuild step in your project file.
Here's an example:
<UsingTask
TaskName="TransformXml"
AssemblyFile="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath32)\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v10.0\Web\Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks.dll" />
<Target Name="AfterBuild" Condition="exists('Web.$(Configuration).config')">
<!-- Generates the transformed Web.config in the intermediate directory -->
<TransformXml
Source="Web.config"
Destination="$(IntermediateOutputPath)Web.config"
Transform="Web.$(Configuration).config" />
<!-- Overwrites the original Web.config with the transformed configuration file -->
<Copy
SourceFiles="$(IntermediateOutputPath)Web.config"
DestinationFolder="$(ProjectDir)" />
</Target>
Related resources:
Web.config transformations for App.config files
Can I specify that a package should be created every time I build a solution?
The solution above made a great starting point for me, but I ended up with the following which doesn't need a copy task and doesn't have any issues with file in use errors.
<UsingTask TaskName="TransformXml" AssemblyFile="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v10.0\Web\Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks.dll" />
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<TransformXml Condition="exists('$(TempBuildDir)\Web.$(Configuration).config')" Source="$(TempBuildDir)\Web.config" Destination="$(OutputPath)Web.config" Transform="$(TempBuildDir)\Web.$(Configuration).config" />
<ItemGroup>
<DeleteAfterBuild Include="$(OutputPath)Web.*.config" />
</ItemGroup>
<Delete Files="#(DeleteAfterBuild)">
<Output TaskParameter="DeletedFiles" PropertyName="deleted" />
</Delete>
<Message Text="DELETED FILES: $(deleted)" Importance="high" />
</Target>
Related
I'm trying to speed up my builds by using the ANT <updtodate/> task to check for changes and compile only if necessary. This is for a Flex project. Here is the relevant part of my build.xml:
<target name="framework-clean"
description="Clean the Framework library">
<echo>Clean: Deleting dist directory in framework</echo>
<delete dir="${flex.framework.dir}/dist"/>
</target>
<target name="check-framework-changes">
<uptodate property="framework-no-changes" targetfile="${flex.framework.dir}/dist/imanager-framework.swc">
<srcfiles dir="${flex.framework.dir}/src" />
<srcfiles dir="${flex.framework.dir}/libs" />
</uptodate>
</target>
<target name="framework-compile"
depends="check-framework-changes"
unless="framework-no-changes"
description="Compile the Framework library">
<mkdir dir="${flex.framework.dir}/dist"/>
<echo>Compile: Compiling iManager Framework</echo>
<compc output="${flex.framework.dir}/dist/imanager-framework.swc"
debug="${debug}"
incremental="${incremental}">
<keep-as3-metadata name="Master"/>
<keep-as3-metadata name="Component"/>
<keep-as3-metadata name="Key"/>
<load-config filename="${FLEX_HOME}/frameworks/flex-config.xml"/>
<source-path path-element="${flex.framework.dir}/src" />
<library-path dir="${flex.framework.dir}/libs" includes="*.swc" append="true"/>
<include-sources dir="${flex.framework.dir}/src" includes="*" />
</compc>
</target>
The problem:
Suppose I add a file called Foo.as in my project, the script will detect the change and recompile the swc. But if I delete this Foo.as without changing any other files, the script does not compile the project. The change is ignored even though the last modified timestamp of Foo's parent folder is updated.
Is there any way to fix this?
My ANT version is 1.8.4 and I'm using Flex SDK 4.6
I modified the check-framework-changes target to include directories along with files.
<target name="check-framework-changes">
<uptodate property="framework-no-changes" targetfile="${flex.framework.dir}/dist/imanager-framework.swc">
<srcresources>
<fileset dir="${flex.framework.dir}/src" />
<fileset dir="${flex.framework.dir}/libs" />
<dirset dir="${flex.framework.dir}/src" />
<dirset dir="${flex.framework.dir}/libs" />
</srcresources>
</uptodate>
</target>
This has solved the problem
When I create a deployment package web.config is changed, but I don't understand this part:
I have two web.config transformation files, web.debug.config and web.release.config.
