Old news...but very cool if you didnt already know....Team Foundation Server Power Tools v1.2 was released.
The Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server Power Tool (formerly known as Power Toys) is a set of enhancements, tools and command-line utilities that improve the Team Foundation Server user experience. This release includes two new command-line tools for the developer and three non-command line tools: a process template editor, a set of custom check-in policies, and a test tools build task:
- Team Foundation Server Power Tool Commands (tfpt.exe) - A command-line tool with enhanced functionality for Team Foundation Version Control with graphical user interfaces for some commands.
- Process Template Editor - A tool integrated with Visual Studio for authoring custom work item types and some of the associated process template components.
- Check-In Policy Pack - A set of handy check-in policies to address needs customers have expressed.
- Test Tools Build Task - A tool that allows running unit tests by simply specifying the DLLs, or by specifying a file name pattern in TfsBuild.proj, instead of using .vsmdi files to specify tests to run.
I was a little bummed that the check-in policy pack didn't have any of the policies which I had requested (laughs)(especially since I posted on sending all of your comments). With that aside I couldnt have been happier with this release of the Process Template Editor. The integration with visual studio, the form control, and the validations were a great upgrade in this release. Note: You must first install the Domain-Specific Language Tools for Visual Studio 2005 in order for the Process Template Editor to appear in the Team Menu.
Here are a few screenshots of some of the process template editor features:
Screen - Editing the Process Template
Screen - Editing a work item type
Screen - Previewing the work item control
Screen - Work Item workflow
In the end, I couldn't be happier because this release came at the perfect time for me. I am steadily working on my Master's Project and alot my project will require me to customize the MSF for Agile process template, work items, and reports. Currently, my tentative title is "Customizing Team Foundation Server Process Templates for Software Quality Improvements". I know its quite a mouthfull, but I figured it would be a great way to learn the ins-and-outs of TFS and how to apply some of my MSE Master's knowledge to Microsoft's latest and greatest.