Microsoft.Common.CurrentVersion.targets: _SplitProjectReferencesByFileExistence DependsOn AssignProjectConfiguration

[vikukush]

When GetCopyToPublishDirectoryItems from Microsoft.NET.Publish.targets is called on its own, the depends tree terminates at _SplitProjectReferencesByFileExistence
_SplitProjectReferencesByFileExistence tries to use @(ProjectReferenceWithConfiguration) , which is empty, because it is emitted by AssignProjectConfiguration, which isn't actually called.
This causes the Publish action to not pick up output of project's ProjectReferences, since they are completely ignored.

Failed call missing projectreferences, AssignProjectConfiguration is not called:

Normal call as part of Publish, AssignProjectConfiguration runs as a dependency of ResolveReferences:

Add the target to the dependson list to ensure that @(ProjectReferenceWithConfiguration) contains something and all projectreferences output is picked up as expected.

[vikukush]

@dsplaisted , @rainersigwald , I've added better screenshots explaining the issue, check it out

[JanKrivanek]

Thank you!