What if I don't want to set the Project Timeline? What breaks?
I've seen several questions about the Project Timeline. I can't say I fully understand it's purpose based on the help text and other answers in this forum. My project area has multiple timelines. The only difference between the timelines is the length of the iterations. Therefore, no one timeline makes sense to be the ONE AND ONLY project timeline. The team areas that wish to manage work items must choose one of the defined timelines. Team areas that choose no timeline won't get to have any work items because I can control what categories they have available (which would be none). I have several such team areas and the purpose of their existence is only to have a dashboard where widgets, etc. can be added to show any information they are interested in from across the project area. Consider a high level management view for teams using different length iterations.
So, my question is... What breaks if I don't have a Project Timeline? It is certainly not required to have one defined. But, I have run into some problems because I don't have one defined. And I have been told that I should set a Project Timeline, i.e. to avoid the problem. Until someone can convince me that there is a true need for a Project Timeline, other than to avoid problems (what I believe are defects in the tool), I don't plan to do so. |
One answer
Geoffrey Clemm (30.1k●3●30●35)
| answered Feb 14 '14, 5:12 p.m.
FORUM ADMINISTRATOR / FORUM MODERATOR / JAZZ DEVELOPER
It's actually pretty simple. You are allowed to use the project area itself as a team area ... i.e. assign it some users with specific roles, assign work item categories to it, and have plans for it. In that case, the team that is using the project area as their team area need to have an assigned timeline. The Project Timeline is what specifies what timeline is used for the project area, when it is being used as a team area. Note that the main use case for having the project area be used as a team area is when you have only one team using the project area. In that case, it is often simplest to just use the project area itself as the team area for that team.
Comments
Nicholas Carbone
commented Feb 14 '14, 5:38 p.m.
Thanks for the quick response. When I look at it from that perspective, i.e. not requiring a team area, that makes perfect sense.
Geoffrey Clemm
commented Feb 14 '14, 6:27 p.m.
FORUM ADMINISTRATOR / FORUM MODERATOR / JAZZ DEVELOPER
If you aren't using your project area as a team area, it should make no difference whether or not you have the Project Timeline set. In particular, I'm aware of no problems you will run into leaving that unset, but also, I'm aware of no constraints you will run into if you set it (for example, when the Project Timeline is set you can still create a plan for the project area and select any iteration from any timeline.
+1 to Geoff's answer and comments.
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