TFS 2012 - Get a Release Build With Changesets Associated From a Given Changeset

If you have created a new release build definition with TFS for an application that is already in Production (which is deployed to production without a TFS build), you may want to do the next release build with changesets associated from a given changeset (from the last changeset delivered to Production).

To make it clear have a look at below source control history in my demo app. My changeset 87 has already gone into Production. Now I am creating a new TFS release build definition and when I queue a build in this release build I want it to get associated with chagesets 93 to 97.

If  I queue a build with will build for latest sources in the TFS and no changesets get associated to the build.

To get my changesets 93 to 97 associated to build first I need to build for changeset  87. Then I can build for latest solution and it will associate from 93 to 97.

I can specify the changeset to build by advance options "Get Version" when I queue a build like below.

 Now when I queue the build it builds for changeset 87.

Now I queue another build with not specifying a changeset. This will build the latest sources

This build will associate the changesets from 93 to 97 as I expected

 

If it is necessary I can repeat the same steps to do another build from this definition to associate set of changesets that I would like to associate with it.

I will explain how to generate a Build Note with TFS build in my next post.

There are few types of parameters that can be send to "Get Version" of advanced options of queuing build. For details check http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg490833.aspx#VersionSpecs

TFS 2013 Web Access - Comments on Changesets

You can add comments on changesets/shelvesets in web access, with TFS 2013 preview. This again a very effective way to communicate more information on the changes made in the changeset in addition to the default comment.

It is very simple to add a comment and it is possible for you to modify/delete the comments added on changeset/shelveset. May be this can even be used to do code reviews on changesets.

Let see how to add comments

1. Go to web access Code--> Changesets and open a chageset. you can see comparison view of the code files modified. Highlight a portion of code and click on the small icon appear on left side of code.

2. Type in comments and hit Return key to save.

Any other team member can reply to these comments. Unlike the team room chat this is not recorded as history. If you delete comment it is completely deleted.

Only problem I see with this feature is that you cannot view this outside of Web Access. Simply you cannot see these comments in VS when you view the changeset.

Still it is a cool feature comes with TFS 2013... and await for more...