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Setting up the Azure DevOps integration for Forecast

Pepe
  • Updated

The integration between Azure DevOps and Forecast allows developers to collaborate with other teams and access information held in distributed systems in the end-to-end software delivery value stream. This article will guide admins on how to set up the integration between Azure DevOps and Forecast.

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Installation Requirements

Setting up the integration requires an account with Admin access in both Forecast and Azure DevOps. Then the Azure DevOps platform needs to have the "Third-party application access via OAuth" enabled. The step-by-step guide at the end of this article explains the entire process and shows where exactly you should navigate on Azure DevOps's website as well.

About the integration

The integration with Azure DevOps synchronizes projects between DevOps and Forecast, and it allows for a combined workflow between both platforms. Its aim is to improve collaboration between product management and development teams with cross-functional transparency. 

Project management teams will receive traceability for each work item at each level of development, and Azure DevOps users will always be informed about iteration schedules and changes/improvements made to a customer request.

Work item types synchronized to Forecast

Currently, only the following Azure DevOps work item types will be synchronized as tasks in Forecast:

  • Product Backlog Item
  • User Story
  • Issue
  • Bug (depending on the 'Sync bugs in ADO' setting on project)

Azure DevOps work items of type 'Task' will be synchronized to Forecast as sub-tasks only if they have a parent work item in Azure DevOps that is synchronized to a Forecast Task.

Installing and configuring the integration

Setting up the integration requires some work in both Forecast and Azure DevOps. Before the procedure may begin from Forecast's side it is necessary to enable the "Third-party application access via OAuth" in Azure DevOps. 

Enabling the Third-party OAuth in DevOps

Administrators can enable third-party application access via OAuth, so that Forecast can be allowed to authenticate in your Azure DevOps instance.

To enable third-party application access via OAuth

  1. Navigate to Azure DevOps environment as an Admin.
  2. Click on Organization Settings in the bottom left corner.
  3. Click on Policies.
  4. Enable Third-party application access via OAuth.

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Authenticating Azure DevOps in Forecast

After enabling Third-party application access via OAuth, it is now possible to head the Azure DevOps integration page in Forecast and complete the process by linking your DevOps domain.

To authenticate into Azure DevOps in Forecast

  1. In Forecast, click Admin in the top bar. 
  2. Select Integrations from the dropdown.
  3. Click on the Azure DevOps(VSTS/TFS) integration.
  4. Choose the ADO Estimated Field (Original Estimate, Story Points, Effort) - Note: this choice is important as the project will either make use of hour estimates, Story points or effort. If the estimate type differs between the platforms for this project then the information will not synchronize properly. Make sure that both projects use the same estimate type.
    Azure1.png

  5. Type your Azure DevOps account name in the input field.
  6. Click Link.
    Azure2.png
  7. Log in with your Microsoft account (you might not need to do this if you are already logged into Azure DevOps on the computer you are using) and click 'Accept' when the app asks for permission to access Azure DevOps.

Projects and tasks can now be synchronized between DevOps and Forecast, and newly added and/or updated data will automatically stay up-to-date.

Disconnecting the Azure DevOps integration

It is possible to disconnect the integration between Forecast and Azure DevOps at any time. Note that all future updates to any projects that have been synched will not go through.

To disconnect the Azure DevOps integration

  1. In Forecast, click Admin in the top bar. 
  2. Select Integrations from the dropdown.
  3. Click on the Azure DevOps integration.
  4. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
  5. Click on Unlink.

 

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