Using Team Foundation Server 2012 without Visual Studio - tfs

I'm overseeing a VSS to TFS 2012 migration at my shop and have hit a snag: the "report guy" uses Crystal Reports (don't know the version, sorry) and doesn't have Visual Studio. Under VSS that wasn't an issue because there is a stand-alone client for VSS... but there is no such animal for TFS. What do I need to give the report guy so he can use TFS?

You can simply install Team Explorer, which offers a standalone installation if you do not have a version of Visual Studio installed.
Technically, this is installing the Visual Studio shell, but does not install any of the development tools. So your "report guy" will be able to use the Team Explorer view, Source Control Editor, Work Item Editors and other TFS features without having to install (or license) the full Visual Studio experience.

Related

How to set VS 2008 version option for TFS 2017 build definition

I am new to TFS and am trying to build an VB project created with Visual Studio 2008 using Team Foundation Server 2017 Build feature.
As you can see on the image below, I need to set the Visual Studio version on the Build Solution task and there is no dropdown option for Visual Studio 2008.
Is there anyway I can select VS 2008 to build this project?
Or is it possible to do this?
I will appreciate of any help I can get.
Based on the information provided from Microsoft at TFS Server Requirements, and specifically looking into the Client Compatibility / Visual Studio 2008 falls under the MSSCCI support category:
MSSCCI support
Visual Studio/Team Explorer 2008 and Visual Studio 2005 are no longer officially supported. To connect to the server, these clients must interface through the MSSCCI provider instead. MSSCCI support only includes support for source control integration and MSSCCI commands. The goal is simply to allow developers to continue working with legacy applications in an upgraded server.
I believe that, if you have to stick with Visual Studio 2008, you could use MSBuild step instead, and specify the proper location of the MSBuild 3.5, and verify if this would work for you:

TFS options in Windows Explorer

How do I get the TFS options to appear in Windows Explorer?
I have the Power Tools installed and for a few of my projects I do have the TFS options available in Windows Explorer.
I have recently created a couple of new branches from my Main project, but these new branches do not have the TFS options when "Right Clicking" the folder from within Windows Explorer.
I have tried reinstalling Power Tools, but this has not fixed my issue.
Does anyone know how I can get the TFS options to appear for my new projects in Windows Explorer?
If it makes a difference to the answer: I am using VS2008 with Power Tools 2010.
I cannot use a newer version of VS.
If you are using Team Foundation Server Power Tools December 2011 in your environment. You could try this solution: Uninstalled the old TFS Power Tools ( listed with a "Microsoft Team Foundation Server" prefix and/or "Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server" in Control-Panel/Programs-and-Features ) and install a newer version. Such as:
Team Foundation Server 2012 RTM Power Tools.msi
You could also try to execute this file:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Team Foundation Server 201X Power
Tools\TfsComProviderSvr.exe
More detail ways please refer this similar question: Shell Extension : Not showing in Windows Explorer context

VS2010 does not display "Team" in Menu

I am using 2012 for connecting to TFS, but one of my project is in VS2010, when i install the TFS for 2010 version then error message is display "Already installed updated version".
Could any one help me please me on this? How can i connect TFS with VS2010 version?
Your wording is a little confusing, I'm assuming you are saying you want to connect to TFS 2012 using VS 2010.
If so you need to install 2 things on your VS machine:
VS 2010 SP1
TFS Compatibility GDR
Then you should be able to choose Connect to TFS (can't remember if that is in the Team or Tools menu).

What is required for doing Unit Tests on a Build Server?

I am doing unit tests (no additional frameworks other then what comes out of the box with VS 2013).
It all works locally. What do I need to do to get it working on the build server? The build server is a TFS 2013. There are no visual studio installed other then an 2010 version. I have already moved all the 4.5 .net stuff and .targets files from my visual studio to the build server to be able to compile 4.5 dlls and azure projects.
First I had problem with the build template was using AgileRunner or something thats coming with VS2013. I changed that to MSTest. Is this the correct change? Is there any installers for MSTest only without visual studio that I can install on the build server?
My boss prefers if I can avoid installing Vs2013 on the build server.
Just install Visual Studio on the build server; It is a very common practice. The requirement is mentioned in the installation guidelines. You can have visual Studio 2010 and 2013 installed side-by-side if that is desired. There are so many parts of .NET that depend on it.
Install Visual Studio and other software to enable compilation and other capabilities
You must install on the build agent the version of Visual Studio that your team uses on its dev machines. See Installing Visual Studio. You must also install any other software and components that are installed on your dev machines and that are required to build your app.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb399135.aspx#software
You're even allowed to use an existing license for the build server, so there are no additional costs involved if you own an MSDN subscription:
Using Visual Studio on the Build Server
If you have one or more
licensed users of Visual Studio Ultimate with MSDN, Visual Studio
Premium with MSDN, or Visual Studio Professional with MSDN, then you
may also install the Visual Studio software as part of Team Foundation
Server 2013 Build Services. This way, you do not need to purchase a
Visual Studio license to cover the running of Visual Studio on the
build server for each person whose actions initiate a build.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13350
Is there a specific reason for you boss to not want Visual Studio to be installed?
With regards to the Agile Test Runner, it is the improved test runner that shipped with Visual Studio 2012, it's the replacement of the old MsTest runner, and will replace the old MsTest runner for the last few features for which the old runner is still needed. Though the MsTest runner will still work, certain features will not be as easy to use and confugure (like Code Coverage gathering). The Agile test runner is also required for other test framwork extensibility options, including XUnit .NET, NUnit, but also Javascript Unit Test support (using Chutzpah).
Other features that will require Visual Studio to be installed include:
Code Analysis
Code coverage
MsDeploy / WebDeploy
SQL Server Data Tools
and others.
As an alternative to get just the test runners, you could attempt to install the TFS Test Controller and Agent to the server (you don't need to configure them), the Test Agent will install a number of testing related features without actually installing the Visual Studio Shell.
By not installing Visual Studio on your build server, you are violating the license agreement with Microsoft. Although Microsoft themselves might build without installing Visual Studio on their build servers internally, this scenario is definitely not supported officially.
Building without installing Visual Studio is asking for undefined behavior and jeopardizing the integrity of your builds. I would suggest to stay clear from these attempts until Microsoft officially supports this scenario.
Microsoft strongly recommended not to build without installing Visual Studio when we asked as Gold Partner 2 years back as it was not supported in any way officially and there is no license model covering the scenario.

Is it possible to connect to 2010 TFS from Visual Studio 2008 Professional

Is it possible to connect to 2010 TFS from Visual Studio 2008 Professional
There is an update VS90SP1-KB974558-x86.exe that is targeting VS2008 client, but that update did not recognize Professional version of VS2008.
Although TFS2010 is part of professional MSDN subscription
This blog post should get you going.
Quoted from post:
You have to install Team Explorer 2008 over your VS2008 Professional
SP1.
You need to reinstall VS2008SP1 to update team explorer.
After that you have to install Visual Studio Team System 2008 Service
Pack 1 Forward Compatibility Update
for Team Foundation Server 2010
(Installer) from this link.
When you connect from VS2008, you need to enter the full URL (ex:http://tfs2010:8080/tfs)
The order is important and you have to enter the full URL in 08.

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