Manish Sharma

TFS WorkItem Transition Security - Restrict for a particular user group

2009-01-12T08:57:00Z

There are many scenarios in which we want only a particular group of users to be able to change the particular state transition of WI. For example we want only the Testers group to change the Bug WI state from Resolved to Closed, and restrict developers group from changing this state-transition.

This restriction can be achieved by following two steps,

1. Restrict write permissions by placing users in the appropriate security groups (on project level).

2. Now you can restrict which users can perform work item state transitions by modifying the work item type definition and placing "for" and "not" attributes on the state transition. For example:

Reference - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms194954(VS.80).aspx

How to get the list of currently checked out files in TFS?

2008-06-09T09:08:00Z

One of the most common question asked by clients is how to fetch the list of currently checked-out files under any TFS project? In VSS, there use to be UI context menu option which retrieves the list of checked out files, but there is not like that in VS 2005 or VS 2008 with TFS.

Alternative is to use following command line statement to fetch all checked-out files for any specific project on the TFS server.

tf.exe status $/[PROJECTNAME] /user:* /s:http://[TFS SERVER NAME]:[PORT] /recursive > [PATH TO SAVE THE OUTPUT]

Example,
tf.exe status $/PROJECTNAME /user:* /s:http://paapp1216:8080 /recursive > c:\checkedout.txt

Personally I have added this command into the "External Tools..." list of VS.

Connect with Team Project using DomainProjectPicker dialog control

2008-04-22T09:36:00Z

One of the most common public controls provided by TFS API’s is the DomainProjectPicker within the namespace Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Proxy. This dialog class allows the user to select the team project to connect to. Code snippet for using this control is as follows,

DomainProjectPicker dpp = new DomainProjectPicker(DomainProjectPickerMode.None);

if (dpp.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)

{

try

{

Cursor.Current = Cursors.WaitCursor;

tfsServer = new TeamFoundationServer(dpp.SelectedServer.Name, new UICredentialsProvider());

tfsServer.Authenticate();

//Connect to VersionControlServer, BuildStore or WorkItemStore.

}

catch (Exception ex)

{

//Exception handling

}

finally

{

Cursor.Current = Cursors.Default;

}

VS2008 and .NET framework 3.5 Training material

2008-03-14T19:10:00Z

The Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Training Kit content is designed to help you learn how to utilize the Visual Studio 2008 features and a variety of framework technologies including: LINQ, C# 3.0, Visual Basic 9, WCF, WF, WPF, ASP.NET AJAX, VSTO, CardSpace, SilverLight, Mobile and Application Lifecycle Management

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=8BDAA836-0BBA-4393-94DB-6C3C4A0C98A1&displaylang=en

Part 4 – Customization VSTS Process Template

2007-12-24T12:25:00Z

Windows SharePoint Services XML

Project portal configuration are defined in the WssTasks.xml file within the [Process Template]/Windows Sharepoint Services directory. Within this xml file, document libraries, folders and default files list is defined. Also the sharepoint site template name is defined.

…………………………………………..

</documentLibraries>

…………………………………………..

</folders>

<files>

…………………………………………..

</files>

</Portal>

Groups and Permissions XML

List of groups and their permissions within process templates are defined within the GroupsandPermissions.xml file located within [Process Template]/Groups and Permissions directory. For the MGSI SDC Process template we have added four new groups.

</permissions>

</group>

……………………………………………………

</groups>

References

1. CodePlex – Visual Studio Team System: Process Templates and Tools. http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms243782(VS.80).aspx

2. MSDN – Customizing Process Template

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms243782(VS.80).aspx

3. Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server Power Tools
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/aa718351.aspx

4. Customizing Microsoft Project Field Mappings

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms404684(VS.80).aspx

Part 3 – Customization VSTS Process Template

2007-12-24T12:19:00Z

In this part, I will explain how to modify Iterations/Areas and MS Project field mappings with TFS items

Iterations and Areas

Classification files are located within [Process Template]/Classification directory. Iterations for the project are defined within ProjectLifeCycle node and project areas are defined within ProjectModelHierarchy node.

<tasks>

<Nodes>

</Children>

</Node>

</Children>

</Node>

</Nodes>

</properties>

</taskXml>

</task>

</tasks>

MS Project Field Mappings

These values define how the values stored in TFS are translated when exporting work items to and from Microsoft Project.

