pubxml exclude files and directories

TestPublishExcludeFilesAndDirs.pubxml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <WebPublishMethod>FileSystem</WebPublishMethod>
    <LastUsedBuildConfiguration>Release</LastUsedBuildConfiguration>
    <LastUsedPlatform>Any CPU</LastUsedPlatform>
    <SiteUrlToLaunchAfterPublish />
    <LaunchSiteAfterPublish>True</LaunchSiteAfterPublish>
    <ExcludeApp_Data>True</ExcludeApp_Data>
    <publishUrl>F:\Projects\publish</publishUrl>
    <DeleteExistingFiles>True</DeleteExistingFiles>
    <!-- files to not publish - path is relative to project root -->
    <ExcludeFilesFromDeployment>packages.config;css\*.less;scripts\_references.js;ignoreme.txt</ExcludeFilesFromDeployment>
    <!-- directories to not publish - path is relative to project root -->
    <ExcludeFoldersFromDeployment>RemoveFolder</ExcludeFoldersFromDeployment>
  </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

https://sitecore.stackexchange.com/questions/9363/excluding-files-like-web-config-when-using-publishing-in-vs-2017

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/web-forms/overview/deployment/advanced-enterprise-web-deployment/excluding-files-and-folders-from-deployment