Azure DevOps server import pipeline functionality ignores Approvers definition

Question

I have the following definition in my pipeline that I am running on Azure DevOps Server Version Dev17.M153.3

After saving the change I can see the following content has been added to pipeline definition

"approvals": [
          {
            "rank": 1,
            "isAutomated": false,
            "isNotificationOn": false,
            "approver": {
              "displayName": "Aouslender, Alexey",
              "url": "http://tdc1tfsapp01:8080/tfs/DefaultCollection/_apis/Identities/2d86d86b-fe02-4e22-aa53-4315cdb3821c",
              "_links": {
                "avatar": {
                  "href": "http://tdc1tfsapp01:8080/tfs/DefaultCollection/_apis/GraphProfile/MemberAvatars/win.Uy0xLTUtMjEtMzMwNDk4NzQ2Ni0xODkxMDA3NDIzLTI5MjUxNTc3OTctNDU4NDA1"
                }
              },
              "id": "2d86d86b-fe02-4e22-aa53-4315cdb3821c",
              "uniqueName": "DOMAIN\\PXXXXXX",
              "imageUrl": "http://tdc1tfsapp01:8080/tfs/DefaultCollection/_apis/GraphProfile/MemberAvatars/win.Uy0xLTUtMjEtMzMwNDk4NzQ2Ni0xODkxMDA3NDIzLTI5MjUxNTc3OTctNDU4NDA1",
              "descriptor": "win.Uy0xLTUtMjEtMzMwNDk4NzQ2Ni0xODkxMDA3NDIzLTI5MjUxNTc3OTctNDU4NDA1"
            },
            "id": 3546
          }
        ]

Now I am exporting pipeline, using export option. Then I am deleting pipeline and importing it using exported json file. The imported pipeline missing the Approvers definition, nevertheless I can see the definition in exported json.

"preDeployApprovals": {
                "approvals": [
                    {
                        "rank": 1,
                        "isAutomated": false,
                        "isNotificationOn": false,
                        "approver": {
                            "displayName": "Aouslender, Alexey",
                            "url": "http://tdc1tfsapp01:8080/tfs/DefaultCollection/_apis/Identities/2d86d86b-fe02-4e22-aa53-4315cdb3821c",
                            "_links": {
                                "avatar": {
                                    "href": "http://tdc1tfsapp01:8080/tfs/DefaultCollection/_apis/GraphProfile/MemberAvatars/win.Uy0xLTUtMjEtMzMwNDk4NzQ2Ni0xODkxMDA3NDIzLTI5MjUxNTc3OTctNDU4NDA1"
                                }
                            },
                            "id": "2d86d86b-fe02-4e22-aa53-4315cdb3821c",
                            "uniqueName": "DOMAIN\\PXXXXXX",
                            "imageUrl": "http://tdc1tfsapp01:8080/tfs/DefaultCollection/_apis/GraphProfile/MemberAvatars/win.Uy0xLTUtMjEtMzMwNDk4NzQ2Ni0xODkxMDA3NDIzLTI5MjUxNTc3OTctNDU4NDA1",
                            "descriptor": "win.Uy0xLTUtMjEtMzMwNDk4NzQ2Ni0xODkxMDA3NDIzLTI5MjUxNTc3OTctNDU4NDA1"
                        },
                        "id": 3535
                    }
                ],
                "approvalOptions": {
                    "requiredApproverCount": null,
                    "releaseCreatorCanBeApprover": true,
                    "autoTriggeredAndPreviousEnvironmentApprovedCanBeSkipped": false,
                    "enforceIdentityRevalidation": false,
                    "timeoutInMinutes": 0,
                    "executionOrder": 1
                }
            }

Am I missing something here or is it actually a Microsoft bug?

Cece Dong - MSFT Cece Dong - MSFT · Accepted Answer · 2020-05-15T03:49:00

It's by design. Following properties in the release definition are not imported: Agent Queues, Deployment Groups, Deployment Group Tags, Approvals, Variable Groups and values of secret variables.

Generally if in the same team project you can Clone the release definition directly.

Azure DevOps server import pipeline functionality ignores Approvers definition

1 Answers