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>NET5.0 Increment Application Version

I have a C# WPF project in Visual Studio 2019 that I'm trying to set the AssemblyVersion and AssemblyFileVersion of. The idea being that I am trying to set them to "0.Months since project started.Days since this month started.Minutes since midnight" to help with version control
I have a Text Template file with the code below
using System.Reflection;
[assembly: AssemblyVersion("<#= this.Release #>.<#= this.MonthsSinceProjectStarted #>.<#= this.DaysSinceMonthStarted #>.<#= this.MinutesSinceMidnight #>")]
[assembly: AssemblyFileVersion("<#= this.Release #>.<#= this.MonthsSinceProjectStarted #>.<#= this.DaysSinceMonthStarted #>.<#= this.MinutesSinceMidnight #>")]
<#+
int Release = 0;
static DateTime ProjectStartedDate = new DateTime(year: 2022, month: 5, day: 20);
int MonthsSinceProjectStarted = (int)((Int32.Parse(DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy")) * 12) + Int32.Parse(DateTime.Now.ToString("MM"))) - ((ProjectStartedDate.Year * 12) ProjectStartedDate.Month);
int DaysSinceMonthStarted = (int)Int32.Parse(DateTime.Now.ToString("dd"));
int MinutesSinceMidnight = (int)DateTime.UtcNow.TimeOfDay.TotalMinutes;
#>
My .csproj file also looks like this
<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
<PropertyGroup>
<OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
<TargetFramework>net5.0-windows</TargetFramework>
<RootNamespace>LPG_Launcher</RootNamespace>
<UseWPF>true</UseWPF>
<Company>LowPoly Games</Company>
<Authors>LowPoly Games</Authors>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|x64'">
<PlatformTarget>x64</PlatformTarget>
<DebugType>none</DebugType>
<DebugSymbols>false</DebugSymbols>
<TransformOnBuild>true</TransformOnBuild>
<OverwriteReadOnlyOutputFiles>true</OverwriteReadOnlyOutputFiles>
<TransformOutOfDateOnly>false</TransformOutOfDateOnly>
<GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
<Optimize>true</Optimize>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|x64'">
<DebugType>full</DebugType>
<DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
<PlatformTarget>x64</PlatformTarget>
<TransformOnBuild>true</TransformOnBuild>
<OverwriteReadOnlyOutputFiles>true</OverwriteReadOnlyOutputFiles>
<TransformOutOfDateOnly>false</TransformOutOfDateOnly>
<GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|AnyCPU'">
<DebugType>full</DebugType>
<DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
<TransformOnBuild>true</TransformOnBuild>
<OverwriteReadOnlyOutputFiles>true</OverwriteReadOnlyOutputFiles>
<TransformOutOfDateOnly>false</TransformOutOfDateOnly>
<GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|AnyCPU'">
<DebugType>none</DebugType>
<DebugSymbols>false</DebugSymbols>
<PlatformTarget>x64</PlatformTarget>
<TransformOnBuild>true</TransformOnBuild>
<OverwriteReadOnlyOutputFiles>true</OverwriteReadOnlyOutputFiles>
<TransformOutOfDateOnly>false</TransformOutOfDateOnly>
<GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
<Optimize>true</Optimize>
</PropertyGroup>
<Target Name="PostBuild" AfterTargets="PostBuildEvent">
<Exec Command="if $(ConfigurationName) == Release (
del /S *.pdb
)" />
</Target>
<PropertyGroup>
<GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
<TransformOnBuild>true</TransformOnBuild>
<OverwriteReadOnlyOutputFiles>true</OverwriteReadOnlyOutputFiles>
<TransformOutOfDateOnly>false</TransformOutOfDateOnly>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<None Include="VersionAutoIncrementer.tt">
<Generator>TextTemplatingFileGenerator</Generator>
<LastGenOutput>VersionAutoIncrementer.txt</LastGenOutput>
</None>
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Service Include="{508349b6-6b84-4df5-91f0-309beebad82d}" />
</ItemGroup>
<Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v16.0\TextTemplating\Microsoft.TextTemplating.targets" />
</Project>
When I clean and build my solution, it builds a .cs file with the below code in it
using System.Reflection;
[assembly: AssemblyVersion("0.0.20.673")]
[assembly: AssemblyFileVersion("0.0.20.673")]
But checking the properties of the "LPG Launcher.exe" thats built is showing the version numbers to be "0.0.0.0". Is this a suitable method of setting these values and if so, what am I doing incorrectly?

