Make MSDeploy (Visual Studio) not delete App_Data folder but delete everything else

Question

I\'m using Visual Studio\'s Publish button to deploy my website, and want a different App_Data folder on the server. There\'s a checkbox for Leave extra f

Answer 1

For asp.net core web apps use MsDeploySkipRules in csproj.

<ItemGroup>
  <MsDeploySkipRules Include="CustomSkipFile">
    <ObjectName>filePath</ObjectName>
    <AbsolutePath><dir_name>\\app_data</AbsolutePath>
  </MsDeploySkipRules>
  <MsDeploySkipRules Include="CustomSkipFile">
    <ObjectName>dirPath</ObjectName>
    <AbsolutePath><dir_name>\\app_data</AbsolutePath>
  </MsDeploySkipRules>
</ItemGroup>

Replace <dir_name> with your root folder

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/host-and-deploy/visual-studio-publish-profiles?view=aspnetcore-2.1#exclude-files