TFS build powershell script step : Not able to access $(Date:yyyyMMdd) variable

Question

I had created auto deployment steps using TFS vNext build system. In one step I needs to access $(Date:yyyyMMdd) for some file versioning stuff.

Below you can find configuration and error snippet:

So any idea how to access date related variables as argument in PowerShell script step ?

Answer 1

"$(Date:yyyyMMdd)" is a token for Build number format, not a variable . So you cannot use it in the build steps.

The alternative way to do this is to set the "Build number format" under "General" tab to "$(Date:yyyyMMdd)", the variable "$(Build.BuildNumber)" will be filled with the value of "$(Date:yyyyMMdd)". And then you can use "$(Build.BuildNumber)" variable in the build steps.

Answer 2

As the error tells you, date is not a function. You could set the -fileName parameter in your CompressFile script to:

Param(
    [string]$fileName = 'Package{0}' -f (Get-Date).ToString('yyyyMMdd')
)

And omit the parameter in the TFS VNext argument list (you can still overwrite it).