Mapping between MS project columns and work item type fields is defined by the FieldMapping.xml file. This file is located within [Process Template]/Classification directory.

……………………………………………….

</Mappings>

</MSProject>

Part 2 – Customizing VSTS Process Template

2007-12-24T12:14:00Z

In Part 1 of this series I have explained what the process template is, and how you can download and upload process templates from/to TFS server. Customizing process template using Process Editor is simple and you can refer the Process Template documentation for that. Here I will explain more about the structure of various process template xml files, which you can even modify without using process editor.

Work Items Type

Team members use work items to track work to be done within TFS. Team members can create a new work item based on a default work item type such as bug, requirement, risk, or task. Each Process Template comes with a set of default work item types, which depends on the installed methodology, such as MSF for CMMI Process Improvement or MSF for Agile Software Development. A work item type is a template from which new work items of that type are created.

Work Item type xml files are located within [Process Template]/WorkItem Tracking/TypeDefinations directory. Each work item will have its own XML file, named as [WorkItem name].xml

Work item type xml can be divided into three major sections – Fields, Workflow and Layout

1. Fields

This section consists of list of all fields which are defined within this work item type. Each field tag will encapsulate all rules defined for that particular field.

<HELPTEXT>Short description of the bug used to differentiate it in a list or report</HELPTEXT>

</FIELD>

<HELPTEXT>The person assigned to act on the bug, either to fix it or to verify the fix</HELPTEXT>

</FIELD>

<HELPTEXT>The area of the product with which this bug is associated</HELPTEXT>

</FIELD>

<HELPTEXT>The iteration of the product with which this bug is associated</HELPTEXT>

</FIELD>

………………………………

</FIELDS>

2. Workflow

Workflow section can further divided into two parts,

a. States

This section list out all states through which work item can pass on. And each state tag will encapsulate list of fields which have to be empty or required for that particular state.

</FIELD>

</FIELD>

</FIELD>

</FIELD>

</FIELD>

</FIELDS>

</STATE>

b. Transitions

This section list out all the transitions which can take place between different states. Each transition will encapsulate actions, reasons and fields.

</ACTIONS>

</REASONS>

</FIELD>

</FIELD>

</FIELDS>

</TRANSITION>

3. Layout

This section defines the work item user interface, and way controls will be places in the UI. Controls are grouped and positioned using <Group> and <TabGroup> controls.

<Group>

</Column>

</Group>

<Group>

</Column>

</Group>

</Tab>

…………………………………….

</TabGroup>

</Layout>

Work Item Queries

These are the queries on the work item database that are available to every project member. This initial set of queries can easily be changed once a project has begun.

Work Item query files are located within [Process Template]/WorkItem Tracking/Queries directory. Each work item query will have its own WIQ file, named as [WorkItem Query name].wiq

Contents of these query files are very much similar the way SQL queries are written. Such as test-case work item query file contents are as follows,

<Wiql>

SELECT [System.Id], [System.State], [Microsoft.VSTS.Common.Priority], [System.Title] FROM WorkItems WHERE [System.TeamProject] = @project AND [System.WorkItemType] = 'TestCase' ORDER BY [System.Id]

</Wiql>

</WorkItemQuery>

Customizing VSTS Process Template

2007-11-03T08:26:00Z

For the last couple of months I have been working on to enhance the process template for my organization. So following are some post in which I will explain Customization of VSTS process template.

Let’s start with – What the process template means?

Process templates define key aspects of a team project that affect how a team works. By customizing a process template, we can define security for team project control, what templates are available on the project portal, source code control check-in notes, new work item types and queries, reports for monitoring and status, and which iterations and organization units are used. Process templates define the initial process settings for team projects. Most process settings can also be customized after a team project is created.

Each organization/teams already have their own project execution processes or document templates in place. So by defining their process template including those existing processes and document templates in the process template they can enforce those processes onto each project which is created within the TFS using custom process template.

So the Process templates define key aspects of a team project that affect how a team works. By customizing a process template, we can define the following security options to control your team project.

· Define the templates that are available on the project portal.

· Define and require source code control check-in notes.

· Define the available work item types and queries.

· Define reports to monitor progress and report status.

· Define the iterations and organizational units that are used.

Constituents of Process Template

Work Item Type

A work item type is a database record which VSTF uses to track assignments and state of work. For example task, bug, risk, test case are some of the work item types.