Are these transformation files only available or working when we make a web deployment or make a deployment package? Are the web.config transformations not used when the project runs locally from visual studio (e.g. via IIS Express)?
You are correct.
Config transformations are applied when you deploy or run a deployment package.
They do not transform on compilation.
If you need the transformed config file during compilation, you can get it by editing the project file (.csproj) and adding the below code.
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<TransformXml Source="$(SolutionDir)WCFServices\Web.config"
Transform="$(SolutionDir)WCFServices\Web.Release.config"
Destination="$(OutDir)WebRelease.config"
StackTrace="true" />
</Target>
Multiple TransformXml tags can be added to get all the required config files. Also, This can be done before or after build.
You can invoke it using MSBuild and an extension called SlowCheetah.
There is an other VS extension called Configuration Transform good for this. If you don't want to install it, but to achieve this, just follow the examples shown in the demo solution to add different build config files and add some new MSBuild tasks in the project files. The download link for the demo solution can be found on the extension's Visual Studio Gallery webpage. This approach doesn't require any extra packages since MSBuild uses XSLT to do the XML tranformation.
Below are the MSBuild tasks added into a project file from the demo solution. In my case, when I followed it for a VS2015 ASP.NET MVC project, I didn't have to put <UsingTask TaskName="TransformXml" AssemblyFile=... in.
<UsingTask TaskName="TransformXml" AssemblyFile="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath32)\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v$(VisualStudioVersion)\Web\Microsoft.Web.Publishing.Tasks.dll" />
<Target Name="AfterCompile" Condition="Exists('App.$(Configuration).config')">
<!--Generate transformed app config in the intermediate directory-->
<TransformXml Source="App.config" Destination="$(IntermediateOutputPath)$(TargetFileName).config" Transform="App.$(Configuration).config" />
<!--Force build process to use the transformed configuration file from now on.-->
<ItemGroup>
<AppConfigWithTargetPath Remove="App.config" />
<AppConfigWithTargetPath Include="$(IntermediateOutputPath)$(TargetFileName).config">
<TargetPath>$(TargetFileName).config</TargetPath>
</AppConfigWithTargetPath>
</ItemGroup>
</Target>
<!--Override After Publish to support ClickOnce AfterPublish. Target replaces the untransformed config file copied to the deployment directory with the transformed one.-->
<Target Name="AfterPublish">
<PropertyGroup>
<DeployedConfig>$(_DeploymentApplicationDir)$(TargetName)$(TargetExt).config$(_DeploymentFileMappingExtension)</DeployedConfig>
</PropertyGroup>
<!--Publish copies the untransformed App.config to deployment directory so overwrite it-->
<Copy Condition="Exists('$(DeployedConfig)')" SourceFiles="$(IntermediateOutputPath)$(TargetFileName).config" DestinationFiles="$(DeployedConfig)" />
</Target>
Here is the way I applied in my .csproj file, quite simple:
<Target Name="AfterBuild" Condition="Exists('Web.$(Configuration).config')">
<Exec Command="attrib -R Web.config" />
<TransformXml Source="Web.config" Transform="Web.$(Configuration).config" Destination="Web.config" StackTrace="true" />
</Target>
Also there is a good post on this.
Further, for web.config transformation, Since VS2012 we can add a publish profile - Publish.pubxml (ProjectFolder/Properties/PublishProfiles/Publish.pubxml) to do a FileSystem publish, thus the web.config transformation will happen by default then. Below is a sample
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<PropertyGroup>
<WebPublishMethod>FileSystem</WebPublishMethod>
<SiteUrlToLaunchAfterPublish />
<publishUrl Condition="$(OutDir) != ''">$(OutDir)\_PublishedWebsites\$(ProjectName)</publishUrl> <!-- For MSBuild -->
<publishUrl Condition="$(OutDir) == ''">$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)..\..\_PublishedWebsite\</publishUrl> <!-- For Visual Studio...cant use $(ProjectName) -->
<DeleteExistingFiles>True</DeleteExistingFiles>
</PropertyGroup>
</Project>
I'm currently in the process of setting up a build server for a web project. I'm using Web Deployment Project to create a deployable package and I want to do some simple file administration (copy webDeploy.config -> web.config and delete .csproj files).
