How can I copy a TFS 2010 Build Definition?

Question

Is there any way to copy a build definition? I work in a mainline source control methodology which utilizes many different branches that live for very short periods (ie. a

Answer 1

You can download the new TFS 2010 power tools. It has the option to clone a build definition.

See http://msmvps.com/blogs/molausson/archive/2010/10/21/clone-a-build-definition.aspx for an example

Note: Be aware that the Clone only works when you did NOT pop out the Build window.

Answer 2

Here is the soltion if you want to move the Build definition from one Team Project to other Team project.

    public void MoveBuild(string fromTeamProject, string toTeamProject, string buildName, string newBuildName)
    {

        var _server = TfsTeamProjectCollectionFactory.GetTeamProjectCollection(new

        Uri("http://Mytfs:8080/defaultcollection"));

        IBuildServer _buildServer = _server.GetService<IBuildServer>();

        var buildDetails = _buildServer.QueryBuildDefinitions(fromTeamProject);

        foreach (var fromBuild in buildDetails)
        {
            if (fromBuild.Name != buildName) continue;
            var newBuildDefinition = _buildServer.CreateBuildDefinition(toTeamProject);
            newBuildDefinition.Name = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(newBuildName) ? newBuildName : fromBuild.Name;

            newBuildDefinition.BuildController = fromBuild.BuildController;

            // This finds the template to use 
            foreach (var mapping in fromBuild.Workspace.Mappings)
            {
                newBuildDefinition.Workspace.AddMapping(
                    mapping.ServerItem, mapping.LocalItem, mapping.MappingType, mapping.Depth);
            }
            newBuildDefinition.DefaultDropLocation = fromBuild.DefaultDropLocation;
            newBuildDefinition.Description = fromBuild.Description;
            // buildDefinition.Workspace.AddMapping(build.Workspace.);
            newBuildDefinition.Process = _buildServer.QueryProcessTemplates(fromBuild)[2];

            newBuildDefinition.ProcessParameters = fromBuild.ProcessParameters;
            newBuildDefinition.Enabled = false;
            newBuildDefinition.Save();
        }//end of for each loop 

    }

Answer 3

The following tool (VS Addin) will satisfy your requirement>

Community TFS Build Manager

http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/16bafc63-0f20-4cc3-8b67-4e25d150102c

Answer 4

I just had a need to copy build definitions, and found Jim's answer above to be helpful. However, being new to the TFS API, I needed help connecting to the server and getting the existing build definition through code. These two links helped fill in the gaps:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb286958.aspx

http://geekswithblogs.net/jakob/archive/2010/04/26/creating-a-build-definition-using-the-tfs-2010-api.aspx

Answer 5

You can right click the build definition and select 'clone build definition' to copy the definition file. You can then edit it from there.

Answer 6

You can write an add-in to do it. Here's the code to copy an existing build definition:

static IBuildDefinition CloneBuildDefinition(IBuildDefinition buildDefinition)
{
    var buildDefinitionClone = buildDefinition.BuildServer.CreateBuildDefinition(
        buildDefinition.TeamProject);

    buildDefinitionClone.BuildController = buildDefinition.BuildController;
    buildDefinitionClone.ContinuousIntegrationType = buildDefinition.ContinuousIntegrationType;
    buildDefinitionClone.ContinuousIntegrationQuietPeriod = buildDefinition.ContinuousIntegrationQuietPeriod;
    buildDefinitionClone.DefaultDropLocation = buildDefinition.DefaultDropLocation;
    buildDefinitionClone.Description = buildDefinition.Description;
    buildDefinitionClone.Enabled = buildDefinition.Enabled;
    buildDefinitionClone.Name = String.Format("Copy of {0}", buildDefinition.Name);
    buildDefinitionClone.Process = buildDefinition.Process;
    buildDefinitionClone.ProcessParameters = buildDefinition.ProcessParameters;

    foreach (var schedule in buildDefinition.Schedules)
    {
        var newSchedule = buildDefinitionClone.AddSchedule();
        newSchedule.DaysToBuild = schedule.DaysToBuild;
        newSchedule.StartTime = schedule.StartTime;
        newSchedule.TimeZone = schedule.TimeZone;
    }

    foreach (var mapping in buildDefinition.Workspace.Mappings)
    {
        buildDefinitionClone.Workspace.AddMapping(
            mapping.ServerItem, mapping.LocalItem, mapping.MappingType, mapping.Depth);
    }

    buildDefinitionClone.RetentionPolicyList.Clear();

    foreach (var policy in buildDefinition.RetentionPolicyList)
    {
        buildDefinitionClone.AddRetentionPolicy(
            policy.BuildReason, policy.BuildStatus, policy.NumberToKeep, policy.DeleteOptions);
    }

    return buildDefinitionClone;
}