asp.net mvc - allowDefinition='MachineToApplication' error when publishing from VS2010 (but only after a previous build)

Question

I can run my Asp.Net MVC 2 application without an issue on my local computer. Just Run / Debug.

But if I have already built it, I can't publish it! I have to clean the solution and publish it again. I know this is not system critical, but it's really annoying. "One Click Publish" is not "Clean solution and then One click publish"

The exact error is as follows:

Error 11 It is an error to use a section registered as allowDefinition='MachineToApplication' beyond application level. This error can be caused by a virtual directory not being configured as an application in IIS.

I suspect it's something to do with the Web.Config in the Views folder, but then why only after I build once previously. And just to note, the app works fine once published.

Answer 1

i had the same problem with my MVC apps. it was frustrating because i still wanted my views to be checked, so i didn't want to turn off MvcBuildViews

luckily i came across a post which gave me the answer. keep the MvcBuildViews as true, then you can add the following line underneath in your project file:

<BaseIntermediateOutputPath>[SomeKnownLocationIHaveAccessTo]</BaseIntermediateOutputPath>

And make that folder not in your project's folder. Works for me. It's not a perfect solution, but it's good for the moment. Make sure you remove the package folder (located inside the objDebug and/or objRelease folder) from your project folder otherwise you'll keep getting the error.

FWIW, MS know about this error...