My target looks as follows:
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<Delete Files="$(OutputPath)\*.csproj" />
</Target>
However, inspecting the output of the WDP gives me this
Target "AfterBuild" in file "C:\project\Deployment\Project.Deployment.wdproj":
Task "Delete"
File ".\Debug\*.*" doesn't exist. Skipping.
Done executing task "Delete".
Done building target "AfterBuild" in project "Project.Deployment.wdproj".
The Deployment path does indeed contain a Debug path. What am I doing wrong?
If you want to use wildcards you will have do so in an item list. The item list will take care of expanding the wild cards for you. So in your case:
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<ItemGroup>
<FilesToDelete Include="$(OutputPath)\*.csproj" />
</ItemGroup>
<Delete Files="#(FilesToDelete)" />
</Target>
I tried it myself and was stunned but the explanation is simple: You cannot use wildcards (MSBuild Team Blog).
Sample:
<ItemGroup>
<ProjectConfigFiles Include="$(OutputPath)\*.csproj" />
</ItemGroup>
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
<Delete Files="#(ProjectConfigFiles)" />
</Target>
How do I compile an ASP.Net MVC project using MSBuild? We use a Continuous Integration server to compile and deploy our applications. To keep things simple I created an MVC 1.0 project in VS2008. I immediately created an MSBuild script file to compile it. I did not change any code in the project. The MSBuild script contained the following target.
<AspNetCompiler
VirtualPath="/"
PhysicalPath="C:\Development\mvc1\"
TargetPath="c:\publish\xxx"
Force="true"
Debug="false"
Updateable="true"
The MVC project sln file is contained in the c:\development\mvc1\ directory. I am running XP/Pro.
I am receiving an error ASPCONFIG: it is an error to use a section registered as allowDefintion='MachineToApplication' beyond application level.. I removed the authenication mode, membership provider, etc. from the web config file until I finally saw a different error message. I am now receiving an error message saying that the file '/views/shared/site.master' does not exist.
What is going on? Thanks in advance for your help!
Am I using the wrong MSBuild command?
If you compile your sln-file (msbuild mysolution.sln) or
<MSBuild Projects="msbuild mysolution.sln" Targets="Rebuild" ContinueOnError="false"
StopOnFirstFailure="false" /><!-- -d -errorstack -->
and the sln-file has the ASP.NET MVC-project .csproj-file then the .csproj-file does have everything you need. Open the .csproj with notepad and look for:
1) This should be true:
<MvcBuildViews>false</MvcBuildViews>
2) Target Name="AfterBuildCompiler":
<Target Name="AfterBuildCompiler" Condition="'$(MvcBuildViews)'=='true'">
<AspNetCompiler VirtualPath="SomeVirtualDir" PhysicalPath="C:\Development\mvc1\" TargetPath="c:\publish\xxx\" />
</Target>
I didn't do anything else and it worked. I actually made my config so that only release build deploy the application (by moving MvcBuildViews-property under PropertyGroups. Then I can use the same .csproj in the development (debug) and deployment (release).
This build script compiles an asp.net MVC 3 application. Since the entire internet appears to have forgotten the concept of "Build Script" this one does not require you to have Visual Studio installed on the target Machine or to "lol, you just have to edit your csproj file to get msbuild!!"
Moving on.
Make sure you have .NET 4 and MVC3 installed. By the way, my build scripts only work with msbuild 4, so make sure you're using the proper one.
The general process is as follows (thanks to many hints and answers I got here!)
1) Build the dependencies (you DLL's)
2) Build the DLL for your web application.
3) Call the asp.net compiler task.
4) Check the scripts for additional comments.
Note that this is called from an outside script that compiles other DLL's (Business, data access, etc.)
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" DefaultTargets="build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<PropertyGroup>
<BuildDir>..\..\dist</BuildDir>
<Optimize>true</Optimize>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup >
<Reference Include="System.dll" />
<Reference Include="System.Core.dll" />
<Reference Include="System.Web.Abstractions.dll" />
<!-- add the remaining DLL's required. Check your References folder inside VS2010 and add the relevant entries here. It's a lot of references. I ommited them to make the post more compact.
