Work Item Manager and Tree-based Queries

[Shane Milton]

Is there any way that we can get queries where the "Type of Query" setting is set to "Tree of Work Items" to work within the Work Item Manager? This is how most of our upper management (i.e. by users who don't have VS installed) of our work items are handled (we use Themes and Epics, as described here). As it is now, as soon as you change a query to be a tree, the Work Item Manager filters it out of the available Queries to run. This ultimately means ~80% of our queries cannot be used.

Thanks!

[Joel]

Hello Shane,

Work Item Manager does not currently support using hierarchical queries from TFS.  Adding support for these queries and displaying them in an easy to use and consume manner is our #1 priority right now.  We hope to release a version that supports these queries in the near future, but do not currently have a date for when this might be available.  Rest assured this feature is coming though.

Regards,
Joel
the Telerik team

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[Joe]

I'd like to throw my support behind this as well!  The Urban Turtle dashboard that plugs into Team System Web Access automatically groups tasks by their linked Product Backlog Item.  I can't find a way to do that in the WIM Task Board without using a hierarchical query, so I've settled for grouping tasks by Assigned To.  It would be great to be able to group by PBI so we can easily see when all the tasks for a PBI have been moved to Done.

BTW - you guys are awesome.  The availability of these free tools is a HUGE help in getting my teams onboard with TFS 2010 when the Rally/SVN/TeamCity combination is so popular.  Dollar for dollar, TFS 2010 has a far greater ROI, and these tools add the slick UI that everyone gets excited about.  We just ordered 8 electronic whiteboards to host our WIM task boards and to facilitate remote team members!

[Joel]

Hello Joe,

The next release of WIM is in the final testing stages and should be released soon.  I am happy to inform  you that this version includes a parent/child task board view and full support for hierarchical queries.  When the release is availabe we will make an announcement.

Regards,
Joel
the Telerik team

[Vien Nguyen]

This feature is a must have for us.

[Joel]

Hi Vien,

This feature is available in the latest version of WIM.  Please download it and let us know if you have any issues.

Thanks,
Joel
the Telerik team

[Vien Nguyen]

Is it in the trial version as I am evaluating? Thanks.

[Joel]

Hi Vien,

There is no trial version of the Work Item Manager as it is a free product.  As long as you have downloaded the latest version, then you should have this feature available.

Regards,
Joel
the Telerik team

[John]

Howdy Joel,
I just downloaded the latest (I think) version from the telerik site and don't see how/where to change the query type on a New Query. 

Of my Tree view queries I already had setup in TFS, I can see those fine, but when I edit it, things aren't going well.  

Here is my original query string that works (created in TFS)

(Source.[System.TeamProject] = @project and Source.[System.WorkItemType] = 'User Story' and Source.[System.State] = 'Active' and Source.[System.Title] contains '[DBA]') and ([System.Links.LinkType] = 'System.LinkTypes.Hierarchy-Forward') and (Target.[System.WorkItemType] = 'Task')

here was what I'd like to do but I'm getting an error (because I need the AND (X OR Y) logic that TFS doesn't provide easily.

[System.TeamProject] = @project and [System.WorkItemType] <> '' and [System.State] = 'Active' and ([System.Title] contains '[DBA]' OR [System.AssignedTo] = 'myUserID') and ([System.Links.LinkType] = 'System.LinkTypes.Hierarchy-Forward') and (Target.[System.WorkItemType] = 'Task')

The error is
The query is invalid TF51005; ... error caused by [System.TeamProject]

I have a related query that does the AND (X OR Y) logic that works fine, I was hoping to make it a tree view though

[System.TeamProject] = @project and [System.WorkItemType] <> '' and [System.State] = 'Active' and ([System.Title] contains '[DBA]' or [System.AssignedTo] = 'myUserID')

I originally just wanted to modify my original query, but since I couldn't thought I'd create a new one, but don't see how.  The screenshot shows me a read only "Query Type" in the New Query pane.

I checked the documentation but didn't see anything other than, 'you can change the type'.. but I don't seem to be able to =)

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
-John

[Joel]

Hi John,

Unfortunately WIM does not provide a way to create new hierarchical (tree or direct link) queries. As you've seen, the best you can do is edit the query string of an existing hierarchical query that was created in TFS. The reason for this is because the UI to create these queries is quite complex and we felt it was a better use of our time to focus on other features, rather than duplicating what TFS already has. Unfortunately this can create a scenario where you have to go back and forth between Team Explorer and WIM, but hopefully new queries are not needed so often that this becomes a major problem.  Also, sorry if the documentation was confusing about this feature. One of the main focuses of WIM is to reduce the need to create new TFS queries and we try to accomplish this through features like the area filter, iteration fitler, column fitlers, and the search box above the query results.

In regards to your specific query, in TFS, you can get the AND (X OR Y) logic by grouping clauses together.  To do this, in the query editor, ctrl+click or shift+click to select multiple clauses. Then, right click in your selection and choose Group clauses. I've attached a screenshot of what this might look like in TFS and a screenshot showing what the query looks like in WIM.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Joel
the Telerik team

[John]

Thanks Joel!  

Great tool you folks have here!

-John
(big fan of RADControls from way back)

[Joel]

Glad to hear you're enjoying our products!  Let us know if there's any other way we can help.

Thanks,
Joel
the Telerik team