TFS Build automation

Question

I have TFS2010 building a project solution, which is a copier. The build is succesful but does nothing, ie. doesn't copy.

How would I get the triggered build to copy the file?

Thanks

I have TFS 2010 and VS professonal 2010

EDIT

Update

Copier is the project being built. I added start copier.exe to the post build and it works when I build it manually, as in going to the build drop down menu and clicking build copier. But when I shedule a TFS build it doesn't start copier.

Answer 1

If you need the build process to invoke a program you need to edit the TFS Build Process Template.

There are a number of resources on the net for this, a good one is by Ewald Hofman. You can also find details in the TFS 2010 book by Wrox.

Once you are familiar with the Process Template you will need to add an InvokeProcess activity after the activities for the build has completed.

Also, consider adding a If activity and setting an argument so you can control which builds do this and which don't - for example, do your CI builds need this step?

Answer 2

I can't edit our build definition templates because they are company wide.

So I change the project file with extra post build steps.

Just add a step in the post buildstep of the project that contains the copier. You can call your output executable.

I do it for distributing my TFS builds to different release folders

Add this step:

"$(TargetPath)" to your project file.