After checking from information given in the comments, I've determined that the .cs file being built by the Text Template wasn't being included in the build process. Thanks for the help everyone

DebuggerDisplayAttribute has no effect in VS 2017

It seems like the DebuggerDisplayAttribute is not having any effect in Visual Studio 2017 (15.9.4) with Resharper 2018.2.3.
Placing the attribute in AssemblyInfo.cs, or in Program.cs, has no discernible effect.
I am targeting .Net Framework 4.7.2. Changing the framework version also has no discernible effect.
I have verified that "Show raw structure of objects in variables windows" is unchecked in Tools -> Options -> Debugging -> General. I even checked it, closed VS, reopened VS, and unchecked it, just to be sure. No effect.
Placing the attribute on a custom class does have an effect. It seems that the attribute is only being ignored when at the assembly level.
This works as expected in VS 2015 (with the same version of Resharper).
Starting VS 2017 in safe mode (using devenv.exe /safemode) has no effect.
Updating VS 15.9.4 -> 15.9.7 has no effect.
Here is a very basic console application. Despite the attribute, the dt variable appears as {2/14/2019 10:35:38 AM} in my watch window.
[assembly: DebuggerDisplay("Foo", Target = typeof(DateTime))]
namespace ConsoleApp1
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
var dt = DateTime.Now;
Debugger.Break();
}
}
}
If I use ILSpy to decompile my console application, I can see these attributes applied:
[assembly: Debuggable(
DebuggableAttribute.DebuggingModes.Default |
DebuggableAttribute.DebuggingModes.DisableOptimizations |
DebuggableAttribute.DebuggingModes.IgnoreSymbolStoreSequencePoints |
DebuggableAttribute.DebuggingModes.EnableEditAndContinue)]
[assembly: DebuggerDisplay("Foo", Target = typeof(DateTime))]
Why isn't the attribute doing anything? How do I even begin to debug this?
Edit: Complete source files as requested.
ConsoleApp1.csproj
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="15.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props" Condition="Exists('$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props')" />
<PropertyGroup>
<Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
<Platform Condition=" '$(Platform)' == '' ">AnyCPU</Platform>
<ProjectGuid>{EBBA72C6-5087-4D8E-9F2C-B968ABD59EAA}</ProjectGuid>
<OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
<RootNamespace>ConsoleApp1</RootNamespace>
<AssemblyName>ConsoleApp1</AssemblyName>
<TargetFrameworkVersion>v4.7.2</TargetFrameworkVersion>
<FileAlignment>512</FileAlignment>
<AutoGenerateBindingRedirects>true</AutoGenerateBindingRedirects>
<Deterministic>true</Deterministic>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
<PlatformTarget>AnyCPU</PlatformTarget>
<DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
<DebugType>full</DebugType>
<Optimize>false</Optimize>
<OutputPath>bin\Debug\</OutputPath>
<DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
<ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
<WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
<PlatformTarget>AnyCPU</PlatformTarget>
<DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
<Optimize>true</Optimize>
<OutputPath>bin\Release\</OutputPath>
<DefineConstants>TRACE</DefineConstants>
<ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
<WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="System" />
<Reference Include="System.Core" />
<Reference Include="System.Xml.Linq" />
<Reference Include="System.Data.DataSetExtensions" />
<Reference Include="Microsoft.CSharp" />
<Reference Include="System.Data" />
<Reference Include="System.Net.Http" />
<Reference Include="System.Xml" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Compile Include="Program.cs" />
<Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<None Include="App.config" />
</ItemGroup>
<Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
</Project>
app.config:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<startup>
<supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.7.2" />
</startup>
</configuration>
AssemblyInfo.cs:
using System.Reflection;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
[assembly: AssemblyTitle("ConsoleApp1")]
[assembly: AssemblyDescription("")]
[assembly: AssemblyConfiguration("")]
[assembly: AssemblyCompany("")]
[assembly: AssemblyProduct("ConsoleApp1")]
[assembly: AssemblyCopyright("Copyright © 2019")]
[assembly: AssemblyTrademark("")]
[assembly: AssemblyCulture("")]
[assembly: ComVisible(false)]
[assembly: Guid("ebba72c6-5087-4d8e-9f2c-b968abd59eaa")]
[assembly: AssemblyVersion("1.0.0.0")]
[assembly: AssemblyFileVersion("1.0.0.0")]

