The IssueNet Visual Studio Integration provides seamless access to the IssueNet issue management system from within the Visual Studio development environment. With this integration, a developer never has to leave the Visual Studio interface to access, update, and resolve tasks. IssueNet views are launchable from the Tools menu and can be docked into the Visual Studio interface.
Edit1 Enabling the Visual Studio Integration
The Visual Studio integration is enabled by selecting Visual Studio from Host Applications in the IssueNet Integration Manager. In most cases, the IssueNet Integration Manager will be made available from IssueNet Central. If you have questions about installing the IssueNet Integration Manager, you should contact your IssueNet Administrator.
To enable the Visual Studio Integration:
- Launch the IssueNet Integration Manager.
- Place a checkmark in the Visual Studio application and click Done.
- Launch Visual Studio.
- When prompted, select your IssueNet connection.
- When prompted enter your IssueNet login credentials.
Edit2 The IssueNet Toolbar
 The IssueNet toolbar becomes active once the Integration has been enabled and a connection to an IssueNet datasource has been established. |
Edit3 Creating Issues
To create a new issue, click the New Issue icon, enter any required or optional information and click Save.
When you have an Issue open, a mini-toolbar appears on the Issue form, which contains the following items:
 The Issue Toolbar |
- Save- This button saves the current issue.
- Refresh- This button refreshes the current issue to capture any changes.
- Delete- This button deletes the current issue.
- Execute Workflow- This button opens the Execute Workflow dialog from which an optional Project can be selected and an appropriate workflow can be selected.
- Execute Transition- When a Task is selected on the Tasks tab, this button opens the Execute Transition dialog, which results in moving the task from one workflow state to another.
- Open- When on a tab with related items, highlighting the item and selecting Open opens the item.
Edit4 Viewing Issues
 The Issue Explorer View |
Clicking the View Issues button provides a two-paned explorer view of folders and issues. The left pane displays a hierarchical view of folders that match the folder filter selected just above the folder tree-view. When a folder is selected, the issues related to that folder are filtered by the issue filter displayed above the issue list on the right. The filters can be used to simplify the sort of information you wish to see in the folder context.
Additionally, you may click the
Search icon to open the Search Tool which provides a way to quickly search the database for particular items.
Clicking the
Folders button toggles between the Explorer and List views.
Edit5 Viewing Tasks
Clicking the View Task icon provides a convenient explorer used for navigating Projects to find tasks of interest.
 The Task Explorer View |
This view provides a two-paned explorer view of Projects and Tasks. The left pane displays a hierarchical view of Projects that match the filter selected just above the Project tree-view. When a Project is selected, the tasks related to that Project are filtered by the task filter displayed above the task list on the right. The filters can be used to simplify the sort of information you wish to see in the folder context.
Additionally, you may click the
Search icon to open the Search Tool which provides a way to quickly search the database for particular items.
Clicking the
Projects button toggles between the Explorer and List views.
Edit6 Running Reports
 The Report Selection Dialog |
Selecting the Run Report icon opens the Report Selection dialog. From this dialog, you can run reports on Issues and Tasks. Simply click the report you wish to view and click OK; from the Report view you may print or export the results.
Edit7 IssueNet Options
Edit7.1 Connect
Selecting Connect allows you to choose which connection to use for the Visual Studio integration. You can either
Open an existing connection or
Create a new connection. If you choose to create a new connection, the Connection Wizard will open. Please contact your IssueNet administrator if you are unsure of any of the Connection type information.
Edit7.2 Disconnect
Selecting Disconnect simply disconnects you from the IssueNet datasource and disables the IssueNet toolbar.
Edit7.3 Options
The IssueNet options are separated into the following tabs:
- Connections- The connection tab simply displays the available Connection Profiles; from this dialog you may Add, Remove or Configure IssueNet connections. Please contact your IssueNet administrator if you are unsure of any of the Connection type information.
- Prompt me to choose a connection every time I connect- With this option selected, each time you select Connect, you will be presented with a Select Connection dialog.
- Always connect with the following connection- With this option selected, you will automatically be connected to the selected connection.
- Attempt to connect when the application starts- With this option selected, IssueNet will attempt to connect each time Outlook is started.
- Issues- The Issues tab allows you to define the type of Issue that will be created from within Visual Studio.
- Prompt me for the type to create each time- With this option selected, you will be presented with a 'Select Type' dialog when a new issue is created. This dialog will be populated with any Issue type that is defined in your IssueNet solution.
- Always create with the following type- With this option selected, any Issue that is created will be of the type you have selected from the Drop Down menu.
- Contacts- The contacts tab allows you to set options for the creation of new contacts.The following options are associated with Contacts:
- Contact Creation
- Prompt me for the type to create each time- With this option selected, you will be presented with a 'Select Type' dialog when a new Contact is created. This dialog will be populated with any Contact type that is defined in your IssueNet solution.
- Always create with the following type- With this option selected, any Contact that is created will be of the type you have selected from the Drop Down menu.