What's the definition of Pre-build step in error 9204?

[Junru_Pan]

I met an error of 9204 when I was building my project. I checked the definition in help.

It says that “Pre-build step was executed with errors”, let me “Check that the pre-build step is correct”.

Therefore, I would like to ask, what is the definition of “pre-build step”?

What exactly should I check for this error?

[alexander.hefner]

Hi,

in an Automation Studio project, for each configuration you can define pre-build and post-build actions.
By default, Automation Studio does not set any additional pre- or post-build steps automatically, so it seems that somebody has set there something in the project manually.

These build steps can be used for example to execute external programs, batch files or similar things to exeute “something” before (pre-) or after (post-) the AS project build.
He’re just some examples of things done with prebuild / postbuild external actions:

• checking / pushing / pulling sources from / into source control systems
• copying / moving / generating some addititional data
• interfacing with CI/CD tool chains
• …

If such a build event fails, you get those corresponding error messages.
Failing means:

• the build event is invalid (for example, the called external program is not existing)
• the build event response has not errorlevel 0 (for example, the external program / batch file exists, but returns an errorlevel unequal 0)

The pre- and post-build steps are configured in the PLC-related object of a configuration, under “Build Events”:

For more details about build events, please check Automation Studio help (section " Tab Build events"):

B&R Online Help

Best regards!