How to publish .NET "Release" artifact?

What do i need to specify for the root file/folder in publish task for MSBuild "Release"?

When you use the Msbuild task to build your project, the output file will be saved at the Bin folder by default. For example: $(build.sourcesdirectory)/Projectname/bin.

Based on the structure of your project, the specific path could be different.

I suggest that you could add msbuild arguments(e.g. /p:OutputPath=$(build.artifactstagingdirectory)) in the Msbuild task.

For example:

In this case, you could set a specific path as the output path. This will make it easier for you to Archive and Publish artifacts.

Update:

Ubuntu agent:

If I don't set the msbuild arg, the output files will show in the bin folder:

When I add the msbuild arg, it will upload the files to the target path:

They have the same artifacts contents.

Update2:

You could try the following sample to create the package for Azure APP service.

Classic :

Yaml:

steps:
- task: NuGetToolInstaller@0
  displayName: 'Use NuGet 4.4.1'
  inputs:
    versionSpec: 4.4.1

- task: NuGetCommand@2
  displayName: 'NuGet restore'
  inputs:
    restoreSolution: Sample.sln

- task: MSBuild@1
  displayName: 'Build solution Sample.sln'
  inputs:
    solution: Sample.sln
    platform: '$(BuildPlatform)'
    configuration: Release
    msbuildArguments: '/p:OutputPath=$(build.artifactstagingdirectory)'

- task: ArchiveFiles@2
  displayName: 'Archive $(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'
  inputs:
    rootFolderOrFile: '$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'

- task: PublishBuildArtifacts@1
  displayName: 'Publish Artifact'
  inputs:
    PathtoPublish: '$(build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)/$(Build.BuildId).zip'
  condition: succeededOrFailed()

Result:

Update3:

steps:
- task: NuGetToolInstaller@0
  displayName: 'Use NuGet 4.4.1'
  inputs:
    versionSpec: 4.4.1

- task: NuGetCommand@2
  displayName: 'NuGet restore'
  inputs:
    restoreSolution: Sample.sln

- task: MSBuild@1
  displayName: 'Build solution Sample.Web/Sample.Web.csproj'
  inputs:
    solution: Sample.Web/Sample.Web.csproj
    platform: '$(BuildPlatform)'
    configuration: Release
    msbuildArguments: '/p:DeployOnBuild=true /p:WebPublishMethod=Package /p:PackageAsSingleFile=true /p:SkipInvalidConfigurations=true /p:DesktopBuildPackageLocation="$(build.artifactstagingdirectory)\WebApp.zip" /p:DeployIisAppPath="Default Web Site"'


- task: PublishBuildArtifacts@1
  displayName: 'Publish Artifact: drop'
  inputs:
    PathtoPublish: '$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'