We use TFS 2010 to store our Flare projects. We would like to be able to generate output documents from Flare on a TFS team build computer. These output files will be picked up by InstallShield on the team build computer to be part of the final installer.
We would like to know:
• Can Flare be run from a team build to generate output files?
• What are the steps involved to perform this?
• Is a separate license required for a TFS team build copy of Flare?
Generating Output Files on TFS for final Build
-
RamonS
- Senior Propellus Maximus
- Posts: 4293
- Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:29 am
- Location: The Electric City
Re: Generating Output Files on TFS for final Build
MadCap sells discounted licenses of Flare to use as command line build tool. I am not that familiar with team builder, but my guess is that a custom step can be added, which would be the command line build of Flare. Once the build completes InstallShield should be able to pick up the files. Your best bet is to contact Madcap and ask them.
New Book: Creating user-friendly Online Help
Paperback http://www.amazon.com/dp/1449952038/ or https://www.createspace.com/3416509
eBook http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005XB9E3U
Paperback http://www.amazon.com/dp/1449952038/ or https://www.createspace.com/3416509
eBook http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005XB9E3U
Re: Generating Output Files on TFS for final Build
We would like to know:
• Can Flare be run from a team build to generate output files? Yes, you can do this a couple of ways
• What are the steps involved to perform this?
(1) Run a separate msbuild project file that can <Exec> out to madbuild.exe.
<Exec Command=""$(MadBuildExe)" -project "$(FlareProject)" -target "$(FlareTarget)" -log true" />
(2) Use the InvokeProcess activity with in the TeamBuild Workflow xaml to call the madbuild.exe. You can even set parameters in the build definition to feed the variables.
• Is a separate license required for a TFS team build copy of Flare? MadBuild.exe is already a part of the Standard MadCap Flare Install but if you want it to be on a build machine then you will need to purchase a build license at a lower cost. There is no IDE with the build license version.
• Can Flare be run from a team build to generate output files? Yes, you can do this a couple of ways
• What are the steps involved to perform this?
(1) Run a separate msbuild project file that can <Exec> out to madbuild.exe.
<Exec Command=""$(MadBuildExe)" -project "$(FlareProject)" -target "$(FlareTarget)" -log true" />
(2) Use the InvokeProcess activity with in the TeamBuild Workflow xaml to call the madbuild.exe. You can even set parameters in the build definition to feed the variables.
• Is a separate license required for a TFS team build copy of Flare? MadBuild.exe is already a part of the Standard MadCap Flare Install but if you want it to be on a build machine then you will need to purchase a build license at a lower cost. There is no IDE with the build license version.