trigger config transformation in TFS 2010 or msbuild

Question

I'm attempting to make use of configuration transformations in a continuous integration environment.

I need a way to tell the TFS build agent to perform the transformations. I was kind of hoping it would just work after discovering the config transform files (web.qa-release.config, web.production-release.config, etc...). But it doesn't.

I have a TFS build definition that builds the right configurations (qa-release, production-release, etc...) and I have some specific .proj files that get built within these definitions and those contain some environment specific parameters eg:

<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)'=='production-release' ">
    <TargetHost Condition=" '$(TargetHost)'=='' ">qa.web</TargetHost>
    ...
</PropertyGroup>
<PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)'=='qa-release' ">
    <TargetHost Condition=" '$(TargetHost)'=='' ">production.web</TargetHost>
    ...
</PropertyGroup>

I know from the output that the correct configurations are being built. Now I just need to learn how to trigger the config transformations. Is there some hocus pocus that I can add to the final .proj in the build to kick off the transform and blow away the individual transform files?

Answer 1

Any lucky with it?

I'm having a nightmare to automate deployments and your problem comes along with it...

Answer 2

All you should need to do is setup which configuration should be used within the TFS build definition.

1. Goto Team Explorer > Builds
2. Edit your build definition (or create new)
3. Under the "Process" step there is a settings for "Configurations to Build".

In my case I have setup a configuration specifically for CI that then performs the correct web.config transformations. Ensure that you have added the "CI" transform file and you should be good to go.

Answer 3

I finally managed to get this working. I'm using TFS 2008, but also using MSBuild 4.0 so it should work for you.

First, add this import to TFSBuild.proj:

<Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v10.0\WebApplications\Microsoft.WebApplication.targets" />

Next, add a BeforeDropBuild target:

<Target Name="BeforeDropBuild">
  <TransformXml Source="$(SolutionRoot)\MySite\Web.config"
    Transform="$(SolutionRoot)\MySite\Web.QA.config"
    Destination="$(OutDir)\_PublishedWebsites\MySite\Web.QA.config.transformed" />
</Target>

You can then copy the Web.QA.config.transformed to wherever you need it to go.