For reasons that are beyond me, I only managed to get some DLL's referenced by full path. Go figure... -->
<Reference Include="C:\Windows\Microsoft.Net\assembly\GAC_MSIL\System.Web.Helpers\v4.0_1.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35\System.Web.Helpers.dll" />
<Reference Include="C:\Windows\Microsoft.Net\assembly\GAC_MSIL\System.Web.Mvc\v4.0_3.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35\System.Web.Mvc.dll" />
<Reference Include="C:\Windows\Microsoft.Net\assembly\GAC_MSIL\System.Web.WebPages\v4.0_1.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35\System.Web.WebPages.dll" />
<!-- The "main build script" compiles the other DLL's from the project and places them on the BuildDir folder. Just reference it here-->
<Reference Include="$(BuildDir)\*.dll"></Reference>
</ItemGroup>
<!-- Build a DLL for the code file inside your web project (controllers, models, the lot...) place it together with the other DLL's
WARNING: Simple build command. Resource files are not included in this.
-->
<Target Name="BuildWebDll">
<ItemGroup>
<CodeFiles Include=".\**\*.cs" />
</ItemGroup>
<CSC Sources="#(CodeFiles)" TargetType="Library" References="#(Reference)" OutputAssembly="$(BuildDir)\cth.web.dll" >
</CSC>
</Target>
<!-- For reasons also unkown, but covered in a number os posts in this forum, the asp.net compiler requires the necessary DLL's to be placed on the BIN/ folder of your web project. That's why we're copying every DLL we need to said folder. For debugging, check the Bin folder on Visual Studio after you compile the project. You need to replicate that in your BIN/
-->
<Target Name="CopyDLLs">
<ItemGroup>
<DllFiles Include="$(BuildDir)/*.dll"/>
</ItemGroup>
<Copy SourceFiles="#(DllFiles)" DestinationFolder="Bin\"></Copy>
</Target>
<Target Name="build">
<CallTarget Targets="BuildWebDll"></CallTarget>
<CallTarget Targets="CopyDLLs"></CallTarget>
<!-- Call this from the webproject directory. PhysicalPath references ".". TargetPath can be everything you want -->
<AspNetCompiler Updateable="true" VirtualPath="/CTH.Web" PhysicalPath="./" TargetPath="$(BuildDir)/CTH.Web" Force="true" Debug="false" />
</Target>
Remember that you have to include resource files, do any web.config replacements, etc. I really hope this helps.
The easiest way I found was to add a WebDeployment project to your solution.
http://www.microsoft.com/DOWNLOADS/details.aspx?FamilyID=0aa30ae8-c73b-4bdd-bb1b-fe697256c459&displaylang=en
You set the properties for the build in the WebDeployment project (like precompile ) . The Buildserver builds the wdprj.
In my environment I have to start by building the web first. After that I can start the wdprj.
Here is my nant - script. It should be easy to write the same in msbuild. It actually runs in TeamCity.
xml version="1.0"?>
<project name="GreatProjectWeb"
default="build" basedir="."
xmlns="http://nant.sf.net/release/0.85/nant.xsd">
<description>Build Script</description>
<!-- builds only the csproj, not the entire solution-->
<target name="build" description="Compile the project using Debug configuration for more verbose error descriptions">
<echo message="Building..."> </echo>
<exec program="C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\MSBuild.exe" >
<arg value="GreatProjectWeb\GreatProjectWeb.csproj" />
<arg value="/t:Build" />
<arg value="/p:Configuration=Release" />
</exec>
<echo message="Building Projektfile finished. Starting WDP Project..."> </echo>
<exec program="C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\MSBuild.exe" >
<arg value="GreatProjectWeb_Build\GreatProjectWeb_Build.wdproj" />
<arg value="/t:Build" />
<arg value="/p:Configuration=Release" />
</exec>
<exec program="7z" >
<arg value="a" />
<arg value="GreatProjectWeb_Deploy\web_GreatProject.zip" />
<arg value="GreatProjectWeb_Deploy\*" />
</exec>
</target>
</project>
You could use NAnt which has a "msbuild" task in it that will just do it for you. NAnt is a great way to go for CI builds.
