Summary:- A ReleaseManagement extension for Cloning, Importing and Exporting an existing release definition is released in the VisualStudio marketplace at https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-devlabs.rm-clone-rd . But as it uses some improvement done post release of TFS2015U2 hence it doesn't allow to be installed for TFS2015U2. I have tried to write another extension with slight variation of experience (explained below).
How it's different from one released to VisualStudio marketplace :- Extension published at VisualStudio marketplace open the release definition to be saved after clicking the clone (from context menu) or import (from toolbar). Where as extension for TFS2015U2 makes direct REST call and creates a clone or import of an existing release definition. Though you can update and change it later as normal flow.
Code is shared : https://github.com/openalm/vsts-rm-extensions/tree/master/rd-export-import-clone-TFS2015U2
How to Install it for TFS2015U2 :-
Step1:- Download above mentioned repo which contains already build ms-devlabs.rm-import-export-0.0.1.vsix
Step2: open http://<tfsserverurl>/tfs/_gallery/manage
Step3:- Click on 'Upload new extension'
Step4: Give path to ms-devlabs.rm-import-export-0.0.1.vsix (as downloaded in step#1 above)
Step5: Click on the 'Install' button for the referred extension
Step6:- You should be able to see the Clone, Export in the release definition context menu and Import the new definition toolbar.
Step7: Done