I've built the project from the sources you provided, and can't reproduce the problem:
This means that on the fresh installation of VS 2017 the feature must work. So your installation of Visual Studio must be somehow corrupt.
After investigation in comments I'd suggest to do an installation repair, it should fix the problems.

Assembly.LoadFrom works differently in .NET Core and .NET Framework

I have two .csproj projects, with the exact same source code:
using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
using System;
using System.Reflection;
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Assembly jsonAssembly = Assembly.LoadFrom(#"C:\path\to\Newtonsoft.Json.dll");
Type reflectionType = jsonAssembly.GetType("Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JObject");
Console.Write("Types match: " + (reflectionType == typeof(JObject)));
Console.Write("Typenames match: " + (reflectionType.FullName == typeof(JObject).FullName));
JObject cast = (JObject)Activator.CreateInstance(reflectionType);
Console.Write("Success!");
}
}
Both .csproj files have an identical reference to Newtonsoft.Json:
<Reference Include="Newtonsoft.Json">
<HintPath>C:\path\to\Newtonsoft.Json.dll</HintPath>
</Reference>
The only difference between the two projects is that I created the first one using .NET Core 2.0, and the second one using .NET Framework 4.6.1.
Framework:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="15.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props" Condition="Exists('$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\$(MSBuildToolsVersion)\Microsoft.Common.props')" />
<PropertyGroup>
<Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
<Platform Condition=" '$(Platform)' == '' ">AnyCPU</Platform>
<ProjectGuid>{A6D2C332-B60D-41F1-9983-DE10065973A1}</ProjectGuid>
<OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
<RootNamespace>ConsoleApp1</RootNamespace>
<AssemblyName>ConsoleApp1</AssemblyName>
<TargetFrameworkVersion>v4.6.1</TargetFrameworkVersion>
<FileAlignment>512</FileAlignment>
<AutoGenerateBindingRedirects>true</AutoGenerateBindingRedirects>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
<PlatformTarget>AnyCPU</PlatformTarget>
<DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
<DebugType>full</DebugType>
<Optimize>false</Optimize>
<OutputPath>bin\Debug\</OutputPath>
<DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
<ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
<WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
<PlatformTarget>AnyCPU</PlatformTarget>
<DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
<Optimize>true</Optimize>
<OutputPath>bin\Release\</OutputPath>
<DefineConstants>TRACE</DefineConstants>
<ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
<WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="Newtonsoft.Json">
<HintPath>C:\path\to\Newtonsoft.Json.dll</HintPath>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="System" />
<Reference Include="System.Core" />
<Reference Include="System.Xml.Linq" />
<Reference Include="System.Data.DataSetExtensions" />
<Reference Include="Microsoft.CSharp" />
<Reference Include="System.Data" />
<Reference Include="System.Net.Http" />
<Reference Include="System.Xml" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Compile Include="Program.cs" />
<Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<None Include="App.config" />
</ItemGroup>
<Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
</Project>
Core:
<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
<PropertyGroup>
<OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
<TargetFramework>netcoreapp2.0</TargetFramework>
<GeneratePackageOnBuild>true</GeneratePackageOnBuild>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="Newtonsoft.Json">
<HintPath>C:\path\to\Newtonsoft.Json.dll</HintPath>
</Reference>
</ItemGroup>
</Project>
When I run the above code using .NET Core, I get the following response:
Types match: True
Typenames match: True
Success!
When I run the above code using .NET Framework, I get the following response:
Types match: False
Typenames match: True
Unhandled Exception: System.InvalidCastException: [A]Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JObject cannot be cast to [B]Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JObject
Why do .NET Framework and .NET Core work differently when loading assemblies via reflection?

