Azure DevOps pipeline variables in .nuspec files

Question

Is it possible to use Azure DevOps pipeline variables in .nuspec files, which are used for packages creation?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/packaging/2012/06/nuspec.xsd">
  <metadata>
    <id>MyTemplate</id>
    <version>$(var1).$(var2).$(var3)</version>
    <description>
      Some template
    </description>
    <authors>Test Test</authors>
    <packageTypes>
      <packageType name="Template" />
    </packageTypes>
  </metadata>
</package>

Or is it a way to ovveride version specified in .nuspec file(it is required element) by those one in .yaml task?

task: NuGetCommand@2
  displayName: Pack template
  inputs:
    command: pack
    packagesToPack: '**/Template/*.nuspec'
    packDestination: $(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)
    versioningScheme: byPrereleaseNumber
    majorVersion: '$(var1)'
    minorVersion: '$(var2)'
    patchVersion: '$(var3)'

But with versioningScheme: byPrereleaseNumber we will get timestamp added to our numbers.

Answer 1

Pop-up ToolTip for Build Properties:

Specifies a list of token=value pairs, separated by semicolons, where each occurrence of $token$ in the .nuspec file will be replaced with the given value. Values can be strings in quotation marks.

I figured out the following YAML by going into the UI builder for editing the pipeline visually, there's an "Advanced" pane inside the NuGet > Pack task. It allows you to specify additional token replacement values under "build properties" (buildProperties)

I have a feeling it's one of those things where you have to transform one type of token into another.. see the buildProperties on the last line:

variables:
  Parameters.requestedMajorVersion: '1'
  Parameters.requestedMinorVersion: '0'
  Parameters.requestedPatchVersion: '6'

steps:
- task: NuGetCommand@2
  displayName: 'NuGet pack'
  inputs:
    command: pack
    packagesToPack: '**/*.nuspec'
    versioningScheme: byPrereleaseNumber
    majorVersion: '$(Parameters.requestedMajorVersion)'
    minorVersion: '$(Parameters.requestedMinorVersion)'
    patchVersion: '$(Parameters.requestedPatchVersion)'
    includeSymbols: true
    buildProperties: 'id=$(Build.Variable)'

Example .nuspec

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/packaging/2013/05/nuspec.xsd">
  <metadata minClientVersion="2.5">
    <id>$id$</id>