TFS Build error: TF215097 - The following keys from the input dictionary do not map to arguments and must be removed

Question

I received the following error after removing several arguments from my build template and updating the corresponding build definition:

    TF215097: An error occurred while initializing a build for build definition \Automated Deployments\AutoDeploy-Kentico-Test:
Exception Message: The values provided for the root activity's arguments did not satisfy the root activity's requirements:
'DynamicActivity': The following keys from the input dictionary do not map to arguments and must be removed: ServerDeploymentScriptLocation, DestinationBinDirectory.  Please note that argument names are case sensitive.
Parameter name: rootArgumentValues (type ArgumentException)
Exception Stack Trace:    at System.Activities.Validation.ActivityValidationServices.ValidateRootInputs(Activity rootActivity, IDictionary`2 inputs)
   at System.Activities.Hosting.WorkflowInstance.InitializeCore(IDictionary`2 workflowArgumentValues, IList`1 workflowExecutionProperties)
   at System.Activities.Hosting.WorkflowInstance.Initialize(IDictionary`2 workflowArgumentValues, IList`1 workflowExecutionProperties)
   at System.Activities.WorkflowApplication.EnsureInitialized()
   at System.Activities.WorkflowApplication.Enqueue(InstanceOperation operation, Boolean push)
   at System.Activities.WorkflowApplication.WaitForTurn(InstanceOperation operation, TimeSpan timeout)
   at System.Activities.WorkflowApplication.InternalRun(TimeSpan timeout, Boolean isUserRun)
   at Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Build.Hosting.BuildWorkflowInstance.Start()
   at Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Build.Hosting.BuildWorkflowManager.TryStartWorkflow(WorkflowRequest request, WorkflowManagerActivity activity, BuildWorkflowInstance& workflowInstance, Exception& error, Boolean& syncLockTaken) 

Obviously TFS is angry because there are keys in the "input dictionary" that shouldn't be, and that's probably because I removed them. The problem is I have non clue where TFS is finding this values where it shouldn't find them.

How can this error be corrected?

Answer 1

I think I had a similar issue when I removed arguments to my build definition but the build definition still retained the default values to the arguments. I would recommend trying:

1. Put the arguments back into the build definition
2. Edit the build definition and delete the default values of the arguments so they are blank
3. Remove the arguments again.

You could also try searching the xaml of the build template for the following values:

• ServerDeploymentScriptLocation
• DestinationBinDirectory