Hi,
I'm using Visual Micro 1.1606.17, VS 2015 Update 3.

In former versions recipe.hooks.sketch.prebuild.1.pattern was executed BEFORE the project files are copied to temp directory. In the current version the files are copied before executing the prebuild scripts. The result: prebuild scripts have no effect 

Kind regards
Red Baron

Indeed this was the behavior in former versions. I used it to update a version info via an external program. I documented this behavior at 2016-04-23 on my hompage http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fbienonline... (translated version)

That was the first option I tried. But modifying a copied file will always give the same result. You modify always the same base file.

I checked the Arduino-IDE. It also copies the files first and than executes the prebuild hooks. So VM has the same behavier as the IDE. That is perfect , you should not change this. I withdraw my error message.

I successfully tried the following:
- modify the copy
- copy the modified file back to the {sketch_path} folder.

I developed a batch file for this that works with VM and the IDE. I will document it and post a link to this documentation.

The Arduino-IDE (v 16.10) does not support parameter '{sketh_path}'. But it executes the compiler with the sketch folder as current directory ('C:\<user>\documents\Arduino\<sketch name>').

VM executes in in the Arduino program folder ('C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino'). For compatibility reasons, you should consider to change this behavior.

This is my batch file. It works with Visual Micro and the Arduino IDE. First German instruction followed by an English one.

@echo off
REM ArduinoPrebuild.cmd

REM ---------- Deutsche Anleitung ---
REM Dieses Batch-Programm dient dazu, eine Datei beim Build-Prozess vor dem Kompilieren dauerhaft zu modifizieren, zB. um eine Versionsnummer hochzuzählen.
REM Der Aufruf der Datei erfolgt durch recipe.hooks.sketch.prebuild.#.pattern in der Datei 'platform.txt'.
REM AppVersion.h ist die Datei, die modifiziert werden soll. Das Programm, das modifiziert ist 'IncrementVersion.exe'.

REM Beim Kompilieren setzt die Arduino-IDE die CurrentDirectory auf das Sketch-Verzeichnis, z.B. <user>\documents\Arduino.
REM Visual Micro steht im Arduino Programm-Verzeichnis, z.B. C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino.

REM Der Parameter {sketch_path} wird von Visual Micro aufgelöst und zeigt auf das Sketch-Verzeichnis (ohne Backslash am Ende).
REM Die Arduino-IDE liefert den Text "{sketch_path}" zurück.

REM Der Parameter {build.path} zeigt bei Visual Micro direkt auf den Ordner mit den Source-Dateien(ohne Backslash am Ende).
REM VM kopiert alle Quellen dorthin.
REM Beispiel: <Temp>\VMicroBuilds\<project-name>\<board-name>

REM Der Parameter {build.path} zeigt bei der Arduino-IDE in einen Sammel-Ordner (mit Backslash am Ende).
REM Die Quellen befinden sich im Unterverzeichnis 'sketch'.
REM Beispiel: <Temp>\buildc8b6589afc1136b3b8ee8306c9cc9978.tmp\sketch

REM Syntax:recipe.hooks.sketch.prebuild.#.pattern = <path>ArduinoPrebuild {sketch_path} {build.path}\AppVersion.h
REM                                                               %0            %1               %2

REM Wenn %~1 den Text "{sketch_path}" enthält, erfolgt die Kompilierung durch die Arduino-IDE

REM ---------- English instructions ---
REM This batch program is used to modify a file permanently during the build process before compiling, e.g. a version number increment.
REM It is called by recipe.hooks.sketch.prebuild.#.pattern in the file 'platform.txt'.
REM AppVersion.h is the file that is to be modified. The modifying program is 'IncrementVersion.exe'.

REM Compiling with the Arduino IDE the CurrentDirectory is set to the directory of the sketch, e.g. <user>\documents\Arduino.
REM Visual Micros CurrentDirectory is the Arduini program directory, e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino.

REM The {sketch_path} parameter is resolved by Visual Micro and points to the directory of the sketch (without a backslash at the end).
REM The Arduino IDE simply returns the text '{sketch_path}'.

REM of parameters {build.path} shows Visual micro directly to the folder with the source Dateien(ohne Backslash andem an Ende).
REM VM copies all sources there.
REM example: <Temp>\VMicroBuilds\<project-name>\<board-name>

REM The parameter {build.path} of the Arduino IDE points to a bulk folder (with backslash at the end).
REM The source files are located in the subdirectory 'sketch'.
REM Example: <temp>\buildc8b6589afc1136b3b8ee8306c9cc9978.tmp\sketch

REM Syntax: recipe.hooks.sketch.prebuild.#.pattern = <path>ArduinoPrebuild {sketch_path} {build.path}\AppVersion.h
REM                                                                %0           %1                 %2

REM If % ~ 1 contains the text '{sketch_path}', the compilation is done by the Arduino IDE


IF "%~1" == "{sketch_path}" GOTO Arduino

REM -- Visual Micro -------------------------------
ECHO ***** Executing Visual Micro
Set DEST=%~1
Set SOURCE=%~2
goto DoIt

REM -- Arduino-IDE --------------------------------
:Arduino
ECHO ***** Executing Arduino
Set DEST=.
REM % ~dp2 adds a backslash!
Set SOURCE=%~dp2sketch\%~nx2

REM -- Execution --------------------------------
:DoIt
echo SOURCE: %SOURCE%
echo DEST: %DEST%
IncrementVersion %SOURCE% -M
copy %SOURCE% %DEST%
 

Have you got enough pro licences for all of your development pc's?

If not have you purchased a license key yet? If yes then please email it to me and I will add some licences, if not then email and let me know your required name and email address so I can issue some licences.

info[at]visualmicro.com

Tim

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