In this article, we will review the Azure DevOps connector and the steps to add this connector to PPM Express Time.
Azure DevOps Connector includes the following Readers which can be used as a source for the suggested time entries:
- Commits;
- Updated Work Items (if this reader is enabled, all updated work items assigned to you will be added to PPM Express Time as suggested time entries);
- In Progress Work Items (if this reader is enabled, all 'In Progress' work items from the current iterations assigned to you will be added to PPM Express Time as suggested time entries);
Configuring Azure DevOps connection
To add Azure DevOps connector to PPM Express Time perform the following:
1. Navigate to the Settings => Connections => New Connection => Azure DevOps.
Or you can just click on the Azure DevOps icon on the Connection toolbar in the upper right corner of any PPM Express Time page.
2. In the Connect Azure DevOps window provide the Organization name.
Click Connect.
The organization name is your Azure DevOps tenant name which can be found in the Azure DevOps URL.
Please note: If you receive an error: 'Connection failed. Unable to obtain connection data' after you click the Connect button, please refer to this article for more information.
3. Sign in to your Azure DevOps account.
4. In the Connect Azure DevOps window click Create.
Please note: PPM Express Time allows synchronizing time reported on the PPM Express Time project to Azure DevOps 'Completed' task field if the 'Write totals to Azure DevOps completed work' feature is turned on. This feature is enabled in PPM Express Time per project. For more information please refer to this article.
Azure DevOps connection will be added to PPM Express Time.
To set up the Readers for this connection click on the Azure DevOps icon on the Connection toolbar in the upper right corner of any PPM Express Time page. All readers are enabled by default, and you can disable the ones you do not need for this connection.
Suggested time entries from the selected Azure DevOps readers will now appear in the Time section. PPM Express Time will now suggest possible time entries from these readers and you will save your time spent on reporting.
Linking Azure DevOps projects and PPM Express Time projects.
When the connection is added, you can link Azure DevOps projects and PPM Express Time projects, get suggested time entries and report time on the projects. Linking projects helps to analyze tasks completed by users to make suggested time entries more precise and relevant.
If the projects are not linked, work items will appear as suggested time entries that will not be assigned to any of the projects in PPM Express Time. You can select the required project manually. If the projects are linked by the Project Manager, the suggested time entries will appear for the required project at once. This makes time reporting faster and easier.
Please note: Projects tab is available for users with Administrator and Project Manager roles.
For this purpose perform the following:
1. Navigate to the Projects tab.
2. Choose the desired project in the projects list by marking the checkbox next to it.
3. On the available actions ribbon in the upper part of the page click on the Links.
4. The Links menu will open in the right part of the page. Click the Import button and select Azure DevOps projects.
5. In the Import links window select the Azure DevOps project you need to link to the selected PPM Express Time project. Click the Link button.
6. Save the changes in the Links window.
7. If the projects are linked, the required project will be already selected in the suggested time entries that appear on the Time tab from Azure DevOps connector.
Unlinking Azure DevOps projects and PPM Express Time projects
If you would like to unlink Azure DevOps projects and PPM Express Time projects perform the following:
1. Open PPM Express Time => Projects.
2. Navigate to the project that you would like to unlink.
3. Open the menu from the ... icon. Select the Links option.
4. Click delete the Azure DevOps project from the Links window.
