docs(common): Improve Azure Pipelines license key info (#2802)

dimodi · web-flow · commit adfe056d45df · 2025-03-04T13:22:06.000+02:00
diff --git a/deployment/ci-cd-license-key.md b/deployment/ci-cd-license-key.md
@@ -31,32 +31,48 @@ The recommended way to provide your license key to the `Telerik.Licensing` NuGet
 
 ### Azure Pipelines
 
-1. Create a new [user-defined variable](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/process/variables) named `TELERIK_LICENSE`, according to your [YAML](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/process/variables?view=azure-devops&tabs=yaml%2Cbatch#set-variables-in-pipeline) or [Classic](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/process/variables?view=azure-devops&tabs=classic%2Cbatch#set-variables-in-pipeline) pipeline setup.
-1. Paste the contents of the license key file as a value of the variable.
+1. Create a new [secret variable](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/process/variables?view=azure-devops&tabs=yaml%2Cbatch#secret-variables). Follow the respective producedure for your **YAML**,  **Classic**, or **CLI** pipeline setup. Also check the separate article [Set Secret Variables](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/process/set-secret-variables).
+1. Paste the contents of the license key file as a value of the secret variable.
+1. Map the secret variable to a new environment variable named `TELERIK_LICENSE`.
+1. Use the `TELERIK_LICENSE` environment variable in the tasks, steps, or scripts that build and publish the Blazor app.
+
+>caption Using a TELERIK_LICENSE environment variable in Azure Pipeline YAML
+
+````YAML.skip-repl
+steps:
+
+- task: DotNetCoreCLI@2
+  inputs:
+    command: 'build'
+    # ...
+  env:
+    TELERIK_LICENSE: $(Secret_Telerik_License_Key)
+````
 
 > Another option is to use a Telerik license file as a [secure file in the pipeline](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/library/secure-files). Implement a [script that copies the license file](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/library/secure-files?view=azure-devops#consume-a-secure-file-in-a-pipeline) to the application's root folder, so that it's available to all projects that need it.
 
 ### GitHub Actions
 
 1. Create a new [Repository Secret](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/reference/encrypted-secrets#creating-encrypted-secrets-for-a-repository) or an [Organization Secret](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/reference/encrypted-secrets#creating-encrypted-secrets-for-an-organization).
-1. Set the name of the secret to `TELERIK_LICENSE` and paste the contents of the license file as a value.
-1. Add a `TELERIK_LICENSE` environment variable to the steps, which build and publish the Blazor app:
+1. Paste the contents of the license key file as a value of the GitHub secret.
+1. Assign the secret to an environment variable named `TELERIK_LICENSE`.
+1. Use the `TELERIK_LICENSE` environment variable in the steps, which build and publish the Blazor app:
     ````YAML.skip-repl
     env:
-      TELERIK_LICENSE: ${{ "{{ secrets.TELERIK_LICENSE }}" }}
+      TELERIK_LICENSE: ${{ "{{ secrets.Telerik_License_Key }}" }}
     ````
     The resulting workflow steps may look similar to:
     ````YAML.skip-repl
     - name: Build Step
       run: dotnet build -c Release
       env:
-        TELERIK_NUGET_KEY: ${{ "{{ secrets.TELERIK_NUGET_KEY }}" }}
-        TELERIK_LICENSE: ${{ "{{ secrets.TELERIK_LICENSE }}" }}
+        TELERIK_NUGET_KEY: ${{ "{{ secrets.Telerik_NuGet_Key }}" }}
+        TELERIK_LICENSE: ${{ "{{ secrets.Telerik_License_Key }}" }}
 
     - name: Publish Step
       run: dotnet publish -c Release
       env:
-        TELERIK_LICENSE: ${{ "{{ secrets.TELERIK_LICENSE }}" }}
+        TELERIK_LICENSE: ${{ "{{ secrets.Telerik_License_Key }}" }}
     ````
     Also see [Using NuGet Keys](slug:deployment-nuget#using-nuget-keys) in the article [Restoring NuGet Packages in Your CI Workflow](slug:deployment-nuget). It shows how to use the `TELERIK_NUGET_KEY` environment variable in your CI build environment.
 
