Adding errors to build summary from PowerShell script running in VSTS

Question

In VSTS, I am using a PowerShell task to run one of my script. The script contains the following:

Write-Error 'error 1'
Write-Error 'error 2'

Since the Write-Error cmdlet writes on stderr, these messages get reported in the VSTS web interface:

I would like to improve on this output. The improvements that I am looking for is:

1. I would like to have one red X per error.
2. I would like to remove all the noise, i.e. get rid of the lines starting with '+'

Instead of calling Write-Error, is there another function that I can call from my script to add an error to the build summary page?

I saw the function Write-VstsTaskError but unfortunately it can only be called from a VSTS task. It cannot be called from my script.

Answer 1

The recommended way to do this is using VSO logging commands as discussed in the GitHub issue below.

• Is it possible to raise and display build warnings from build steps using TFS 2015?

• Logging Commands

For example:

Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=warning;]Test warning"
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=error;]Test error"

Answer 2

After lots of trial and error, I was able to solve problem #1. The VSTS build displays a red X for each entry in stderr that is seperated by an entry on stdout. So, if I change my script to the following:

Write-Error 'Error 1'
Write-Host '***'
Write-Error 'Error 2'
Write-Host '***'

I now have one red X per error, but I still have the extra noise (lines starting with '+').