Integrate SharePoint 2013 Design Manager with TFS

August 13 2012 54 comments

I think all artefacts produced in a SharePoint project should be treated as software artefacts. This includes all the UI stuff implemented by designers, such as css files and master pages.

Treating them as software artefacts means that they should be version-controlled. The problem is that there’s no design tool that integrates with TFS, making version control integration with the designers’ workflows can be a pit of a pain.

I wanted to talk to you quickly about how you could do this in SharePoint 2013. Let’s assume we want to take advantage of SharePoint 2013’s new design manager capabilities and have all your stuff stored safely in TFS.

We could end up with the following list of requirements for the designer’s workflow:

  • The designer should be able to edit the design files with any editor
  • The designer should be able to see any changes automatically in SharePoint, without copying files manually
  • The designer should have to use Visual Studio only as a version control client, nothing more

Here’s an approach you might want to try out:

  • Map an SP2013 master page gallery as a network drive (using the new WebDAV), e.g. Y:
  • Create a project in TFS, say $/MyDesignProject
  • Map the TFS project’s working folder to your master page gallery’s network drive (Y drive)
  • Add, modify any design files in the web editor of your choice
  • When you’re done, the following tasks may need to be done:

1. If you modified a file, you’ll need check in your changes in Source Control Explorer. If someone else had checked in some changes to the same file, you’ll need to merge
2. If you added a file, you need to add it to TFS in Source Control Explorer before you can check it in, but this should be no biggie
3. To delete a file, you have to delete it through the Source Control Explorer. The file will be deleted automatically from your working folder (which now is also your master page gallery).

One thing this approach doesn’t solve is building your solutions. In order to build your design package (.wsp) for deployment, you’ll need to export it using Design Manager. You can’t do it in Visual Studio, unless

  • You pre-create a new SharePoint Project in $/MyDesignProject and do some crazy folder mappings that I haven’t tried yet
  • Custom code

Hope this helps!

Popularity: 1% [?]

54 comments to “Integrate SharePoint 2013 Design Manager with TFS”

  1. Perfect! I was first trying to map to TFS straight from network location. Using network drive did the trick.

  2. Interesante articulo . Aprendo algo con cada web todos los días. Siempre es estimulante poder leer el contenido de otros escritores. Desearía usar algo de tu blog en mi blog, naturalmente pondré un enlace , si me lo permites. Gracias por compartir.

  3. Cassandra D. Everhart says:

    Appreciate you taking the time in sharing these particulars. Thanks. https://www.orlandotowingpartners.com/waterfordlakes

  4. I will try this in Sharepoint.

  5. ask us says:

    Thanks a lot for the summary of all these things.

  6. add here says:

    This is really good.

  7. Thanks for sharing this solution! It’s a great help to me! Been reading other articles in this site.

  8. Mike888 says:

    Impressive sharepoints! Thanks for this amazing articles in this site. https://columbiatowingservice.com

  9. Nice post! Thanks for sharing this site!

  10. Click here says:

    Thanks for this Sharepoint article!

  11. Michele says:

    Great Sharepoint tips! Thanks a lot for posting this! sidingspringfieldva.com

  12. Karlyle says:

    Awesome tips! Keep it coming. woodbridgemoldremoval.com

  13. Kate Angel says:

    Excellent software artefacts! Thanks for sharing your helpful site! treeservicewoodbridgeva.com

  14. Alfredo says:

    The features are wonderful. It’s the best I ever used and it’s simple. Thanks a lot! http://www.roofersreddingca.com

  15. site says:

    Love this so much. Thanks for the updates.

  16. Jhonny says:

    This is great! I also love the features. http://www.landscapingaugustaga.net

  17. Amanda Waltz says:

    This has been useful for every person who encounter this issue. http://www.concretecontractorstuscaloosa.com

  18. Rhey says:

    Thanks for this information! plumbingchantillyva.com

  19. MR136 says:

    Thanks you very much for this interesting artefacts information! roofingarlingtonva.com

  20. Click here says:

    Keep up the wonderful effort with what you do!

  21. Peter says:

    Thanks for this information.
    https://www.applyrite.com/

  22. Jenny says:

    Thank you for sharing some tips! http://www.inspectionmanaging.com/

  23. The article is really excellent

  24. Amber Brion says:

    I learned so much from them. Thank you. https://insuranceranked.com/

  25. If you want to find casual sex contacts with fine shemales in France check out our web platform Shemale Sex en Lille

  26. Kimbo says:

    With this update, everything would be fine and useful again.
    https://www.junkremovalsantaclarita.com/

  27. our site says:

    Thanks for sharing this awesome article.

  28. click here says:

    Such a great site, I’m happy that I found this one.

  29. Glad to find this article, keep on posting.

  30. Amazing! Thanks for sharing this one.

  31. click here says:

    Awesi=ome! I really love the information

  32. Janna says:

    Amazing! thanks for this.

  33. sex luzern says:

    Find fine hot ladies for sex contacts in EU at sex luzern

  34. This is an amazing great site.

  35. website says:

    When you’re working with SharePoint 2013 Design Manager, you can easily integrate it with Team Foundation Server (TFS) for source control and management. This integration gives you the ability to manage your SharePoint site designs and branding in TFS, and also makes it easier to work with a team of designers and developers on your projects.

  36. For your own sexy experience with hot ladies in France check Salope Auvergne Rhone Alpes

  37. If you are looking for casual chat contacts in France you must to visit transexuelle lyon

  38. Angel17 says:

    Thanks for sharing this information. Keep sharing! kenmore repair

  39. Agatha says:

    Great! The designer should be able to see any changes in Owensboro Drywall Contractors and automatically in SharePoint, without copying files manually. Cheers!

  40. Great post, interesting points raised. Thanks for sharing.

  41. Appreciation for bestowing lovely information to us. I like your post and all you share with us is modern and exceptionally instructive, I could need to bookmark the page so I can come here again to grasp you, as you have buckled down. modern web design and development

  42. Kate Sharma says:

    Thank you for sharing your approach for version controlling SharePoint artifacts in SharePoint 2013. Version controlling design files and treating them as software artifacts can indeed be beneficial for managing changes and collaboration in a SharePoint project. https://www.bhi-gc.com/

  43. Kath says:

    If you modified a file, check your changes in Source Control Explorer. You’ll need to merge if https://www.drywallelpaso has checked in some changes to the same file.

  44. Alim says:

    This is very helpful and informative blog. Thank you for sharing. kenmore repair

Leave a Reply