How to block iterations in TFS 2012?

Question

As soon as the iteration (Sprint) is completed, we need to block it so that no one can register in this iteration (unless, of course, they override the registration warning).

How can i achieve this? I looked at the Team Foundation Server SDK namespace (Microsoft.TeamFoundation), but I didn’t find anything.

Answer 1

Here is the solution I saved:

http://intellitect.com/transitioning-between-sprintsiterations-with-tfs/

In short, you use Iterative Paths to determine the current sprint.

Then you create a query that returns all work items under the current iteration (which identifies your current sprint).

You use a work item query policy to ensure that all work items related to registration are part of the query result (and therefore are part of the current iteration / sprint).

Answer 2

Sprint is commonly used as an iteration path in work items. But from the context of your question, I suggest you have a folder in Source Control for each iteration, right?

• Right-click the folder and "Advanced → Security ..."
• Opening WebAccess
• Remove "Check Out" and "Check In" for all groups.

Now, none of your developers can check anything in this folder and subfolders either.

Answer 3

This is a high level idea ...

Create a global list that you use to specify the project and its “Current Iteration”. (TFS does not have the concept of "Current iteration", so you have to store it somewhere.) After each iteration, you will have to update this list to remove the old iteration and then add a new one.

Then you create a custom registration policy that requires the association of work items to register.

If it has an association of work items, then you check all of them (you can link more than one) to make sure that the iteration matches the “Current iteration” stored in the global list.

From my understanding of the TFS API client, all of these data points should be accessible. (The only thing I’m not sure about is that I’m 100% sure of getting the appropriate work items in the registration policy, but I would be very surprised if it is not there.)

Answer 4

You may also consider using the Work Item Policy found in the TFS Connection Plugin.

https://tfspluginsuite.codeplex.com/