added a script to automate creating a release branch and associated pr

docs/release.md

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 ## Directions
 
 ### Initiate the Release
-1. Increment the version number and update the Public API files; both of these steps can be accomplished by running the `tools\IncrementVersion.cmd` script. Then create a pull request with these changes and merge it.
+1. Increment the version number and update the Public API files; both of these steps can be accomplished by running the `tools\IncrementVersion.cmd` script. Then create a pull request with these changes using the `tools\Release\CreatePullRequest.cmd` script and merge the pull request.
     * Increment the version number referenced during build in [`Versioning.props`](tools/CustomMSBuild/Versioning.props) by using [semantic versioning](https://semver.org/).
     * Update the Public API files by copying the contents of any `PublicAPI.Unshipped.txt` file that has changed since the last release into its corresponding `PublicAPI.Shipped.txt` file.
 2. Kick off a new [nightly build](https://identitydivision.visualstudio.com/OData/_build?definitionId=1104) by running the pipeline to generate the NuGet packages that will be published for this release.

tools/Release/CreatePullRequest.cmd

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+@echo off
+
+powershell.exe -executionpolicy remotesigned -File %~dpn0.ps1 %*

tools/Release/CreatePullRequest.ps1

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+<#
+.PARAMETER versionPath
+  The path to the msbuild props file where the version number is specified
+#>
+
+Param(
+  [string]
+  $versionPath
+)
+
+if ($versionPath -eq "")
+{
+  $versionPath = "$PSScriptRoot\..\CustomMSBuild\Versioning.props"
+}
+
+$versions = New-Object xml
+$versions.PreserveWhitespace = $true
+$versions.Load($versionPath)
+foreach ($propertyGroup in $versions.Project.PropertyGroup)
+{
+  if ($propertyGroup.VersionRelease -ne $null)
+  {
+    $versionNumber = $propertyGroup.VersionMajor.'#text' + "." + $propertyGroup.VersionMinor.'#text' + "." + $propertyGroup.VersionBuildNumber.'#text'
+
+    break;
+  }
+}
+
+if ($versionNumber -eq $null)
+{
+  Write-Error "No version number was found in $versionPath."
+  Exit
+}
+
+$branchName = "releases/$versionNumber"
+
+$branchName
+
+git checkout -b $branchName
+
+git add *
+git commit -m "revving version number to $versionNumber and updating PublicAPI.Shipped.txt files to reflect API changes for this release"
+
+git push --set-upstream origin $branchName
+
+Write-Host
+Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green "A new release branch at $branchName has been created and pushed; create a PR for that branch by navigating to:"
+Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green "https://github.com/OData/odata.net/compare/master...$branchName"