Donovan Brown

Problem: I have to create the same branching structure in several team projects. I would like a way to automate this process. Solution: Use the tf.exe and tfpt.exe command line tools in a batch file. Explanation: Using the tf.exe and tfpt.exe command line tools you can preform the same task from the command line that you can preform in the IDE. Using tf.exe and tfpt.exe we can script the creation of the desired branching structure to speed up the process. You can download the Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2012 Update 1 Power Tools from here. The script below creates the Basic Branch Plan from the Visual Studio Team Foundation Server Branching and Merging Guide which you can download from here. The script must by run from a Developer Command Prompt so that tf.exe and tfpt.exe can be found. Your other option is to update the environment variables for you machine to include the location of tf.exe and tfpt.exe in your path. @ECHO OFF REM If they did not provide arguments show them how to REM use this batch file if "%1" == "" GOTO Usage if "%2" == "" GOTO Usage REM Create a temp workspace to create the branches in. REM This will be deleted at the end tf workspace /new /noprompt temp /collection:%1 REM Before you can create branches you must do a get latest tf get $/%2 REM Create a main folder that will become the main branch of code md %2\Main REM Add this folder to TFS tf add %2\Main /noprompt REM Check in the main folder tf checkin /comment:"Adding main branch" /recursive /noprompt REM Now start creating the other branches REM main to dev tf branch $/%2/Main $/%2/Dev /noget /checkin REM main to release tf branch $/%2/Main $/%2/Release /noget /checkin REM We have to use tfpt from the power tools to convert REM the folder to a branch so we get the new branch icons REM in source control explorer tfpt branches /convertToBranch /collection:%1 /recursive $/%2/Main Echo Deleting temp workspace Echo. tf workspace /delete /noprompt temp REM Remove the directories we created rd %2 /s /q REM Skip usage and just end GOTO End REM Show how to use the script :Usage Echo This batch file will create the default Main, Dev and Release branches Echo for a team project. Echo Requires: Echo Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2012 Update 1 Power Tools Echo. Echo Usage: Echo createBraches collection teamProjectName Echo. Echo collection = http://tfs:8080/tfs/myCollection Echo teamProjectName = the team project name in that collection Echo. Echo createBranches http://tfs:8080/tfs/sandboxcollection teamProjectName :End createBranches.cmd (1.67 kb)

Problem: When I run the tf history command from the command line it shows a dialog box. Solution: Add the /noprompt option to the TF History command. This will cause the output to be shown in the command window. You can then use DOS redirection to easily store the results in a text file. For example: tf history $/MyProject/Main/Source /recursive /noprompt /format:detailed /collection:http://MyTFS:8080/tfs/defaultcollection > history.txt This will result in a new file called history.txt to be created in the working folder. Explanation: The key to not showing the dialog box is the /noprompt. If you leave off the /noprompt you will be shown a dialog box. The output redirection operator > is used to send the command output to somewhere other than the screen for example a text file. > somefile.txt (If the file already exists it will be overwritten.)>> somefile.txt (This will append a file. If the file does not already exist it will be created.)

I have to create the same branches in every new team project

I need to show TFS history of a file on the command line so I can redirect to a text file.