How to build Visual Studio solution even if some of TypeScript files are not compiling.

January 21, 2014

The problem :

If you are working on some ASP.NET project and you need to build it even if some files are unbuildable/will not compile (currently I apply this on TypeScript files but this solution is general) , because you for example need to change some other functionality and than continue with TypeScript work than you have a problem. VS stops building the app and you will have only Yellow Screen Of The Death note with “Parser Error” and “Could not load type – your project name” which I suppose is caused by not generating the assembly.

So, the solutions are (among others) :

  • Exclude erroneous .ts file (which will make it not compile),
  • Say to build system to not compile particular file with something different.

The solution :

It really is simple : just set Build Action from TypeScriptCompile to None and you are done.

ts build actions

The strange thing is, that my Visual Studio 2013 will anyway say I have errors, but the build process is not stopped and I am able to run the app.

If you have any other solutions than feel free to post them in the comments. Thanks in advance.

Hope this helps.


Profile picture

Written by Dušan Roštár - the "mr edge case" guy
my twitter : rostacik, my linkedin : rostar, drop me an email : here