Why doesn't TFS build substitute the value of the $(VSInstallDir) macro?

Question

.NET

There is a rather interesting problem, which by no means can be solved. We have a build-machine where builds are assembled. I recently made changes to run the editbin.exe utility with the LARGEADDRESSAWARE parameter at the end of each build, which is located in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\VC\bin folder (it is clear that the path to the folder may change). In the build project, I added a new target:

<Exec command="&quot;$(VSInstallDir)\VC\bin\editbin.exe&quot; /LARGEADDRESSAWARE &quot;Manager.exe&quot;"/>

If you run MSBuild locally with this target on the same machine, then everything works. Good! But when checking in and trying to build, the build fails with the following error:
The command ""\VC\bin\editbin.exe"" exited with code 3.
As you can see, TFS build did not substitute the $(VSInstallDir) value of the macro. How to treat?
UPD:
I found out that there is such a wonderful file on the build machine: C:/Program Files/MSBuild/Microsoft/VisualStudio/TeamBuild/Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Build.targets
It has a definition

<VSINSTALLDIR Condition="'$(VSINSTALLDIR)'=='' and '$(NetSamplePath)'!=''">$(NetSamplePath)\..\..<VSINSTALLDIR>

so that's how I understand $(NetSamplePath) is empty for some reason. Google knows almost nothing about this macro.

Answer 1

In the properties of the buildplan, you can specify additional arguments to be passed to MSBuild when starting the build.
With the help of arguments, you can set the values ​​of MSBuild-properties in the following way:
I think it will be possible to set VSInstallDir as well. Perhaps the value of this property is pulled from environment variables, but they are not set on the buildserver.