[[PageOutline(2-5,Contents,pullout)]] = Manages named queues via drag-and-drop = == Description == This plugin converts one or more reports into ticket 'queues'. A ticket queue allows you to drag-and-drop tickets into your desired order (similar to the Netflix Queue). Ticket positions in a queue get maintained in a custom field of your choosing. The motivation for this plugin is for when you want to organize a work load in the order you intend to tackle it - i.e., as a work queue. Queues can be defined by milestone or any field(s). See the [wiki:QueuesPlugin#Examples examples below] for more details. == Configuration == 1. Install the plugin (after downloading and unzipping): {{{ cd queuesplugin/0.12 sudo python setup.py bdist_egg sudo cp dist/TracQueues*.egg /your/trac/location/plugins/ }}} See [http://trac.edgewall.org/wiki/TracPlugins TracPlugins] for more installation details and options. You'll likely need to restart Trac's web server after installation. 2. Enable the plugin: {{{ [components] queues.* = enabled }}} You can alternatively use the Trac Web Admin GUI to enable any or all rules. 3. Create a custom field to contain the position information - example {{{trac.ini}}} config: {{{ [ticket-custom] position = text }}} 4. Create/modify reports to be used as ticket queues whose first column's name must match the (custom) field created in step 3 above: * Can contain uppercase characters (which will get converted to lowercase) * Can use spaces (which will get removed) 5. Tell the queues plugin which reports to convert to queues - example {{{trac.ini}}} config: {{{ [queues] reports = 9,10 }}} See the [wiki:QueuesPlugin#Examples examples below] for more detailed configuration examples, options and capabilities. == Bugs/Feature Requests == Existing bugs and feature requests for QueuesPlugin are [report:9?COMPONENT=QueuesPlugin here]. If you have any issues, create a [http://trac-hacks.org/newticket?component=QueuesPlugin&owner=robguttman new ticket]. == Download == Download the zipped source from [download:queuesplugin here]. == Source == You can check out QueuesPlugin from [http://trac-hacks.org/svn/queuesplugin here] using Subversion, or [source:queuesplugin browse the source] with Trac. == Examples == This plugin is built from several simple parts many of which are built into Trac (e.g., reports, dynamic variables). This approach takes advantage of what Trac already offers while still providing a great deal of flexibility in how you configure the queues. However, this flexibility is traded off against ease-of-use. So consider this a warning that this plugin is for advanced users/administrators only! === Team work queue for all tickets === The simplest example is a queue of all tickets. Assuming you already created a new custom {{{position}}} field as described [wiki:QueuesPlugin#Configuration above], you can create a new report like this: {{{ SELECT s.value AS __color__, p.value as position, t.id AS ticket, summary, t.type AS type, t.severity, t.owner FROM ticket t LEFT JOIN enum s ON s.name = t.severity AND s.type = 'severity' LEFT OUTER JOIN ticket_custom p ON p.ticket = t.id and p.name = 'position' WHERE t.status <> 'closed' ORDER BY CAST((CASE p.value WHEN '' THEN '0' ELSE COALESCE(p.value,'0') END) AS INTEGER) ASC, t.changetime DESC }}} Notice that the first column is the {{{position}}} custom field and is defined as {{{p.value as position}}} - this is ''required''. The first column's name must always match the name of the custom field used to maintain the queue position. (You can name them whatever you want; they just have to match.) In the ORDER BY clause, we cast the position field to an integer. This example is for sqlite3; you'll need to check the syntax for the database you're using. If your database does not support casting, you can use position padding option described below. There are no other restrictions to the SQL you use for your reports (as far as I'm aware!). If the report above was created as, say, report {{{9}}}, then you would need to add it to the {{{[queues]}}} section of the {{{{trac.ini}}} file: {{{ [queues] reports = 9 }}} You may need to restart your Trac web server afterwards. Here's a screenshot of the result with a few sample tickets: [[Image(example1.png)]] To reorder the tickets, simply drag and drop them to their desired location in the queue. === Team work queue per milestone === To order your work queue within a milestone, you could create a single report that uses a {{{MILESTONE}}} [http://trac.edgewall.org/wiki/TracReports#AdvancedReports:DynamicVariables report dynamic variable] to set the milestone: {{{ SELECT s.value AS __color__, p.value