Include Files in Build Output Directory

Goal

Copy specific files to your build output directory when building a .NET project.

Solution

Add the following to your .csproj file:

<ItemGroup>
    <None Update="file.exe">
      <CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
    </None>
  </ItemGroup>

This ensures file.exe is copied to the output directory only if it’s newer than the existing copy or doesn’t exist yet.