dotnet/msbuild

Error message when defining a property with no value on the command line is confusing

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#472 opened on Feb 8, 2016

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Description

For example:

o:\msbuild>msbuild /p:blah build.proj /nologo
MSBUILD : error MSB1006: Property is not valid.
Switch: blah

What does Switch: mean? It would be more accurate to say something like "No value was given for property 'blah' defined on the command line."

Contributor guide

Research direction
Locate where the error message 'Property is not valid' is generated and change it to a clearer message indicating that no value was given for the property.
Tech stack
csharp
Domain
build systemclideveloper experience
Issue type
Bug
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
2
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-3 hours
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
Active
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
Clear
Prerequisites
Git
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
80