Error during cci task run retrieve_changes

[waltonzt]

Describe the bug

I was working through getting CumulusCI setup when I ran across this issue with the command cci task run retrieve_changes --path unpackaged/config/dev --org dev.

I have tried to uninstall/reinstall cumulus, python, pipx, and sf cli without any luck.

Reproduction steps

1. Create org with cci org info dev
2. Make some change in org.
3. Run cci task run retrieve_changes --path unpackaged/config/dev --org dev to get the change.
4. Receive error

Your CumulusCI and Python versions

CumulusCI version: 3.86.0 (c:\users\zw\.local\bin\cci)
Python version: 3.12.3 (C:\Users\zw\pipx\venvs\cumulusci\Scripts\python.exe)

Operating System

Windows 11

Windows environment

PowerShell

CumulusCI installation method

pipx

Error Gist

https://gist.github.com/waltonzt/56e308acb72880c03a280dc12ada2e4d

Additional information

No response

[waltonzt]

I believe this is due to a misunderstanding on my part.

I was referring to the documentation https://cumulusci.readthedocs.io/en/stable/unpackaged.html where I found the command cci task run retrieve_changes --path unpackaged/config/qa --namespace_tokenize npsp to retrieve unpackaged metadata.

When the --path is set it looks like it uses that value as the root directory when running sfdx force:mdapi:convert

So when I run
cci task run retrieve_changes --path unpackaged/config/dev --org dev

I see in the output that cumulusci tries to run the command
sfdx force:mdapi:convert -r C:\Users\zw\repos\a\unpackaged\config\dev -d force-app

Since there is nothing in the -r folder it gives an error. When I run retreieve_changes without a --path it works fine but it adds it to the force-app folder.

Is what I am explaining expected behavior?

[elizabethrichardson-uw]

Hello,
I'm also looking for a way to retrieve changes to a specific folder and the command from the Tasks Reference page doesn't seem to work as expected, similar to the post above.

When I pass in the path as shown below, it successfully retrieves the changes, but adds them to the force-app folder. Is there a configuration I'm missing?

cci task run retrieve_changes --path my-folder-name --org my-org-name

My team organizes our Experience Builder site's metadata outside of the force-app folder. Having to manually move the retrieved metadata files after running retrieve_changes has caused issues (accidentally moving to the wrong location etc.), so if there is a way to have the metadata retrieved via --path, that would be ideal. Thank you!