Team Explorer 2010 Beta 2 - Build Process Workflow Designer Error - Missing Assembly Reference to all Microsoft.TeamFoundation.* assemblies

Question

Hi,

All the blogs and videos demostrating using the workflow designer never mention having problems with missing referenced assmeblies.

I have Windows Server 2008, TFS 2010 Beta 2 - Basic Install, Team Build, Team Explorer 2010 Beta 2 all installed on same box.

When I open the DefaultBuildProcessTemplate.xaml file from the source control explorer, the Workflow designer opens but reports an error:
Problem Loading  -  The document contains errors that must be fixed before the designer can be loaded.

When viewing the actual XAML, all the XML namespaces pointing to CLR namespaces are underlined in error stating:
Assembly 'Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Common' was ot found. Verify that you are not missng an assembly refeence. Also, verify that your project and all referenced assemblies have been built.

xmlns:mt="clr-namespace:Microsoft.TeamFoundation;assembly=Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Common"

This occurrs for all CLR assemblies being referenced, except for mscorlib which it finds.
Possibly its not referencing the new .NET 4.0 assemblies correctly...?

As this isn't really a project (as in Visual Studio where you right-click and select "Add Reference...") I can not find where in Team Explorer to add a reference to these assemblies.

Please help.

Thanks,
kp

Answer 1

You are seeing these errors because you have only TeamExplorer installed. You need to have VS installed to be able to use the WF designer. Can you try installing VS on the box? You shouldn't see any errors in that case.
I agree it is not clear from the error message that you need to have VS. Can you please log a connect bug? http://connect.microsoft.com/

Thanks,
Madhuri

Answer 2

Thanks Madhuri.

I did not realize you needed VS installed on the box as well.  Will this dependency be removed in the final release?  I would think that one should be able to download and install the Workflow designer to make this work, without all of VS required.

I will install VS and see how it goes, I'll mark your reponse as the asnwer after I get this completed and tested.

I will also log a bug.

Cheers,
kp

Answer 3

Hi kp,

Let us know if you still see errors after installing VS. Unfortunately I don't think this will be fixed for RTM. If you want to modify your build process in the workflow designer you will need VS, TeamExplorer alone will not be sufficient. Please do log a bug, we appreciate your feedback.

Thanks,
Madhuri

Answer 4

I have logged both a bug for the error message being unclear and a suggestion to allow Workflow Designer to work within Team Explorer 2010 without requiring Visual Studio 2010 be installed.

bug: https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=509461

suggestion: https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=509462

Cheers,
kp