In TFS whats the easiest way of linking a backlog item to a large number of other backlog items, without doing them one at a time?
I do not have access to the underlying database so am unable to write a query to do it.
I put together a GUI tool that helps do this.
It is called WI Assistant.
It can be found here: http://wiassistant.codeplex.com/
I'd stay away from the SQL Query. Instead, I'd either use the API or Web Services. Here's an example API call to retrieve and edit a work item:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb130323.aspx
You could modify that to add the links. Would be much safer, easier, and much more supported than going directly to the database.
Depends on your definition of easy, but you could write a SQL Update linking the backlog item(s) to the correct backlog items.
(If there is no field in the backlog item to connect it to another backlog item, you would have to extend backlog item and the views showing them yourself)
Related
I am new to TFS and know the basic concepts. In my case we have customized TFS a lot which contains around 17 collections, custom fields in work items etc.
I have some queries for which I require some answers. The questions might be generic, but any help or suggestions on the below queries would be great.
Following are my queries:
1.) Show Work Item ID in a specific format. Can it be done
2.) Auto Fill custom fields for a work item based on a category / linked bugs (analogous to Relative Path column type)
3.) While raising a WI through Visual Studio development tool, the datepicker only takes date value and not time. The same work items when raised through web portal the datepicker gives time value as well.
4.) Auto Fill the efforts spent in Child Work items (summation of all child link items in the parent)
5.) Reminders to be sent if iteration / scrum set date crossed. Also check for Work Items as well, if set date is crossed.
6.) Create Queries which can query across all collections / verticals. Currently queries can be made only against each entire collection, but not across all collections. Do we have any mechanism to query against multiple collections?
7.) Email alerts customizations in TFS.
8.) Can the collections be merged into 1 default collection.
I have tried to find few answers from my end as well, and would like to know, if it is correct.
1.) Work Item ID cannot be shown in a specific format as it is system generated
2.) For Auto Filling of Work Item fields, it cannot be done. Manual approach is the only way (unless there is a way to pre-populate fields
3.) One can only query for all projects in a single collection. But it is not possible to query against multiple collections and get the results.
So require assistance on the above queries and also validate the answers I have got for few of my questions.
Any help or suggestions or relevant links would be great.
Thanks In Advance!!!..
Please kindly check below inputs
You are right. This is by designed. You can not change to use other
format of work item.
Yes. This could not be done at present. It's still a user voice, but
on the Roadmap. Support for calculated fields and roll-ups.
Sorry, not get your point.You could use the DateTimeControl type to give users a calendar picker to select a date for a DateTime field. By using this control, you can quickly select a date and time for the field. For details.
You could do this from a sprint backlog or task board. Details
please take a look at our official tutorial here: Rollup of work
and other fields
We do not have this kind of build-in time reminder for work items.
However, as a workaround, There is a dashboard widget that uses #me
in its query.
You can also cobble something together using the REST API and a
scheduled build. Calling a work item query and sending email is
pretty easy from PowerShell.
No, they are using different database. You are only able to query
across team projects int the same project collection.
It's able to do this but with a little bit complicated. For detail
info, please take a look at this link: Customize TFS 2015 alert
email
There is no default way to do this. I do not think there is a
possibility of merging two TFS collections other than creating a new
collection, creating the team projects and use a tool such as TFS
integration tools to move the team projects from the source
collections.
As you can see, history will be rewritten with new dates, changeset
and work items ids etc, if you are trying to merge collections.
I use VSTS/TFS for work and side projects and I wanted to setup a trigger/rule that would automatically move stories into a certain iteration when I move them from "New" to "Approved" or whatever column is associated with an active state. I know how to change the iteration manually but it would be way easier if there was a way to say something like this psuedocode:
if (workItem.State == "Active") {MoveToIterationActiveForTodaysDate();}
Ideally too, if this isn't too picky, I would like it to only run on initial move so I can reassign to a different iteration later if I wanted to.
If anyone has an easier way to do this too that accomplishes the same thing (moving items to an iteration without having to manually activate the story and move it to the desired iteration) that would work as well. I'm still figuring out the ideal way to manage VSTS/TFS. Thanks in advance
Using VSTS is able to customizable work item rules.
Whether it be automatically setting the value of certain work item
fields or defining the behavior of those fields in specific states,
project admins can now use rules to automate the behavior of work item
fields and ease the burden on their teams.
More details please refer this tutorial: Add a rule to a work item type
However, it works with fields in the work item, not able to move work item to different iteration or area directly.
There is no out of box feature could achieve your requirement with TFS and VSTS for now. You may have to customize TFS events/actions to achieve the same feature as right click the work item--select move iteration--choose iteration.
Moreover, you could also use some 3-rd party extensions/tools such as Giulio
suggested TFS Aggregator.
As of today, there is no built-in automation, so the community wrote some tools that react at TFS/VSTS events and run scripts.
I can suggest TFS Aggregator which is used by many organization throughout the world: I am one of the core contributor.
We're about to implement TFS 2012 and I've been having some fun customizing some work items to aid us in our reporting. One issue we have is our reporting based on clients.
Our Product Backlog Items keep our requirements, however, we need to report our requirements per client (government regulations). Some requirements will affect all clients, some will only reflect certain ones. I've been able to add a global list of clients along with a multi-select option and that part is working great.
The issue is we need to also note the requirement number for each selected client. I know I can go in and add a field for each 'Client Requirement', but as that list gets bigger, that screen will be insanely huge.
Does anybody know of such a way to implement something of the sort?
One option would be to create a custom Work Item Type for Clients. Then link your PBI's to the appropriate client WI's. When you create a link you can enter a link comment also which you could use to capture the client-specific requirement number.
I would create a custom "Client Requirement" work item that has the list of clients to select and includes a field for Client ID. You can then either use the related link type or create your own, maybe "Implements \ Implemented By" so that you can create a Reporting Services report that pulls the ID's
is it possible to create new queries in TFS 2010 based on the result of another query?
For example, one (parent) query selects all work items located under a certain work item (lets say work item with ID=5). And now I want to create other queries, that select all bugs, all tasks etc. from the results of the first query?
There, I only have to change the ID of the "parent" work item once and not in all subsequent queries.
Is this possible in TFS 2010 in combination with VST 2010?
Thanks
Konrad
There is a basic support for what you 're after in the GUI editor for WIQL: try with query of type "Tree of Work Items" - which creates a multi-level structure. There is minimal support to what you can handle in this context, for example it's not possible to pick work items with different criterias from level to level.
On the other hand you can implement a custom tool using the TFS-API. There you should be able to tailor to your needs exhaustively. I can support in such endeavor in case you 're interested.
What you want to do seems to be more of a report than a plain query. I think you should have a look at implementing custom reports.
We're using team system to control our developement (product backlog items, sprint backlog items etc). It's a pretty nice tool but we wanted to allow other users to be able add bugs and new feature suggestions WITHOUT letting them mess with the actual development bits.
I can set these guys up so they add the work items they need but I can't see a way to block access to the bits I don't want them to edit/view. Has anyone else seen this? Has anyone found a solution?
Are you using TFS 2010? If so, you can simply add them to the Work Item View Only Users group. This will grant them access to create new work items and to view/edit any work items they've created (but not others). Check out this link for instructions.