Custom Arguments issue with VSO FB task

FinalBuilder Discussion
1

Hello,

Please consider me a noob when it comes to VSO/FB. I’m still on the learning curve, so this may be an error of my own fault.

I have some build definitions made on VSO (visualstudio.com) where I have a task that gets sources from git and a FB task that calls a FB script from said sources.
The FB task has 6 custom arguments defined, 1 per line.
These definitions used to work just fine till sometime about 24 hours ago, give or take. Then they all started to have the same problem:
all the custom arguments were passed as 1 multiline value to the first FB argument.

This is how the log looked like before (Cannot seem to find a button to insert a scrollable control here. The insert code snipet dropdown is empty):
(note that some irrelevant info has been blanked out)

2017-04-23T14:03:30.8077253Z ==============================================================================
2017-04-23T14:03:30.8077253Z Task         : Run FinalBuilder
2017-04-23T14:03:30.8077253Z Description  : Automate using a FinalBuilder script
2017-04-23T14:03:30.8077253Z Version      : 1.0.185
2017-04-23T14:03:30.8077253Z Author       : VSoft Technologies Pty. Ltd.
2017-04-23T14:03:30.8077253Z Help         : [More Information](https://github.com/VSoftTechnologies/FinalBuilderTFS)
2017-04-23T14:03:30.8077253Z ==============================================================================
2017-04-23T14:03:30.8267234Z Preparing task execution handler.
2017-04-23T14:03:31.1157388Z Executing the powershell script: C:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\_tasks\FinalBuilder_efcae8d0-4244-11e546\1.0.185\finalbuilder.ps1
2017-04-23T14:03:31.1187446Z Debug
2017-04-23T14:03:31.1187446Z dssdgfvs Portal
2017-04-23T14:03:31.1187446Z Release
2017-04-23T14:03:31.1187446Z aaa\aaa.Portal\aaa.Portal.csproj
2017-04-23T14:03:31.1187446Z False)
2017-04-23T14:03:33.0575518Z ******************************************************************************
2017-04-23T14:03:33.0575518Z Invoking FinalBuilder 8
2017-04-23T14:03:33.0595705Z C:\Program Files (x86)\FinalBuilder 8\fbcmd.exe "C:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\16\s\Build\dssdgfvsPortalBuild.fbp8" -nb -#:C:\Users\mdejong\AppData\Local\Tempotr42lnk.gvc -h
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3243776Z
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3243776Z Project File: C:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\16\s\Build\dssdgfvsPortalBuild.fbp8
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3253770Z
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z Build Started: 4/23/2017 7:03:35 AM
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z 
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   [Start ActionList: Default]
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z 
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   [Setup]
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z 
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   [Get Team Foundation Build Parameters]
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   Team Server URL : https://xyz.visualstudio.com/
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   Team Project Name : ae67e8f5-***
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   Team Build Id : 3480
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   Platform :
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   Flavor :
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   Deployment Share : C:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\16\s
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   Solution File : C:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\16\s\aaa\xt.sln
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   (saved to variable SolutionFileFullPath)
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   Solution File List : C:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\16\s\aaa\aaaPortal.sln
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3593732Z   Local Build Directory : C:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\16\s
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   Build Agent Working Directory : C:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\16\s
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   Custom Argument 1 : a Portal
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   (saved to variable ProjectName)
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   Custom Argument 2 : Debug
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   (saved to variable BuildConfiguration)
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   Custom Argument 3 : a Portal
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   (saved to variable ProjectOutputFolderName)
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   Custom Argument 4 : Release
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   (saved to variable PublishProfileName)
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   Custom Argument 5 : aaa\aaa.Portal\aaa.Portal.csproj
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   (saved to variable ProjectFilePath)
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   Custom Argument 6 : false
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   (saved to variable IIS_Publishing)
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   Custom Argument 7 :
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   Custom Argument 8 :
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   Custom Argument 9 :
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z   Custom Argument 10 :
2017-04-23T14:03:35.3603751Z

And how they look now (I inserted at the top the log all variables action):