as position, t.id AS ticket, summary, t.type AS type, t.severity, t.owner FROM ticket t LEFT JOIN enum s ON s.name = t.severity AND s.type = 'severity' LEFT OUTER JOIN ticket_custom p ON p.ticket = t.id and p.name = 'position' WHERE t.status <> 'closed' and t.milestone = '$MILESTONE' ORDER BY CAST((CASE p.value WHEN '' THEN '0' ELSE COALESCE(p.value,'0') END) AS INTEGER) ASC, t.changetime DESC }}} If this was created as report {{{10}}}, update the {{{trac.ini}}} file as so (and restart your web server if needed): {{{ [queues] reports = 9,10 }}} Here's the screenshot of the report: [[Image(example2.png)]] In this example, I'm using the optional DynamicVariablesPlugin which converts the {{{MILESTONE}}} dynamic variable (aka argument) from a freeform textbox to a convenient dropdown menu at the right. === Team work queue per milestone with a Triage group === The problem with the above example is that new tickets without a {{{position}}} field will get ordered above your other tickets. This may not always be what you want. So instead you can group the tickets into those with a position and those without and then individually drag-and-drop the new tickets into the ordered queue at your leisure. Here's what the report could look like: {{{ SELECT s.value AS __color__, (CASE p.value WHEN '' THEN 'Triage' WHEN NULL THEN 'Triage' ELSE '$MILESTONE' END) AS __group__, p.value as position, t.id AS ticket, summary, t.type AS type, t.severity, t.owner FROM ticket t LEFT JOIN enum s ON s.name = t.severity AND s.type = 'severity' LEFT OUTER JOIN ticket_custom p ON p.ticket = t.id and p.name = 'position' WHERE t.status <> 'closed' and t.milestone = '$MILESTONE' ORDER BY (CASE p.value WHEN '' THEN 'Triage' WHEN NULL THEN 'Triage' ELSE $MILESTONE END = 'Triage') DESC, CAST((CASE p.value WHEN '' THEN '0' ELSE COALESCE(p.value,'0') END) AS INTEGER) ASC, t.changetime DESC }}} In addition to the updating {{{trac.ini}}} with the new report number, you now also need to describe what operation the plugin should take for each group as follows: {{{ [queues] reports = 9,10,11 group.triage = clear }}} The {{{group.triage = clear}}} tells the plugin that the {{{Triage}}} group shouldn't reorder positions (the default operation). The name {{{Triage}}} is just an example - you can use any name as long as you make the config match the name used in the SQL statement. Here's the screenshot of the report: [[Image(example2.png)]] The tickets are now grouped with the Triage group at the top. You can drag-and-drop tickets from the {{{Triage}}} group to anywhere in the {{{milestone1}}} group. Furthermore, you can also clear the position from any ticket by moving it from the {{{milestone1}}} group to anywhere in the {{{Triage}}} group (hence the full meaning the the {{{clear}}} operation described above). If you don't want to see the tickets The full list of operation directives are: * reorder (the default) * clear * ignore There should only be one {{{reorder}}} group but any number of clear and ignore groups. The {{{ignore}}} operation will simply list the tickets that match your grouping but tickets can't be moved out of or into it. This is useful, for example, if you want to show work in the queue that has been implemented but still in a {{{verifying}}} state and not yet closed. The SQL syntax is left as an exercise to the reader. :) TIP: You can click on any {{{clear}}} or {{{ignore}}} group heading to toggle between hiding and showing its contents. === Team work queue per custom field === Another use case is when you want to retain the use of milestones as an orthogonal date-based means to manage projects and use a separate custom field to 'bucket' tickets into queues. For example: {{{ [ticket-custom] position = text queue = select queue.options = |Queues 1|Queue 2|Queue 3 }}} You can simply re-write your SQL query to pivot on a {{{QUEUE}}} dynamic variable instead of (or perhaps in addition to) a {{{MILESTONE}}} dynamic variable. The important thing is that the {{{position}}} custom field should be used for one and only one queue. === Personal work queue === It should be clear now that you can create a queue for just about any SQL query as long as the {{{position}}} custom field is used for one and only one queue. Another use case is if you want to use queues simply to let users manage their own work load. You can simply create a report that pivots on the special, built-in {{{$USER}}} dynamic variable. Viola! Personal work queues for everyone using a single report. === Team work queue ''and'' personal work queue === What if you wanted to both a team work queue that pivoted on, say, a custom {{{queue}}} field