Version Control Settings

A process template can define default settings for check-in notes, permissions for various group settings and multiple check-out.

Sharepoint site layout, theme and contents

Work products and document templates are documents such as Microsoft Word files, and Microsoft Excel files that are copied to the project portal when the new team project is created.

Process guidance is HTML content that describes the activities, roles, work items, and other parts of the process for the team.

Reports

A process template defines the default set of reports to be used by team members on the new team project.

Project areas and iterations

Project areas and iterations are used to facilitate work item queries and reports for grouping. They allow the team to query for work items that just affect a particular area of the project, or a particular iteration.

Customizing Process Template

The best way to start the process template customization is to start with an existing process template. We downloaded and started with the MSF for CMMI process template and started its customization. There are two ways to customize the process template,

1. Use the VSTS Process Editor (which is part of VSTF Power Tools).

2. Directly modify various process template XML files. (I will explain more about these XML files in the Part 2 of this series.)

Introduction to VSTS Process Editor

The Process Editor provides a convenient method of viewing and customizing process templates. The Process Editor can work in two modes: Connected and Disconnected. In Connected mode, the Process Editor interacts with Team Foundation server, enabling us to interact with the items in an existing project on the server.

Download and Upload a Process Template

To edit a process template, download it from Team Foundation server, edit it with the Process Editor or directly modifying template XML files, and then upload it. Uploading the new template will only affect the way future projects will be initialized on the server, and will have no effect on any of the existing project on the server.

Download a process template

1. Connect to TFS.

2. In Visual Studio, select from top menu - Team > Team Foundation Server Settings > Process Template Manager.

3. In the Process Template Manager dialog box, select a process template.

4. Click Download and save the template locally.

Now after modifying the process template, upload the new process template using the following steps.

Upload a process template

1. Connect to TFS.

2. In Visual Studio, select from top menu - Team > Team Foundation Server Settings > Process Template Manager.

3. In the Process Template Manager dialog box, click Upload and navigate to the folder containing the ProcessTemplate.xml file.

4. Uploading the template to the TFS server takes some time from couple of minutes to half an hour, depending on the location and configuration of TFS server.

Reference articles for Outlook 2003 Programming

2007-11-02T09:11:00Z

Nice reference articles for Outlook 2003 programming

What's New in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 for Developers?

An Introduction to Programming Outlook 2003 Using C#

Programming samples that can reference items and folders in Outlook by using Visual C# .NET

How to retrieve specific messages by using the Find method and the Restrict method in Visual C#

How to automate Outlook and Word by using Visual C# .NET to create a pre-populated e-mail message that can be edited

How to build an Office COM add-in by using Visual C# .NET

MenuItem for Outlook ContextMenu

2007-11-02T08:17:00Z

Last project I was working on had lot of customisation for Outlook 2003 and its integration with MOSS (Sharepoint 2007). Its altogether a unique experience working with Outlook object model and creating a custom outlook plugin.

Following is a small snippet for adding or manipulating context menu within outlook explorer.

//get outlook explorer object

private Outlook.Explorer actExplorer = this.ApplicationObject.Application.ActiveExplorer();

//get instance of all command bars

private CommandBars cmdBars = actExplorer.CommandBars;

cmdBars.OnUpdate += new _CommandBarsEvents_OnUpdateEventHandler(CommandBars_OnUpdate);

/// <summary>

/// Implements the OnUpdate event for outlook command bars.

/// </summary>

private void CommandBars_OnUpdate()

{

foreach (CommandBar cmdBar in actExplorer.CommandBars)

{

if (cmdBar.Name == "Context Menu")

{

//remove protection

MsoBarProtection oldProtection = cmdBar.Protection;

cmdBar.Protection = 0;

//create custom menu item

CommandBarButton checkInMenuItem = (CommandBarButton)cmdBar.FindControl(MsoControlType.msoControlButton, Type.Missing, "Custom Menu", Type.Missing, Type.Missing);

if(checkInMenuItem == null)

{

checkInMenuItem = (CommandBarButton)cmdBar.Controls.Add(MsoControlType.msoControlButton, Type.Missing, Type.Missing, Type.Missing, true);

checkInMenuItem.Caption = "Custom Menu";

checkInMenuItem.Click += new _CommandBarButtonEvents_ClickEventHandler(checkInMenuItem_Click);

