Syntax error in Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.targets

[Davide244]

Describe the bug

As of writing, 1.6.240923002 is the latest release. It is currently impossible to build new projects without editing the Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.targets file directly, as it contains a syntax error. There is an inavlid extra "<" at Line 76.

It is possible that this is the same issue that #4784 roughly describes. Not sure about that though.

Steps to reproduce the bug

1. Update any existing Windows App SDK project to 1.6.240923002; Alternatively, create a new project with that package version.
2. Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.targets fails to load.

Working workaround

1. Go into the Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.targets file
2. Go to line 71
3. Remove the extra '<' symbol. It should be marked as a syntax error.

Expected behavior

The syntax error should not exist.

Screenshots

NuGet package version

Windows App SDK 1.6.1: 1.6.240923002

Packaging type

Packaged (MSIX)

Windows version

Windows 11 version 22H2 (22621, 2022 Update)

IDE

Visual Studio 2022

Additional context

No response

[manodasanW]

Can you delete the restored winappsdk package in the nuget folder and see if you still see the extra < or not when it restores again. At least looking at the package on nuget.org (https://nuget.info/packages/Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK/1.6.240923002) and specifically at the target, I am not seeing the extra <.

[Davide244]

I do not know what causes it to appear. I have tested this on another, new development machine. It also appeared on that device. It is only there for the newest version of the package.

[RDMacLachlan]

Have you tried the recommended steps outlined by @manodasanW ?

Can you delete the restored winappsdk package in the nuget folder and see if you still see the extra < or not when it restores again. At least looking at the package on nuget.org (https://nuget.info/packages/Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK/1.6.240923002) and specifically at the target, I am not seeing the extra <.

[Davide244]

Yes, I have tried this. It did not make a difference. The extra symbol is always there. I recently installed the package on my laptop with no previous tooling. It was also there. It only exists when trying the mentioned version.

[RDMacLachlan]

Did you clear your nuget cache, such as C:\Users\myacct.nuget\packages\microsoft.windowsappsdk?

[RDMacLachlan]

If this is a C++ project, please also clear your solutions packages cache.

[Davide244]

Clearing the NuGet cache seems to have fixed it for me.