TFS Find matching Files with OR

Question

So I want to find all the .xml and .pdb files and delete them from a build output folder. I can do this one at a time, but can I do this as one find matching files.

Answer 1

If you are doing this as part of the TFS build process template then you need a few activities and a variable. I'll do my best to talk you through it.

1. Create a Sequence somewhere after the build has completed - I put mine just after where the files were copied to the Drop Location.
2. Create a variable scoped to the Sequence called matchedFiles of type IEnumerable<String>
3. Add a FindMatchingFiles Activity to the Sequence and set the properties as follows
   • MatchPattern: String.Format("{0}\**\*.xml;{0}\**\*.pdb", BuildDetail.DropLocation) . You can change it to use BinariesDirectory if you are not cleaning the Drop Folder.
   • Result: matchedFiles
4. Add a ForEach Activity to the sequence and set the properties as follows:
   • Type: String.
   • Foreach file in matchedFiles
   • In the Body add a new InvokeMethod activity and set the properties as follows:
     • TargetType: System.IO.File
     • MethodName: Delete
     • Parameter: Direction: In Type: String Value: file

Now to avoid having a every File Delete in your build log, open the Process Template XAML with Visual Studio, find the InvokeMethod step, and add the following Attribute to the XAML:

mtbwt:BuildTrackingParticipant.Importance="None"