How to: Import Work Items in Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Project

When you want to view work items in Microsoft Project or Microsoft Excel, you must first import the work items from the work item database. Be sure that you are already connected to a Team Foundation Server. For more information, see How to: Connect to Team Foundation from Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Project.

Required Permissions

To perform these procedures, you must be a member of the Readers group or have the View work items in this node permission set to Allow. For more information, see Team Foundation Server Permissions.

To import work items into a Microsoft Excel Work Item List

1. Select any cell in the work item list where you will import work items.

2. On the Team tab, in the Work Items group, click Get Work Items.

   In the Get Work Items dialog box, there are three methods to use to find work items.

   Note

   In Microsoft Office Excel 2003, use the Team menu.

3. If you want to receive work items from a saved query, select Saved query and select a query from the list.

4. If you know the work item IDs you want to receive, select IDs and enter the work item IDs. Separate each ID with a comma or a space.

5. You can also receive work items that contain specific text in the title.

   1. Select Title contains, and type the search text.

      For example, entering "Setup" returns all work items with "Setup" in the title.

   2. Select the type of work items that you want to search in from the and type box.

6. As soon as you have determined the criteria for finding your work items, click Find.

   The Get Work Items dialog box displays the results of the find in a list at the bottom of the dialog box.

   Note

   The results will not display work items that are already in the work item list.

7. Select the work items that you want to receive.

8. Click OK.

   The system imports the selected work items and displays them at the bottom of the work item list.

To import work items into a Microsoft Project plan

1. On the Team menu, click Get Work Items.

   In the Get Work Items dialog box, there are three methods to use to find work items.

2. If you want to receive work items from a saved query, select Saved query and select a query from the list.

3. If you know the work item IDs you want to receive, select IDs, and enter the work item IDs. Separate each ID with a comma or a space.

4. You can also receive work items that contain specific text in the title.

   1. Select Title contains, and type the search text.

      For example, entering "Setup" returns all work items with "Setup" in the title.

   2. Select the type of work items that you want to search in from the and type box.

5. As soon as you have determined the criteria for finding your work items, click Find.

   The Get Work Items dialog box displays the results of the find in a list at the bottom of the dialog box.

   Note

   The results will not display work items that are already in Microsoft Project.

6. Select the work items that you want to receive.

7. Click OK.

See Also

Other Resources

Managing Work Items in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Project