a·gen·tic a·gil·i·ty

TFS Error: MSB4018 The “BuildShadowTask” task failed unexpectedly

Explains the MSB4018 “BuildShadowTask” error in TFS when using Accessors in unit test projects, its cause, and how removing .accessor files resolves build issues.

Published on
2 minute read
Image
https://nkdagility.com/resources/xi_wQ8zFW_U
Subscribe

There seams to be a problem in MSBuild when you add an “Accessor” as part of a Unit Test project.

 1C:Program FilesMSBuildMicrosoftVisualStudiov9.0TeamTestMicrosoft.TeamTest.targets(14,5): error MSB4018: The "BuildShadowTask" task failed unexpectedly.
 2System.IO.FileLoadException: API restriction: The assembly 'file:///C:WINDOWSMicrosoft.NETFrameworkv2.0.50727System.Web.dll' has already loaded from a different location. It cannot be loaded from a new location within the same appdomain.
 3   at System.Reflection.Assembly._nLoad(AssemblyName fileName, String codeBase, Evidence assemblySecurity, Assembly locationHint, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Boolean throwOnFileNotFound, Boolean forIntrospection)
 4   at System.Reflection.Assembly.nLoad(AssemblyName fileName, String codeBase, Evidence assemblySecurity, Assembly locationHint, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Boolean throwOnFileNotFound, Boolean forIntrospection)
 5   at System.Reflection.Assembly.InternalLoad(AssemblyName assemblyRef, Evidence assemblySecurity, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Boolean forIntrospection)
 6   at System.Reflection.Assembly.InternalLoadFrom(String assemblyFile, Evidence securityEvidence, Byte[] hashValue, AssemblyHashAlgorithm hashAlgorithm, Boolean forIntrospection, StackCrawlMark& stackMark)
 7   at System.Reflection.Assembly.ReflectionOnlyLoadFrom(String assemblyFile)
 8   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting.Publicize.WebBinder.LoadData()
 9   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting.Publicize.WebBinder.Init()
10   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting.Publicize.Shadower..ctor()
11   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.BuildShadowReferences.BuildShadowTask.Execute()
12   at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.TaskEngine.ExecuteInstantiatedTask(EngineProxy engineProxy, ItemBucket bucket, TaskExecutionMode howToExecuteTask, ITask task, Boolean& taskResult)

An Accessor allows your test project to access code that would normally be “Private” or “Friend” from outside the Assembly that it resides in.

TFS Error: MSB4018 The "BuildShadowTask" task failed unexpectedly

It creates a little file with the “.accessor” extension that is the same name as your DLL, and contains the name of the DLL.

TFS Error: MSB4018 The "BuildShadowTask" task failed unexpectedly

If you remove this file then your remote MSBuild server will then build you solution successfully again including running your Unit Tests.

Reference:

Re: BuildShadowTask Failed unexpectedly - Accessor Problem (Upconvert VS 2005 to 2008) – URGENT

BuildShadowTask Failed unexpectedly - Accessor Problem (Upconvert VS 2005 to 2008) – URGENT

Technorati Tags: ALM   TFBS   TFS 2008   VS 2005

Troubleshooting Windows
Subscribe

Related Blog

No related videos found.

Connect with Martin Hinshelwood

If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.

Our Happy Clients​

We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.​

Jack Links Logo

Jack Links

New Signature Logo

New Signature

CR2

Slaughter and May Logo

Slaughter and May

Big Data for Humans Logo

Big Data for Humans

Alignment Healthcare Logo

Alignment Healthcare

ProgramUtvikling Logo

ProgramUtvikling

Schlumberger Logo

Schlumberger

NIT A/S

Teleplan Logo

Teleplan

Slicedbread Logo

Slicedbread

Lockheed Martin Logo

Lockheed Martin

Philips Logo

Philips

Sage Logo

Sage

Illumina Logo

Illumina

MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd. Logo

MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd.

Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd Logo

Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd

Bistech Logo

Bistech

Royal Air Force Logo

Royal Air Force

Washington Department of Enterprise Services Logo

Washington Department of Enterprise Services

New Hampshire Supreme Court Logo

New Hampshire Supreme Court

Department of Work and Pensions (UK) Logo

Department of Work and Pensions (UK)

Ghana Police Service Logo

Ghana Police Service

Nottingham County Council Logo

Nottingham County Council

Xceptor - Process and Data Automation Logo

Xceptor - Process and Data Automation

New Signature Logo

New Signature

Flowmaster (a Mentor Graphics Company) Logo

Flowmaster (a Mentor Graphics Company)

Alignment Healthcare Logo

Alignment Healthcare

Qualco Logo

Qualco

YearUp.org Logo

YearUp.org