Cannot set output folder to absolute path

[iFreilicht]

So to me it seems sensible to but the build output folder into the %temp% directory (usually C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Temp). This is how the Arduino IDE does it as well.

However, setting the output variable in arduino.json will lead to an error message when starting the build and upload:

arduino.json

{
    "sketch": "bcm_data_direction.ino",
    "board": "arduino:avr:micro",
    "port": "COM4",
    "output": "C:\\Users\\<user>\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\ArduinoBuild"
}

Output

[Starting] Upload sketch - bcm_data_direction.ino
Looking for library 'user32'
Adding paths from jna.library.path: null
Trying user32.dll
Found library 'user32' at user32.dll
Looking for library 'shell32'
Adding paths from jna.library.path: null
Trying shell32.dll
Found library 'shell32' at shell32.dll
Looking for library 'Ole32'
Adding paths from jna.library.path: null
Trying Ole32.dll
Found library 'Ole32' at Ole32.dll
Loading configuration...
Initialising packages...
Preparing boards...
Verifying...
[Error] Exit with code=1

I also tried this with other absolute paths, and even on different drives. I get this very same error message every single time.

It does work perfectly when setting a relative path.

[frgazor]

I can confirm this. There is some other funky behavior:
"output": "../build" works fine, but "output": "build" will only compile my sketch for verify and won't compile for upload.

[iFreilicht]

That is a different issue, though. The documentation specifically states that the build directory should not be inside the sketch directory as this can cause the build to fail.

In your example, "output": "build" is still a relative path, not an absolute one.

[Peter-B-]

When I use an absolute path, I get a InvalidPathException:

When I the following line to my arduino.json
"output": "d:\\temp\\arduino"

I see this error:
java.nio.file.InvalidPathException: Illegal char <:> at index 53: d:\Dokuments\Arduino\generated_examples\VoiceRecord\d:\temp\arduino

It looks like it is interpreted as a relative path. Is there a way to tell it, that this is a absolute path?

[aster94]

+1 and also #461

[czgtest]

the version 0.2.12 support set output folder to absolute path