2017-04-25T12:51:18.1491393Z ##[section]Starting: FinalBuilder Build/aaa-Build.fbp8
2017-04-25T12:51:18.1751410Z ==============================================================================
2017-04-25T12:51:18.1751410Z Task         : Run FinalBuilder
2017-04-25T12:51:18.1751410Z Description  : Automate using a FinalBuilder script
2017-04-25T12:51:18.1751410Z Version      : 1.0.186
2017-04-25T12:51:18.1751410Z Author       : VSoft Technologies Pty. Ltd.
2017-04-25T12:51:18.1751410Z Help         : [More Information](https://github.com/VSoftTechnologies/FinalBuilderTFS)
2017-04-25T12:51:18.1751410Z ==============================================================================
2017-04-25T12:51:18.1971419Z Preparing task execution handler.
2017-04-25T12:51:19.6282433Z Executing the powershell script: D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\_tasks\FinalBuilder_efcae8d0-4244-11e5-9a77-b380f8ce210e\1.0.186\finalbuilder.ps1
2017-04-25T12:51:19.6452445Z Debug
2017-04-25T12:51:19.6452445Z aaa.WindowsService.EmailService
2017-04-25T12:51:19.6482440Z none
2017-04-25T12:51:19.6482440Z none
2017-04-25T12:51:19.6482440Z False)
2017-04-25T12:51:20.2352853Z ******************************************************************************
2017-04-25T12:51:20.2362851Z Invoking FinalBuilder 8
2017-04-25T12:51:20.2402858Z C:\Program Files (x86)\FinalBuilder 8\fbcmd.exe "D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s\Build\aaa-Build.fbp8" -nb -#:C:\Users\SERVIC~1\AppData\Local\Temp3oimto5r.ng2 -h
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0234097Z
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z Project File: D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s\Build\aaa-Build.fbp8
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z Build Started: 4/25/2017 5:51:22 AM
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z 
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   [Start ActionList: Default]
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z 
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   [Setup]
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z 
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   [Log Variable Values [All Variables]]
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   All variable values :
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   _envCustomArg0 = Email Service
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   Debug
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   aaa.WindowsService.EmailService
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   none
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   none
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   False
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   _envDropFolder = D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   _envSolutionFile = D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s\aaa\aaaEmailService.sln
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   _envSolutionFileList = D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s\aaa\aaaEmailService.sln
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   _envSolutionRoot = D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   _envTeamBuildId = 3598
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   _envTeamProject = ae67e8f5-addf-410c-88b5-f8a0f3d6a166
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   _envTeamServer = https://aaa.visualstudio.com/
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   _envWorkingDirectory = D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   agent.jobstatus = Succeeded
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   AGENT_BUILDDIRECTORY = D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   AGENT_HOMEDIRECTORY = D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   AGENT_ID = 7
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   AGENT_JOBNAME = Build
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   AGENT_MACHINENAME = PROC-BUILD-8200
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   AGENT_NAME = PROC-BUILD-8200
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   AGENT_ROOTDIRECTORY = D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   AGENT_SERVEROMDIRECTORY = D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\externals\vstsom
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   AGENT_VERSION = 2.111.1
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   AGENT_WORKFOLDER = D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0484121Z   ALLUSERSPROFILE = C:\ProgramData
  
striped
  
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   VS140COMNTOOLS = C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\Tools\
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   windir = C:\Windows
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Success
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z 
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   [Get Team Foundation Build Parameters]
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Team Server URL : https://aaa.visualstudio.com/
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Team Project Name : ae67e8f5-addf-410c-88b5-f8a0f3d6a166
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Team Build Id : 3598
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Platform :
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Flavor :
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Deployment Share : D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Solution File : D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s\aaa\aaaEmailService.sln
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   (saved to variable SolutionFileFullPath)
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Solution File List : D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s\aaa\aaaEmailService.sln
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Local Build Directory : D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Build Agent Working Directory : D:\vsts-agent-win7-x64-2.111.1\_work\28\s
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Custom Argument 1 : Email Service
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Debug
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   aaa.WindowsService.EmailService
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   none
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   none
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   False
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   (saved to variable ProjectName)
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Custom Argument 2 :
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   (saved to variable BuildConfiguration)
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Custom Argument 3 :
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   (saved to variable ProjectOutputFolderName)
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Custom Argument 4 :
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   (saved to variable PublishProfileName)
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Custom Argument 5 :
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   (saved to variable ProjectFilePath)
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Custom Argument 6 :
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Error Executing script : OnExecute
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   FB80ActionCtx.CustomActionExecuteContext
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Variable IIS_Publishing Is of Type Boolean
2017-04-25T12:51:22.0504118Z   Failed to set the value : Could not convert variant of type (OleStr) into type (Boolean)
2017-04-25T12:51:22.1704206Z   Line: 72
2017-04-25T12:51:22.1824212Z   Char : 5
2017-04-25T12:51:22.1824212Z 
2017-04-25T12:51:22.1824212Z   [End Target: Default]
2017-04-25T12:51:22.1824212Z
2017-04-25T12:51:22.1824212Z Build Failed

I’ve discussed this with the team and as far as we know, nobody made any upgrades anywhere.
The only thing that jumped at me is the version of the FB task:

  • previously, it was 1.0.185 and since yesterday when this started to happen, it is 1.0.186
    Is that a known automatic upgrade on VSO side? Is that possible to happen without our approval?
    More importantly, is this issue known? And is there a fix?

Thank you.

2

Hi Mircea C,

Thank you for reporting this issue with the VSO Task. The previous update changed how the arguments were being passed, to handle an issue of a single argument not being able to be passed. This update changed the multi-line split from using a regex of ‘[/n/r]’ to using Environment:NewLine. Testing showed this to be working, but it seems we did not cover systems were the Environment:NewLine was being used as a line separator.

We don’t see why the line separator could be anything other than Environment:NewLine, however have been able to reproduce the issue and added back the regex splitting of the argument line.

We have updated the VSO task and you will automatically get this on your subsequent runs of Visual Studio Online builds. Visual Studio Online does not offer a way to select a version of tasks and subsequently approve updates.

Apologies for this inconvenience. We will be looking into ways in which we can avoid this issue occurring in the future.

3

Hello Jason,

thank you for the fix and information. I can confirm this is now working as before.

Thank you,