Team Development with Visual Studio Team Foundation Server

How To: Set Up a Scheduled Build in Visual Studio Team
Foundation Server
Applies To
• Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2005 Team Foundation Server (TFS)
• Microsoft Visual Studio Team System (VSTS)
Summary
Although Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server does not provide scheduled builds
out of the box, you can use the TFSBuild command to implement your own scheduled
builds. This How To article walks you through the process of setting up a scheduled build
by using the TFSBuild command and the Microsoft Windows® Task Scheduler.
Contents
• Objectives
• Overview
• Summary of Steps
• Before You Begin
• Step 1 – Create and Test Your Build
• Step 2 – Create the TFSBuild Command Line
• Step 3 – Test the TFSBuild Command Line
• Step 4 – Create a Batch File
• Step 5 – Test the Batch File
• Step 6 – Add a Scheduled Task
• Step 7 – Test the Scheduled Task
• Additional Resources
Objectives
• Learn what a scheduled build is.
• Create a scheduled build by using the TFSBuild command utility and the Windows
Task Scheduler.
Overview
It is highly important that a project development team to generate regular builds in order
to get timely feedback from a test team as well as other stake holders. This can be
achieved through the use of scheduled builds. You can choose to schedule your build on a
nightly, weekly, biweekly, or on any other regular schedule depending upon your project
scope and requirements.
Although the Team Build feature in TFS does not have support scheduled builds out of
box, it does provide a TFSBuild command line utility that enables you to initiate team
builds from the command line. You can use any scheduler, such as the Windows Task