}

//set protection level

cmdBar.Protection = oldProtection;

}

Handling office CommandBar controls

2007-11-02T08:16:00Z

While working on office applications, there are scenarios when we need to control the functionality of Command Bar controls. With Command Bar I means, menu bars, toolbars, shortcut menus, context menus and submenus on menus. Best way to get the control’s object is to use the FindControl function and get the control using its unique command ID. Command ID list can be obtained from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/213552

Outlook.Explorers actExplorer = Application.ActiveExplorer();

CommandBars cmdBars = actExplorer.CommandBars;

foreach(CommandBar bar in cmdBars)

{

if(bar.Name == "Menu Bar")

{

//Copy

control = bar.FindControl(MsoControlType.msoControlButton,2499,null,false,recursive);

if(control!=null)

{

//act on the control, like enable/disable/fire the click event of the control

}

Visual Studio® Team System Code Name "Rosario" August 2007 CTP (VPC Image)

2007-10-26T13:36:00Z

Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team System code name “Rosario” is an integrated Application Life-cycle Management (ALM) solution comprising tools, processes, and guidance. It enables members of your team to:

· Collaborate and communicate more effectively with other team members and business stakeholders

· Ensure software quality using advanced quality tools at every step of the application life cycle

· Gain visibility into project activity and priorities to make informed decisions based on real-time data

This Community Technology Preview (CTP) release covers several different customer experiences that align with the following scenarios:

· Development Scheduling and Tracking
Teams will be able to communicate tasks and progess more effectively through work item tracking, including being able to create parent-child relationships between work items, identifying task dependancies, and tracking progress through readily available spreadsheets and reports.

· Requirements Test Coverage and Manual Testing
Being able to see the relationship between test cases and software requirements gives the test team an opportunity to identify missing test cases early, to identify which test cases are failing for a particular requirement, and to recognize trends in failing test cases. Running automated and manual test cases, testers can find and report bugs. Using the new manual test runner, they will be able to include more bug data than was previously available.

· Dependency Management
Developers will be able to easily identify cross-task dependancies, enabling other developers on the team to prioritize their work .

Download

White Papers

Difference between FTPS and SFTP

2007-09-21T11:12:00Z

I have seen people get confused between FTPS and SFTP and refer these technologies interchangeably. But the fact is they are not same.

FTPS (commonly referred to as FTP/SSL) is a name used to encompass a number of ways in which FTP software can perform secure file transfers. Each way involves the use of a SSL/TLS layer below the standard FTP protocol to encrypt the control and/or data channels. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTPS

Good news is IIS7 now supports FTPS - http://blogs.technet.com/extreme/archive/2007/05/23/ftps-in-iis7-is-sweeter.aspx

SSH File Transfer Protocol or SFTP is a network protocol that provides file transfer and manipulation functionality over any reliable data stream. It is typically used with the SSH-2 protocol (TCP port 22) to provide secure file transfer, but is intended to be usable with other protocols as well. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSH_file_transfer_protocol

Querying Excel11 and Excel12 files

2007-09-18T12:13:00Z

An excel11 (.xls) file can be very easily queried using "Jet OLEDB 4.0" provider. C# snippet code for quering excel11 files is as follows,

String strConn = @"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=Sample.xls;Extended Properties=Excel 8.0";

OleDbConnection objConn = new OleDbConnection(strConn);

DataTable dtObject = new DataTable();

objConn.Open();

OleDbCommand objComm = new OleDbCommand("select * from [SummarySheet$A48:M500]", objConn);

OleDbDataReader objReader = objComm.ExecuteReader();

dtObject.Load(objReader);

Similarly excel12(.xlsx) files can also be queried using OLEDB Access Engine (ACE). Code snippet to query excel12 file is as follows,

String strConn = @"Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=Sample.xlsx;Extended Properties=Excel 12.0";

OleDbConnection objConn = new OleDbConnection(strConn);

DataTable dtObject = new DataTable();

objConn.Open();

OleDbCommand objComm = new OleDbCommand("select * from [SummarySheet$A48:M500]", objConn);

OleDbDataReader objReader = objComm.ExecuteReader();

dtObject.Load(objReader);

Some really helpful snippets are also available at following location,

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8D46C01F-E3F6-4069-869D-90B8B096B556&displaylang=en