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Automate work item state transitions

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Azure DevOps Services | Azure DevOps Server 2022 - Azure DevOps Server 2019

Automatically update the state of a work item according to the state of its child tasks. For example, if one task is changed to Doing, then the parent gets set to Doing. And if all tasks are in Closed state, then the parent gets Closed.

Rules are established at the team backlog level and are applicable to all work items at that specific level. You have the flexibility to establish these rules independently for each backlog level, including stories, features, and epics. For example, you can automate the closure of user stories, but keep features and epics open.

Important

Work item automation rules exclusively pertain to your team’s workflow on the backlog and boards. Other teams within your project can customize their own rules to align with their specific work processes.

Prerequisites

Set rules

Do the following steps to set team rules for each backlog level.

Note

Work items must belong to the same team; when you close a task in a different team or project, it doesn't trigger the closure of the parent item.

  1. Sign in to your project (https://dev.azure.com/{yourorganization}/{yourproject}).

  2. Select Boards > Backlogs > Configure team settings.

    Screenshot of selection process, Boards, Backlogs, and then Configure team settings.

  3. Check the applicable box(es), which triggers the parent work items on this backlog level, and then select Save.

    Screenshot of team automation rules settings page.

    Work item states are set to automatically transition when child items get updated on your backlog.

Rules applied to sprint board

These rules operate seamlessly, regardless of where you make updates to the child items, such as on the sprint board, for example.

Animation of demo of automation rules for sprintboard, drag and drop child task activates, and then closes the parent user story on the board.

Rules applied to the user stories backlog level

The following example shows the rules applied to the user stories backlog level.

Animation of demo of automation rules for simple workflow, closing a child task closes the parent user story on the backlog.

Rules applied to several backlog levels in sync

The following example shows the rules applied to several backlog levels in sync.

Animation of demo of automation rules applied to several backlog levels in sync, when you close all tasks, the parent user story closes, and when you close all user stories, their parent feature closes.

FAQs

For answers to the following frequently asked questions, see the FAQs:

  • Is there way to make the parent active when a child is active?
  • Why are my work items automatically changing state?
  • Why are the rules not triggering when I reactivate a child item?
  • Can I set automation rules per work item type or state?
  • Can I set up automation rules for user stories but not for features or epics?
  • Why are automation rules not working if the child or parent items belongs to a different team or project?