Using Variables in a TFS Build Template

Question

We created a build template that accepts the path of a powerscript filename as an argument. Right now it works if I type in the actual path of the script. I would like to pass $(SourceDir) as part of the path, and then replace it with the actual value during the build.

For example: $(SourceDir) \\myapp\\scripts\\scripttorun.ps

Here are the steps that I have done:

• In the template I have created a variable named DeploymentScript
• Then ConvertWorkspaceItem DeploymentScript -> DeploymentScriptFilename
• Then pass DeploymentScriptFilename as an argument to PowerShell

Answer 1

Possibly duplicate with this case TFS How to GetEnvironmentVariable value . You can't use $TF_BUILD_BUILDDIRECTORY in a custom build process.

Refer to the last paragraph in this MSDN document :

Use environment data from a custom build process

If you need to use an environment variable in your custom build process template , you can use the GetEnvironmentVariable activity to get the data. You can get data from any of the WellKnownEnvironmentVariables .

For example, to get the path to the binaries directory, set the Name property of the GetEnvironmentVariable activity to Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Build.Activities.Extensions.WellKnownEnvironmentVariables.BinariesDirectory

Please refer more detailed info about how to use it from this blog Using Environment Variables in Visual Studio 2013 and TFS 2013