TFS Work Item Web Access (WIWA) Released as part of VSTS Web Access 2008 SP1

Saturday, August 30, 2008

TFS Work Item Web Access (WIWA) Released as part of VSTS Web Access 2008 SP1

Microsoft Downloads - Visual Studio Team System Web Access 2008 SP1 Power Tool

“Team System Web Access (formerly known as TeamPlain) is a Web interface to Visual Studio 2008 Team Foundation Server.

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File Name: TeamSystemWebAccess.msi

Version: 9.1

Date Published: 8/29/2008

Language: English

Download Size: 10.7 MB

Team System Web Access is a free download that will be incorporated into a future release of Visual Studio Team System. You may install it with licensed installations of Team Foundation Server. You must be a licensed user of Team Foundation Server to use Team System Web Access.
New With Service Pack 1

Work item only view for users without a client access license. [Previously known as Work Item Web Access (WIWA) feature]

Run a single instance with multiple languages.

Create work items with initial values by using a URL.

Share ad-hoc work item queries by using a URL.

Find and view Shelvesets.

Improved work item search syntax.

Features in Team System Web Access

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I’m no longer involved in managing a/our TFS server, so I’m not sure when we’ll get this in place, but when/if I’d like to see how the Work Item only view is going to work out in the real world. While, as I’ve said in the past, I don’t think it’s open enough (you can only see your own work items, which I think it pretty limiting) it’s a first step at least.

Plus I like the idea of being able to pass an ad-hoc query around via URL. I can see where that could come in handy.

Anyway, if/when we get it up, I’ll let you know how it works out…

Update #1 8/30/2008 @ 9:55AM PDT:

Buck Hodges provides more details on the new SP1 bullet points above…

Buck Hodges - Team System Web Access 2008 SP1 is now available!

“…

Work item only view (accessed at http://tswa-server:8090/wiwa) provides access for users within your company that don't have a TFS client access license (CAL), which was made possible by a licensing change in TFS for the 2008 release. It allows you to create new work items and edit work items you have created. Users of the full TSWA features must have CALs. The feature was previously available as a separate download called Work Item Web Access (WIWA) in the CTP. We've consolidated it into the TSWA installation process for the final release.

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