and personal work queues as described above. We can't reuse the same {{{position}}} field for each purpose. The answer? Create a second custom field to manage the personal work queue's position: {{{ [ticket-custom] position = text myposition = text queue = select queue.options = |Queues 1|Queue 2|Queue 3 }}} Now you can use the {{{position}}} field as before in the team work queues and the {{{myposition}}} field in the personal work queues using all of the techniques described above. So for instance, the personal work queue in this case may define the first column as {{{p.value as "My Position"}}}. Any uppercase letters are converted to lowercase and any spaces are removed in order to determine the correct field name. === Development work queue ''and'' Product Management work queue === The same principle described above for supporting team and personal work queues simultaneously can be used to enable work queues for multiple stakeholders by using separate {{{position}}} fields. So for example, Product Management may want to express their preferred order of work (beyond what a {{{priority}}} field permits) while the development team can creates report that shows Product Management's preferred ordering alongside their own ordering. Hopefully it's clear that many variants of this use case are also possible. == Tips == === Position padding === Whether or not you cast the {{position}}} field into an integer for report ordering, you still may want to pad your position numbers so that they sort correctly in any report or custom query in which they appear. You set this up globally in {{{trac.ini}}}: {{{ [queues] pad_length = 2 }}} A {{{pad_length}}} of {{{2}}} is the default. This means that position 1 will become position {{{01}}}, etc. Position 10 remains {{{10}}}, and 100 remains {{{100}}}. === Maximum position === Typically, the further down a queue you go, the less accurate the ordering becomes. This is natural. Which means that after a point, ordering doesn't really matter anymore. One way to help reinforce this is by defining a {{{max_position}}} value: {{{ [queues] max_position = 99 }}} A {{{max_position}}} of {{{99}}} is the default. This means that positions 100 and beyond will get set to position {{{99}} whenever they appear in a queue. === "Max items per page" === Trac automatically paginates reports longer than the defined "Max items per page". Depending on your usage of queues, you may want to either set this value lower (or higher) globally in {{{trac.ini}}}: {{{ [report] items_per_page = 100 }}} .. or bookmark reports setting {{{max=N}}} as desired. For example, seeing a long queue can be overwhelming to some, so you may want to encourage them to only look at the first 10 or 20 using this param/argument. However, note that queue reordering only works on the first page (it's disabled for subsequent pages). So if you need to reorder items on the second or third pages, increase the "Max items per page" argument as needed. === Enhanced user experience === Depending on how you use work queues, several complementary plugins may be beneficial to you: * DynamicVariablesPlugin - as described above, this converts dynamic variable textboxes into dropdown menus for those fields which are select fields. This can make navigating amongst queues much easier. * DynamicFieldsPlugin - allows you to clear the {{{position}}} field when the queue changes, for example, and hide the {{{myposition}}} field from general view - as just examples of how it can enhance the user experience of this queues plugin. * HideChangesPlugin - can hide ticket changes that do not have comments thus reducing the noise from queue reordering changes.* === *Auditing ticket reorderings === Changing the value of custom fields would normally cause a ticket change which would show up on the ticket. This may be just what you want to audit queue reorderings, however it can be quite noisy. So this plugin provides several different methods to audit queue reorderings that gets set in {{{trac.ini}}} as follows: {{{ [queues] audit = log }}} There are three valid values to the {{{audit}}} option: * {{{ticket}}} - normal ticket changes * {{{log}}} (default) - gets written to log file only (if enabled in {{{logging}}} sectipn) * {{{none}}} - no auditing at all Please note that the default audit option is {{{log}}}. It is recommended that you use and configure the HideChangesPlugin to hide commentless changes if you opt for the {{{ticket}}} auditing method. == Recent Changes == [[ChangeLog(queuesplugin, 3)]] == Author/Contributors == '''Author:''' [wiki:robguttman] [[BR]] '''Maintainer:''' [wiki:robguttman] [[BR]] '''Contributors:'''