TfsSharedQueryProcessor errors System.InvalidOperationException: TF237012: Root node myproject may not be modified.

[Mujirh]

System.InvalidOperationException: TF237012: Root node project2 may not be modified.

getting this error while migrating shared queries from one org1/project1 to another org2/project2.

Here is the processor config.

"Processors": [
{
"ProcessorType": "TfsSharedQueryProcessor",
"Enabled": true,
"PrefixProjectToNodes": false,
"SharedFolderName": "Shared Queries",
"SourceToTargetFieldMappings" : {
"L2 Scenario": "Epic",
"Risk": "Bug",
"SR Deployment Request": "Task"
},
"SourceName": "Source",
"TargetName": "Target"
}
I also have nodestructure tool for area path and iteration path mapping
"TfsNodeStructureTool": {
"Areas": {
"Filters": [],
"Mappings": [
{
"Match": "^Project1([\\]?.)$",
"Replacement": "Project2$1"
}
]
},
"Enabled": true,
"Iterations": {
"Filters": [],
"Mappings": [
{
"Match": "^Project1([\\]?.)$",
"Replacement": "Project2$1"
}
]
},

[MrHinsh]

Why do you have the TfsNodeStructureTool mappings? The one you are showing is not needed and may interfere.

[ogulcanaydogan]

The error TF237012: Root node <project> may not be modified means that the migration is trying to change the project root itself — Azure DevOps blocks that by design.

In your config, the mapping in TfsNodeStructureTool
{ "Match": "^Project1([\\]?.)$", "Replacement": "Project2$1" }
is effectively renaming the root (Project1 → Project2), which triggers the exception.

You can fix it by removing or narrowing that mapping. The NodeStructureTool should only map child paths, not the project root. Example:
{ "Match": "^Project1\\\\Areas\\\\TeamA(.*)$", "Replacement": "Project2\\\\Areas\\\\TeamA$1" }
or just disable the tool if you don’t need area/iteration remapping.

Then keep your TfsSharedQueryProcessor as-is — it will correctly create the “Shared Queries” folders and queries in the target project.

TL;DR -> Don’t map the root in NodeStructureTool; only map sub-paths. The shared query migration will then complete without TF237012.