The problem maybe is, that in .NET Framework you use 2 different assemblies (2 different files on disk). Try to run the .NET Framework project in debug mode and see where these types are coming from or add these lines.
Console.Write("Reflection type module: " + (reflectionType.Module.FullyQualifiedName));
Console.Write("Static type module: " + (typeof(JObject).Module.FullyQualifiedName));
Inspired by Walter Branson's answer, I did some research and found how some of the Load methods behave.
/* Loads closest assembly given by FullName loaded by default, in this case it is from the same location as executable */
Assembly jsonAssembly1 = Assembly.Load(#"Newtonsoft.Json, Version=12.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=30ad4fe6b2a6aeed");
/* Loads assembly exaclty from the file specified by path */
Assembly jsonAssembly2 = Assembly.LoadFile($#"{pathToAssembly}\Newtonsoft.Json.dll");
/* In NET.Framework loads same assembly as LoadFrom, but in .NET Core loads same assembly as Load */
Assembly jsonAssembly3 = Assembly.LoadFrom($#"{pathToAssembly}\Newtonsoft.Json.dll");

I believe this is occurring because the reference compare fails for .NET. When you look at the objects there is a different handle in .NET. When you look at the objects in core they both have same handle.
I think this occurs because you are loading the assembly from file. Try loading the assembly by its fully qualified name.
Assembly jsonAssembly = Assebmly.Load("NewtonSoft.Json,Version=12.0.0.0,Culture=neutral,PublicKeyToken=30adfe6b2a6aeed")

.NET Framework one copies the .dll that you are referencing to its executable directory. So the loaded .dlls are actually different.
Try to change the path from "C:\path\to\Newtonsoft.Json.dll" in .NET Framework project to "Newtonsoft.Json.dll", the result will be the same as in .NET Core one.

C# Unmanaged Export not working

I am trying to get the Unmanaged Export Basic sample working.
The steps I am following:
Create a new classlibrary project.
Add the UnmanagedExports with
nuget.
Change CPU target to x86.
Add the code from the tutorial I am following to the .cs file.
Build
The project is built sucesfully, but when I inspect my dll with DLL Export Viewer I can not see any of my functions.
I am using 32 bits OS and SharpDevelop 4.4 (I also have tried with other SharpDevelop versions and with 64bits OS with the same result).
My sln file:
Project("{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}") = "test", "test\test.csproj", "{AFAA816C-65B2-4B58-9FB2-EB7482AA0F5F}"
EndProject
Global
GlobalSection(SolutionConfigurationPlatforms) = preSolution
Debug|x86 = Debug|x86
Release|x86 = Release|x86
EndGlobalSection
GlobalSection(ProjectConfigurationPlatforms) = postSolution
{AFAA816C-65B2-4B58-9FB2-EB7482AA0F5F}.Debug|x86.ActiveCfg = Debug|x86
{AFAA816C-65B2-4B58-9FB2-EB7482AA0F5F}.Debug|x86.Build.0 = Debug|x86
{AFAA816C-65B2-4B58-9FB2-EB7482AA0F5F}.Release|x86.ActiveCfg = Release|x86
{AFAA816C-65B2-4B58-9FB2-EB7482AA0F5F}.Release|x86.Build.0 = Release|x86
EndGlobalSection
EndGlobal
My csproj file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003" DefaultTargets="Build">
<PropertyGroup>
<ProjectGuid>{AFAA816C-65B2-4B58-9FB2-EB7482AA0F5F}</ProjectGuid>
<ProjectTypeGuids>{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}</ProjectTypeGuids>
<Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
<Platform Condition=" '$(Platform)' == '' ">x86</Platform>
<OutputType>Library</OutputType>
<RootNamespace>test</RootNamespace>
<AssemblyName>test</AssemblyName>
<TargetFrameworkVersion>v2.0</TargetFrameworkVersion>
<AppDesignerFolder>Properties</AppDesignerFolder>
<TargetFrameworkProfile />
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Platform)' == 'x86' ">
<PlatformTarget>x86</PlatformTarget>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == 'Debug' ">
<OutputPath>bin\Debug\</OutputPath>
<DebugSymbols>True</DebugSymbols>
<DebugType>Full</DebugType>
<Optimize>False</Optimize>
<CheckForOverflowUnderflow>True</CheckForOverflowUnderflow>
<DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == 'Release' ">
<OutputPath>bin\Release\</OutputPath>
<DebugSymbols>False</DebugSymbols>
<DebugType>None</DebugType>
<Optimize>True</Optimize>
<CheckForOverflowUnderflow>False</CheckForOverflowUnderflow>
<DefineConstants>TRACE</DefineConstants>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="RGiesecke.DllExport.Metadata">
<HintPath>..\packages\UnmanagedExports.1.2.7\lib\net\RGiesecke.DllExport.Metadata.dll</HintPath>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="System" />
<Reference Include="System.Xml" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Compile Include="MyClass.cs" />
<Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<None Include="packages.config" />
</ItemGroup>
<Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
</Project>
My cs file:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using RGiesecke.DllExport;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace Testme
{
class Test
{
[DllExport("Add", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall)]
public static int Add(int left, int right)
{
return left + right;
}
........
Dll Export Viewer of my dll
Dll Export Viewer of a working dll (downloaded from the tutorial web)
Both dlls (mine and the downloaded) have the same size for my OS but not for the DLL Export Viewer.
What I am missing??

