Using TFS to generate version header file

Question

We are thinking about adding automatic versioning to a native c++ project being developed and automatically built by Team Foundation Server. Ideally, we would have the build start (which checks out all the newest versions from TFS), then as a first step, get the build number from TFS, create a header file, then check that file back IN before continuing the build. Is this even possible to do a checkout / check-in during a build like that?

I'm not too familiar with how TFS works and the capabilities of retrieving information from it, and neither is anyone else on our team, this is the first time we are using it...

Answer 1

Yes, you could. Here is a great web site showing how to do it for the AssemblyInfo's for C#, so you'd have to adjust the solution a bit but it should show you enough o complete your task.

Be very careful with Check Out/In in high volume build environment. You will tend to get a lot of "couldn't check out file already locked", and conflicts on check in because another build checked in after this build check out. Use custom tasks with a lot of error handling and verification and the ability to handle conflicts. Do Not Use TF.EXE in a high volume.

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