TFS build - VSDBCMD.EXE cannot find deploymanifest

Question

I have the following problem.

I am trying to customize default TFS build process by adding a step where a database is deployed using the database project. I strictly followed these steps, the only difference is that I've done it in another part of the workflow. However, DB deployment always fails with the following error: *** The deployment manifest file Database.Project.Name.deploymanifest does not exist.

Here is the command line that is executed:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VSTSDB\Deploy\VSDBCMD.EXE /a:Deploy /dd+ /dsp:Sql /cs:"Data Source=DB-Server;Initial Catalog=DB.Name;User Id=username;Password=password;" /manifest:Database.Project.Name.deploymanifest

I've double-checked several things - VSDBCMD.EXE utility does exist on the specified path on the build server, Database.Project.Name.deploymanifest file does exist in the build drop directory, and BuildDetail.DropLocation (which is set as the Working Directory in the workflow) field does point to this directory. So it looks like everything should work - but it doesn't. What might be other possible causes of this problem? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Finally I've found a workaround. Instead of BuildDetail.DropLocation I am using Build Agent's working directory. Please note that this is just a workaround, not a complete solution to the problem, and I still have no idea about why the deploymanifest file was not available. However, this approach at least works...