VS2015: warning MSB3884: Could not find rule set file

Question

After upgrading my WinForms VS2013 project to VS2015, I started seeing the MSB3884 "Could not find rule set file" warning.

A Google search turned up one MSDN article, which a Stack Overflow article points to as well as numerous other sites.

Similar Question: 33020507 MSDN: VS2015 MSB3884 Warning

I have both VS2013 and VS2015 installed.

The project files giving the warnings (and those that do not), do not have these entries.

<CodeAnalysisRuleSetDirectories>
<CodeAnalysisRuleDirectories> 

If I delete the other two entries from the project file, then the problem goes away, which is obvious, as there is no rule file set.

<CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRuleSets> 
<CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRules>

I am trying to build externally using msbuild, however VS2015 tends to show the problem too.

Interestingly enough, if I click on the open button in the project properties Code Analyzer area, I do get the file.

Specifying a different rule set makes no difference. That makes me think that possibly, there is an environment variable setting, not that any come to mind. Code Analyzers is a function of the project file. I can add a directory attribute, but the consensus is to take out paths, the <CodeAnalysisRule*Directories>.

The GUI uses defaults:

'

Here is a typical project file fragment.

  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|x86'">
    <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
    <OutputPath>bin\x86\Debug\</OutputPath>
    <DefineConstants>TRACE;DEBUG</DefineConstants>
    <DebugType>full</DebugType>
    <PlatformTarget>x86</PlatformTarget>
    <CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRuleSets>true</CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRuleSets>
    <CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRules>false</CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRules>
    <Prefer32Bit>false</Prefer32Bit>
    <TreatWarningsAsErrors>true</TreatWarningsAsErrors>
    <CodeAnalysisRuleSet>BasicCorrectnessRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|x64'">
    <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
    <OutputPath>bin\x64\Debug\</OutputPath>
    <DefineConstants>TRACE;DEBUG</DefineConstants>
    <DebugType>full</DebugType>
    <PlatformTarget>x64</PlatformTarget>
    <CodeAnalysisRuleSet>MinimumRecommendedRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
    <CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRules>false</CodeAnalysisIgnoreBuiltInRules>
  </PropertyGroup>

Without getting rid of the Code Analysis lines from the project file, though saving a project file again would just add it back, how can I eliminate/fix the warning?

Answer 1

I've just had the same problem after upgrading from VS2013 to VS2015.

My solution was:

1. On the project properties go to the Code Analysis section.
2. Select the Browse option on the list of rule sets.
3. Browse to the VS2015 rule sets folder. C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Team Tools\Static Analysis Tools\Rule Sets
4. Pick a rule set. The default used by new projects is: MinimumRecommendedRules.ruleset
5. Rebuild. Check the warning has gone.