Support for MS Agile template

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All features available for the Scrum template could work with MSF Agile 5.0 with some changes made to the process template. For instance, we've heard from customers who have enabled the Real-time Burndown by defining a Sprint work item type in their process template and updating the configuration mapping file.

We don't have actual documentation as to how to do this, but we plan on blogging about getting MSF Agile 5.0 up to speed with Scrum 1.0.

The burndown chart and the work item type filter would be very useful. But, I would rather not create a Sprint work item type as we are fully using the Agile template. It would be better if the mapping file could be changed to use the User Story work item type instead.

There are no Start and Finish date fields in the User Story work item type in MSF Agile 5.0, thus the need for a sprint work item. These dates are required by the burndown chart.

As for the work item type filter, it works with all process templates out of the box. The types displayed are read from the mapping file.

The only features that are specific to Scrum 1.0 unless you modify your process template are the burndown chart (v3.3), the approval and commitment actions, the sprint details button (v3.2) and the upcoming (v3.4) recycle bin.

I've looked at the Sprint work item in the Scrum template, and there isn't much there. How does the report work? Where does it get it's total number of hours from and the ones completed?

The report gets its dates from the first sprint work item it finds in the current iteration. It then calculates the total of the remaining hour field for each day in the sprint. The field is defined in the stats section of the configuration mapping file.

I've been looking over the Scrum template,and I can't find the hour field. Where would this be set?
Also, where is this configuration mapping file?

In the case of the Scrum template, the field taken into account for the real-time burndown is Microsoft.VSTS.Scheduling.RemainingWork. This field is only defined for work items of type Task.

You can find this field in the mapping file under "TemplateConfiguration/Features/Statistics/WorkRemaining".

The mapping files can be found (by default) under C:\Program Files\Microsoft Team Foundation Server 2010\Application Tier\Web Access\Web\UrbanTurtle\configuration\project.

We recommend that you copy an existing file and change its name (defined in the xml file contents).

Ok, I've got this figured out now, thanks for the help. I have also been able to get the burndown chart to work with the Agile template.

Just to clarify, the burndown chart will only look at the Sprint work item type correct? I can't modify the template to have it use a different work item type that also includes the start and finish dates?

Thanks.

Actually, you could have it check for another work item type. You'll find the mapping information in the file. You can specify the work item type, the start date and finish date fields. Just note that Urban Turtle retrieves the first work item of the specified type. You can access this work item by clicking the information (sprint details) icon on the iteration box, in the planning board.