Resolving metadata fails when referencing a c++/winrt project from a c# uwp project

[matthew4850]

Steps to reproduce

Download attached zip and run:
msbuild test.sln /p:AppxBundlePlatforms="x86|x64|ARM" /p:AppxBundle=Always /p:UapAppxPackageBuildMode=StoreUpload /p:Configuration=Debug /p:Platform="x86"
test.zip

Directory contents:

/
- test.sln
- test.user
- App1/
     - App.xaml
     - App.xaml.cs
     - App1.csproj
     - MainPage.xaml
     - MainPage.xaml.cs
     - Package.appxmanifest
- RuntimeComponent1/
     - Class.cpp
     - Class.h
     - Class.idl
     - packages.config
     - pch.cpp
     - pch.h
     - PropertySheet.props
     - RuntimeComponent.def
     - RuntimeComponent.vcxproj
     - RuntimeComponent.vcxproj.filters
- packages/
     - Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.200316.3/

Expected behavior

It builds successfully.

Actual behavior

CSC : error CS0006: Metadata file [path] could not be found

Environment data

msbuild /version output:
16.5.0.12403
OS info:
Windows 10 20h1

[jbrianceau]

I observe the same issue, which actually seems to be a regression of CppWinRT nuget introduced between versions 2.0.191018.6 and 2.0.191023.3.

Here are the results using different release of CppWinRT nuget with the test project provided above by @matthew4850 :

CppWinRT nuget release	Issue does repro?
Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.191018.6	No
Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.191023.3	Yes
Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.200316.3	Yes
Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201113.7 (current latest release)	Yes

[rainersigwald]

@jlaanstra is fixing this with microsoft/cppwinrt#824. Thanks! We'll let it be tracked there.

[jbrianceau]

For the record, fix is available in the Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201217.4 nuget release.