The NAnt home page
The NAnt Contrib home page
The MSBuild task reference from NAnt Contrib
...the contrib library adds some great functionality that the vanilla NAnt doesn't have. It is very simple. I've included a snippet of my .build file here so you can see how I've used it:
<property name="DeployDestination" value="\\MyTestServerName\DestinationFolder"/>
<property name="Solution.Configuration" value="Debug" overwrite="True" />
<property name="nant.settings.currentframework" value="net-3.5" />
<if test="${WebContentDestination=='Production'}">
<property name="DeployDestination" value="\\MyProductionServer\DestinationFolder"/>
</if>
...<snip>
<target name="Build">
<msbuild project="SolutionFileName.sln">
<arg value="/p:Configuration=${Solution.Configuration}" />
</msbuild>
</target>
<target name="Deploy">
<copy todir="${DeployDestination}" flatten="true" >
<fileset>All files to copy</fileset>
</copy>
</target>
I have managed to install Team Foundation Server 2008 and I created a separate build server (which works because my builds are currently failing).
I have created a simple "Hello World" Web application (all is the standard Default.aspx page) and have it in TFS's source control system.
Previously, prior to TFS, I'd simply precompile my web application and xcopy the results on to a pre-created IIS Virtual directory.
Scouring Google for a while, I have yet to find a step by step guide on correctly deploying an application from TFS Source via TeamBuild to a designated test web server. I know MS Build falls into this equation, so any guidance would be helpful.
I have seen bits and pieces about deployments, with folders such as _PublishedWebSites mentioned, but have yet to find anything step by step.
I've had success using a exec task in the AfterDropBuild target in the TFSBuild.proj file.
<Target Name="AfterDropBuild>
<Exec Command="xcopy /Y /E "$(DropLocation)\\$(BuildNumber)\%(ConfigurationToBuild.FlavorToBuild)\_PublishedWebsites\MyWebsite1\*.*" "\\server\MyWebsite1\"" />
<Exec Command="xcopy /Y /E "$(DropLocation)\\$(BuildNumber)\%(ConfigurationToBuild.FlavorToBuild)\_PublishedWebsites\MyWebsite2\*.*" "\\server\MyWebsite2\"" />
</Target>
Note that the permissions need to be setup correctly for the TFS service user to access the folder on the server your are copying to.
Firstly you should be using WebDeployment projects as this will do a lot more compilation and checking of your code and markup. See here for more info.
I have 4 environments setup DV [Development], PY [Prototype], PP [Pre-Production], PD [Production] all matching branches in TFS. Each of these has also has an entry in the sln configuration manager where you can setup what projects are required to be build and the build flags.
Once that is setup correctly you can then start setting up deployment scripts. I prefer use MSbuild to deploy as it will give you a lot more fine-grained approach to deployment. MSbuild is a bit strange to start with however once you get the hang of it it's quite powerful.
My deployment script which is added to the TeamBuild config is below. Basically as you can see I do a bit of post-build cleanup before I copy to the live servers. I also use 2 MSbuild frameworks (imported at the top).
<Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\Microsoft\SDC Tasks - Release 2.1.3155.0\Microsoft.Sdc.Common.tasks"/>
<Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\FreeToDev\MSBuild Tasks Suite 3.5\FreeToDev.MSBuild.tasks"/>
<PropertyGroup>
<InetpubFolder>\\PathToInetPub</InetpubFolder>
<AppFolder>AppFolder</AppFolder>
<AppFolderPath>$(InetpubFolder)$(AppFolder)</AppFolderPath>
<WebDeployName>WebDeployProjectName</WebDeployName>
<Debug>0</Debug>
<AppConfiguration>DV</AppConfiguration>
</PropertyGroup>
<Target Name="AfterDropBuild">
<Message Text="Begin Release to $(AppConfiguration) Webserver" />
<Message Text="DropLocation = $(DropLocation)" />
<CallTarget Targets="PostBuildCleanUp" />
<CallTarget Targets="DeployApp" />
</Target>
<Target Name="DeployApp">
<GetBuildProperties TeamFoundationServerUrl="$(TeamFoundationServerUrl)" BuildUri="$(BuildUri)">
<Output TaskParameter="DropLocation" PropertyName="DropLocation"></Output>
</GetBuildProperties>
<PropertyGroup>
<CodeDropLocation>$(DropLocation)\$(AppConfiguration) Release</CodeDropLocation>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<AppFilesToDelete Include="$(AppFolderPath)\**\*.*" Exclude="$(AppFolderPath)\Library\*.*;$(AppFolderPath)\App_Offline.htm;$(AppFolderPath)\jobs\**\*.*" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<FilesToDeploy Include="$(CodeDropLocation)\$(AppFolder)\**\*.*" Exclude="" />
</ItemGroup>
<Copy SourceFiles="$(CodeDropLocation)\$(AppFolder)\App_Offline[RemoveToActivate].htm" DestinationFiles="$(AppFolderPath)\App_Offline.htm" OverwriteReadOnlyFiles="true"/>
<Message Text="Deleting files in $(AppFolderPath)" />
<Microsoft.Sdc.Tasks.File.DeleteFiles Files="#(AppFilesToDelete)" Force="true" Condition="$(Debug)==0" />
<Message Text="Copy $(CodeDropLocation)\$(AppFolder) to $(AppFolderPath)" />
<Copy Condition="$(Debug)==0" SourceFiles="#(FilesToDeploy)" DestinationFiles="#(FilesToDeploy->'$(AppFolderPath)\%(RecursiveDir)%(Filename)%(Extension)')" SkipUnchangedFiles="true"/>
<Message Text="Deploy to $(AppConfiguration) Completed" />
<Microsoft.Sdc.Tasks.File.DeleteFiles Files="$(AppFolderPath)\App_Offline.htm" Force="true" />
<OnError ExecuteTargets="ErrorHandler" />
</Target>
<Target Name="ErrorHandler">
<Message Text="Error encountered!!" />
</Target>
<Target Name="PostBuildCleanUp">
<GetBuildProperties TeamFoundationServerUrl="$(TeamFoundationServerUrl)" BuildUri="$(BuildUri)">
<Output TaskParameter="DropLocation" PropertyName="DropLocation"></Output>
</GetBuildProperties>
<PropertyGroup>
<CodeDropLocation>$(DropLocation)\$(AppConfiguration) Release</CodeDropLocation>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<PostBuildCleanUpFilesToDelete Include="$(CodeDropLocation)\*.*;$(CodeDropLocation)\bin\*.xml;$(CodeDropLocation)\bin\*.pdb"/>
</ItemGroup>
<RemoveDir Directories="$(CodeDropLocation)\_PublishedWebsites\Web" />
<Microsoft.Sdc.Tasks.File.DeleteFiles Files="#(PostBuildCleanUpFilesToDelete)" Force="true">
<Output TaskParameter="DeletedFiles" ItemName="FilesThatWereDeleted" />
</Microsoft.Sdc.Tasks.File.DeleteFiles>
<Message Text="The files that were removed were #(FilesThatWereDeleted)" />
<FTDFolder TaskAction="Move" Path="$(CodeDropLocation)\_PublishedWebsites\$(WebDeployName)" TargetPath="$(CodeDropLocation)\$(AppFolder)"/>
<RemoveDir Directories="$(CodeDropLocation)\_PublishedWebsites" />
<RemoveDir Directories="$(CodeDropLocation)\$(AppFolder)\WebDeploy" />
<OnError ExecuteTargets="ErrorHandler" />
</Target>
Obviously you will need to modify to your system setup. Also it clears down the target folder before it starts to copy the new build accross. This is to make sure they system is clean but obviously you will need to add anything that you need to keep to the ExcludedFiles list.
I also have a folder for each environment in the main application project. This holds the web.config replacements (another feature of WebDeployment projects) and any other environement specifc files.
It will be a long process to get it working correctly but hopefully this will get you started!! (Obviously if you choose this apporach!)
This can be done via the build scripts directly, the Vertigo Software guys usually are the best source of info for a lot of TFS questions like this...unfortunately their blog posts don't usually rank that high on google. This one's by Jeff Atwood, one of the creators of this site:
Copying Web Files After a Team Build