I had the same problem and I solved it this way,
You need add the follow line below this line csproj file
<Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
<!-- Remove this comment and insert This line-->
<Import Project="packages/UnmanagedExports.1.2.7/tools/RGiesecke.DllExport.targets" Condition="Exists('packages/UnmanagedExports.1.2.7/tools/RGiesecke.DllExport.targets')"/>
Check file exist in your folder "packages/UnmanagedExports.1.2.7/tools/RGiesecke.DllExport.targets"

LINQ to XML calling .Value returns null object

In a program that changes settings in a .csproj file, the following linq to xml statement always returns "object not set to an instance of an object":
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string rootDir =
#"e:\path\to\proj\file\foo.csproj";
var xDoc = XDocument.Load(rootDir);
var ns = xDoc.Root.Name.Namespace;
var hasConditions = xDoc.Root.Elements(ns + "PropertyGroup")
.Where(x => x.Attribute("Condition") != null);
Console.WriteLine(hasConditions.Count());
try
{
var debugConfig = xDoc.Root.Elements(ns + "PropertyGroup")
.Where(x => x.Attribute("Condition")
.Value == " '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ");
Console.WriteLine(debugConfig.Count());
}
catch
{
Console.WriteLine("doesn't work");
}
}
Complete proj file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<PropertyGroup>
<Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
<Platform Condition=" '$(Platform)' == '' ">AnyCPU</Platform>
<ProductVersion>8.0.30703</ProductVersion>
<SchemaVersion>2.0</SchemaVersion>
<ProjectGuid>{F08E2AEB-A1C2-43F9-A93C-38AF2A99C96A}</ProjectGuid>
<OutputType>Library</OutputType>
<AppDesignerFolder>Properties</AppDesignerFolder>
<RootNamespace>CommunicationSystem.XmlLoading.Common</RootNamespace>
<AssemblyName>CommunicationSystem.XmlLoading.Common</AssemblyName>
<TargetFrameworkVersion>v4.0</TargetFrameworkVersion>
<FileAlignment>512</FileAlignment>
<SccProjectName>SAK</SccProjectName>
<SccLocalPath>SAK</SccLocalPath>
<SccAuxPath>SAK</SccAuxPath>
<SccProvider>SAK</SccProvider>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
<DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
<DebugType>full</DebugType>
<Optimize>false</Optimize>
<OutputPath>bin\Debug\</OutputPath>
<DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
<ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
<WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
<CodeAnalysisRuleSet>MinimumRecommendedRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
<RunCodeAnalysis>true</RunCodeAnalysis>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
<DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
<Optimize>true</Optimize>
<OutputPath>bin\Release\</OutputPath>
<DefineConstants>TRACE</DefineConstants>
<ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
<WarningLevel>4</WarningLevel>
<CodeAnalysisRuleSet>MinimumRecommendedRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
<RunCodeAnalysis>true</RunCodeAnalysis>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'DEV|AnyCPU'">
<DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
<OutputPath>bin\DEV\</OutputPath>
<DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
<DebugType>full</DebugType>
<PlatformTarget>AnyCPU</PlatformTarget>
<ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'SIT|AnyCPU'">
<DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
<OutputPath>bin\SIT\</OutputPath>
<DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE</DefineConstants>
<DebugType>full</DebugType>
<PlatformTarget>AnyCPU</PlatformTarget>
<ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'QA|AnyCPU'">
<OutputPath>bin\QA\</OutputPath>
<DefineConstants>TRACE</DefineConstants>
<Optimize>true</Optimize>
<DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
<PlatformTarget>AnyCPU</PlatformTarget>
<ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Reference Include="StorageSystem">
<HintPath>..\..\..\GlobalDependencies\StorageSystem\beta\StorageSystem.dll</HintPath>
</Reference>
<Reference Include="System" />
<Reference Include="System.Configuration" />
<Reference Include="System.Core" />
<Reference Include="System.Web" />
<Reference Include="System.Xml.Linq" />
<Reference Include="System.Data.DataSetExtensions" />
<Reference Include="Microsoft.CSharp" />
<Reference Include="System.Data" />
<Reference Include="System.Xml" />
</ItemGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<Compile Include="Common\IEnumerableExtensions.cs" />
<Compile Include="Common\XmlLoaderBase.cs" />
<Compile Include="Configuration\SchemasConfigurationElement.cs" />
<Compile Include="Configuration\SettingsConfigurationElement.cs" />
<Compile Include="Configuration\TConfigurationElementCollection.cs" />
<Compile Include="Configuration\XmlLoadingConfigurationSection.cs" />
<Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs" />
<Compile Include="Validation\XValidationResult.cs" />
<Compile Include="Validation\XValidator.cs" />
</ItemGroup>
<Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
<!-- To modify your build process, add your task inside one of the targets below and uncomment it.
Other similar extension points exist, see Microsoft.Common.targets.
<Target Name="BeforeBuild">
</Target>
<Target Name="AfterBuild">
</Target>
-->
</Project>
My suspicion is that it has something to do with the whitespace in the attribute value, but I can't be sure.... Anyone else face something similar?

I suspect this is the problem:
x.Attribute(ns + "Condition")
Are you sure the attribute is in a namespace? (Unlike element names, attribute names don't inherit a "default" namespace from xmlns="...".) Try just:
x.Attribute("Condition")
EDIT: If the problem is indeed that the attribute doesn't exist on all elements, then the solution is simpler than the one proposed by arcain. You can just use a cast to string:
var debugConfig = xDoc.Root.Elements(ns + "PropertyGroup").Where(x =>
(string) x.Attribute("Condition") == " [long string here] ");
The string conversion will return null when called on null, which is what you want.
(Apologies for the messy formatting - the short lines on SO make it tricky.)

I had to perform a similar task, and I encountered the same issue. The root cause is that the Condition attribute may not exist on all PropertyGroup elements. Here's the query from my LINQPad script (which is where the .Dump() method comes from.)
string projFile = #"FileName";
XNamespace ns = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003";
XDocument doc = XDocument.Load(projFile);
var query = from node in doc.Root.Descendants(ns + "PropertyGroup")
where node.Attribute("Condition") != null // this fixed the issue
&& node.Attribute("Condition").Value.IndexOf(
"'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU'",
StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) >= 0
select node;
query.Dump();

You already have your answer, but I solved it using this xml library and this simple XPath:
XElement root = XElement.Load(file);
XElement node = root.XPathElement("//PropertyGroup[#Condition={0}]",
" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ");