Changes between Version 3 and Version 4 of TracWorkflow


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Feb 16, 2020, 12:18:22 PM (5 years ago)
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trac
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  • TracWorkflow

    v3 v4  
    1 = The Trac Ticket Workflow System =
     1= The Trac Ticket Workflow System
     2
     3[[PageOutline(2-5,Contents,pullout)]]
    24[[TracGuideToc]]
    3 
    4 The Trac issue database provides a configurable workflow.
    5 
    6 == The Default Ticket Workflow ==
    7 === Environments upgraded from 0.10 ===
    8 When you run `trac-admin <env> upgrade`, your `trac.ini` will be modified to include a `[ticket-workflow]` section.
    9 The workflow configured in this case is the original workflow, so that ticket actions will behave like they did in 0.10.
    10 
    11 Graphically, that looks like this:
    12 
    13 [[Image(htdocs:../common/guide/original-workflow.png)]]
    14 
    15 There are some significant "warts" in this; such as accepting a ticket sets it to 'assigned' state, and assigning a ticket sets it to 'new' state.  Perfectly obvious, right?
    16 So you will probably want to migrate to "basic" workflow; [trac:source:trunk/contrib/workflow/migrate_original_to_basic.py contrib/workflow/migrate_original_to_basic.py] may be helpful.
    17 
    18 === Environments created with 0.11 ===
    19 When a new environment is created, a default workflow is configured in your trac.ini.  This workflow is the basic workflow (described in `basic-workflow.ini`), which is somewhat different from the workflow of the 0.10 releases.
    20 
    21 Graphically, it looks like this:
    22 
    23 [[Image(htdocs:../common/guide/basic-workflow.png)]]
    24 
    25 == Additional Ticket Workflows ==
    26 
    27 There are several example workflows provided in the Trac source tree; look in [trac:source:trunk/contrib/workflow contrib/workflow] for `.ini` config sections.  One of those may be a good match for what you want. They can be pasted into the `[ticket-workflow]` section of your `trac.ini` file. However if you have existing tickets then there may be issues if those tickets have states that are not in the new workflow.
    28 
    29 Here are some [http://trac.edgewall.org/wiki/WorkFlow/Examples diagrams] of the above examples.
    30 
    31 == Basic Ticket Workflow Customization ==
    32 
    33 Note: Ticket "statuses" or "states" are not separately defined. The states a ticket can be in are automatically generated by the transitions defined in a workflow. Therefore, creating a new ticket state simply requires defining a state transition in the workflow that starts or ends with that state.
     5The Trac ticket system provides a configurable workflow.
     6
     7== The Default Ticket Workflow
     8
     9When a new environment is created, a default workflow is configured in your trac.ini. This workflow is the basic workflow, such as specified in [trac:source:/trunk/trac/ticket/workflows/basic-workflow.ini basic-workflow.ini]:
     10
     11{{{#!Workflow width=700 height=300
     12leave = * -> *
     13leave.operations = leave_status
     14leave.default = 1
     15
     16create = <none> -> new
     17create.default = 1
     18
     19create_and_assign = <none> -> assigned
     20create_and_assign.label = assign
     21create_and_assign.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
     22create_and_assign.operations = may_set_owner
     23
     24accept = new,assigned,accepted,reopened -> accepted
     25accept.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
     26accept.operations = set_owner_to_self
     27
     28resolve = new,assigned,accepted,reopened -> closed
     29resolve.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
     30resolve.operations = set_resolution
     31
     32reassign = new,assigned,accepted,reopened -> assigned
     33reassign.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
     34reassign.operations = set_owner
     35
     36reopen = closed -> reopened
     37reopen.permissions = TICKET_CREATE
     38reopen.operations = del_resolution
     39}}}
     40
     41== Additional Ticket Workflows
     42
     43There are example workflows provided in the Trac source tree, see [trac:source:trunk/contrib/workflow contrib/workflow] for `.ini` config sections. One of those may be a good match for what you want. They can be pasted into the `[ticket-workflow]` section of your `trac.ini` file. However, if you have existing tickets then there may be issues if those tickets have states that are not in the new workflow.
     44
     45Here are some [trac:WorkFlow/Examples diagrams] of the above examples.
     46
     47== Basic Ticket Workflow Customization
     48
     49'''Note''': Ticket "statuses" or "states" are not separately defined. The states a ticket can be in are automatically generated by the transitions defined in a workflow. Therefore, creating a new ticket state simply requires defining a state transition in the workflow that starts or ends with that state.
    3450
    3551Create a `[ticket-workflow]` section in `trac.ini`.
    3652Within this section, each entry is an action that may be taken on a ticket.
    3753For example, consider the `accept` action from `simple-workflow.ini`:
    38 {{{
     54
     55{{{#!ini
    3956accept = new,accepted -> accepted
    4057accept.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
    4158accept.operations = set_owner_to_self
    4259}}}
     60
    4361The first line in this example defines the `accept` action, along with the states the action is valid in (`new` and `accepted`), and the new state of the ticket when the action is taken (`accepted`).
    4462The `accept.permissions` line specifies what permissions the user must have to use this action.
     
    4664
    4765The available operations are:
    48  - del_owner -- Clear the owner field.
    49  - set_owner -- Sets the owner to the selected or entered owner.
    50    - ''actionname''`.set_owner` may optionally be set to a comma delimited list or a single value.
    51  - set_owner_to_self -- Sets the owner to the logged in user.
    52  - del_resolution -- Clears the resolution field
    53  - set_resolution -- Sets the resolution to the selected value.
    54    - ''actionname''`.set_resolution` may optionally be set to a comma delimited list or a single value. Example:
    55      {{{
     66- **del_owner** -- Clear the owner field.
     67- **set_owner** -- Sets the owner to the selected or entered owner. Defaults to the current user. When `[ticket] restrict_owner = true`, the select will be populated with users that have `TICKET_MODIFY` permission and an authenticated session.
     68 - ''actionname''`.set_owner` may optionally be set to a comma delimited list of users that will be used to populate the select, or a single user. Groups and permissions may also be included in the list //(Since 1.1.3)//. When groups or permissions are specified the select is populated with all members of the group or all users that possess the permission.
     69- **set_owner_to_self** -- Sets the owner to the logged in user.
     70- **may_set_owner** -- Sets the owner to the selected or entered owner. Defaults to the existing owner. //(Since 1.1.2)//.
     71- **del_resolution** -- Clears the resolution field.
     72- **set_resolution** -- Sets the resolution to the selected value.
     73 - ''actionname''`.set_resolution` may optionally be set to a comma delimited list or a single value. Example:
     74 {{{#!ini
    5675resolve_new = new -> closed
    57 resolve_new.name = resolve
     76resolve_new.label = resolve
    5877resolve_new.operations = set_resolution
    5978resolve_new.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
    6079resolve_new.set_resolution = invalid,wontfix
    61      }}}
    62  - leave_status -- Displays "leave as <current status>" and makes no change to the ticket.
    63 '''Note:''' Specifying conflicting operations (such as `set_owner` and `del_owner`) has unspecified results.
    64 
    65 {{{
     80}}}
     81- **leave_status** -- Displays "leave as <current status>" and makes no change to the ticket.
     82- **reset_workflow** -- Resets the status of tickets that are in states no longer defined.
     83'''Note:''' Specifying conflicting operations, such as `set_owner` and `del_owner`, has unspecified results.
     84
     85In this example, we see the `.label` attribute used. The action here is `resolve_accepted`, but it will be presented to the user as `resolve`:
     86
     87{{{#!ini
    6688resolve_accepted = accepted -> closed
    67 resolve_accepted.name = resolve
     89resolve_accepted.label = resolve
    6890resolve_accepted.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
    6991resolve_accepted.operations = set_resolution
    7092}}}
    7193
    72 In this example, we see the `.name` attribute used.  The action here is `resolve_accepted`, but it will be presented to the user as `resolve`.
    73 
    74 For actions that should be available in all states, `*` may be used in place of the state.  The obvious example is the `leave` action:
    75 {{{
     94In this example, we see the `.label` attribute used.  The action here is `resolve_accepted`, but it will be presented to the user as `resolve`. The `.label` attribute is new in Trac 1.1.3 and is functionally the same as the `.name` attribute, which is now deprecated. If neither `.label` or `.name` is specified, the action will be presented to the user as //resolve accepted//, the underscores having been replaced by whitespace (//Since 1.1.3//).
     95
     96For actions that should be available in all states, `*` may be used in place of the state. The obvious example is the `leave` action:
     97{{{#!ini
    7698leave = * -> *
    7799leave.operations = leave_status
    78100leave.default = 1
    79101}}}
    80 This also shows the use of the `.default` attribute.  This value is expected to be an integer, and the order in which the actions are displayed is determined by this value.  The action with the highest `.default` value is listed first, and is selected by default.  The rest of the actions are listed in order of decreasing `.default` values.
    81 If not specified for an action, `.default` is 0.  The value may be negative.
    82 
    83 There are a couple of hard-coded constraints to the workflow.  In particular, tickets are created with status `new`, and tickets are expected to have a `closed` state.  Further, the default reports/queries treat any state other than `closed` as an open state.
    84 
    85 While creating or modifying a ticket workfow, `contrib/workflow/workflow_parser.py` may be useful.  It can create `.dot` files that [http://www.graphviz.org GraphViz] understands to provide a visual description of the workflow.
    86 
    87 This can be done as follows (your install path may be different).
    88 {{{
     102
     103This also shows the use of the `.default` attribute. This value is expected to be an integer, and the order in which the actions are displayed is determined by this value. The action with the highest `.default` value is listed first, and is selected by default. The rest of the actions are listed in order of decreasing `.default` values.
     104If not specified for an action, `.default` is 0. The value may be negative.
     105
     106The ticket create actions are specified by a transition from the special `<none>` state. At least one create action must be available to the user in order for tickets to be created. The create actions defined in the default workflow are:
     107{{{#!ini
     108create = <none> -> new
     109create.default = 1
     110
     111create_and_assign = <none> -> assigned
     112create_and_assign.label = assign
     113create_and_assign.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
     114create_and_assign.operations = may_set_owner
     115}}}
     116
     117
     118There is one hard-coded constraints to the workflow: tickets are expected to have a `closed` state. The default reports/queries treat any state other than `closed` as an open state.
     119
     120The special `_reset` action is added by default for tickets that are in states that are no longer defined. This allows tickets to be individually "repaired" after the workflow is changed, although it's recommended that the administrator perform the action by batch modifying the affected tickets. By default the `_reset` action is available to users with the `TICKET_ADMIN` permission and reset tickets are put in the //new// state. The default `_reset` action is equivalent to the following `[ticket-workflow]` action definition:
     121
     122{{{#!ini
     123_reset = -> new
     124_reset.label = reset
     125_reset.operations = reset_workflow
     126_reset.permissions = TICKET_ADMIN
     127_reset.default = 0
     128}}}
     129
     130Since [trac:milestone:1.0.3] the `_reset` action can be customized by redefining the implicit action. For example, to allow anyone with `TICKET_MODIFY` to perform the `_reset` action, the workflow action would need to be defined:
     131
     132{{{#!ini
     133_reset = -> new
     134_reset.label = reset
     135_reset.operations = reset_workflow
     136_reset.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
     137_reset.default = 0
     138}}}
     139
     140== Workflow Visualization
     141
     142Workflows can be visualized by rendering them on the wiki using the [WikiMacros#Workflow-macro Workflow macro].
     143
     144Workflows can also be visualized using the `contrib/workflow/workflow_parser.py` script. The script outputs `.dot` files that [http://www.graphviz.org GraphViz] understands. The script can be used as follows (your install path may be different):
     145
     146{{{#!sh
    89147cd /var/local/trac_devel/contrib/workflow/
    90148sudo ./showworkflow /srv/trac/PlannerSuite/conf/trac.ini
    91149}}}
    92 And then open up the resulting `trac.pdf` file created by the script (it will be in the same directory as the `trac.ini` file).
    93 
    94 An online copy of the workflow parser is available at http://foss.wush.net/cgi-bin/visual-workflow.pl
    95 
    96 After you have changed a workflow, you need to restart apache for the changes to take effect. This is important, because the changes will still show up when you run your script, but all the old workflow steps will still be there until the server is restarted.
    97 
    98 == Example: Adding optional Testing with Workflow ==
    99 
    100 By adding the following to your [ticket-workflow] section of trac.ini you get optional testing.  When the ticket is in new, accepted or needs_work status you can choose to submit it for testing.  When it's in the testing status the user gets the option to reject it and send it back to needs_work, or pass the testing and send it along to closed.  If they accept it then it gets automatically marked as closed and the resolution is set to fixed.  Since all the old work flow remains, a ticket can skip this entire section.
    101 
    102 {{{
     150And then open up the resulting `trac.pdf` file created by the script. It will be in the same directory as the `trac.ini` file.
     151
     152After you have changed a workflow, you need to restart your webserver for the changes to take effect.
     153
     154== Example: Adding optional Testing with Workflow
     155
     156By adding the following to your [ticket-workflow] section of trac.ini you get optional testing. When the ticket has status `new`, `accepted` or `needs_work`, you can choose to submit it for testing.  When it's in the testing status the user gets the option to reject it and send it back to `needs_work`, or pass the testing and send it along to `closed`. If they accept it, then it is automatically marked as `closed` and the resolution is set to `fixed`. Since all the old work flow remains, a ticket can skip this entire section.
     157
     158{{{#!ini
    103159testing = new,accepted,needs_work,assigned,reopened -> testing
    104 testing.name = Submit to reporter for testing
     160testing.label = Submit to reporter for testing
    105161testing.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
    106162
    107163reject = testing -> needs_work
    108 reject.name = Failed testing, return to developer
     164reject.label = Failed testing, return to developer
    109165
    110166pass = testing -> closed
    111 pass.name = Passes Testing
     167pass.label = Passes Testing
    112168pass.operations = set_resolution
    113169pass.set_resolution = fixed
    114170}}}
    115171
    116 === How to combine the `tracopt.ticket.commit_updater` with the testing workflow ===
     172=== How to combine the `tracopt.ticket.commit_updater` with the testing workflow
    117173
    118174The [[trac:source:trunk/tracopt/ticket/commit_updater.py|tracopt.ticket.commit_updater]] is the optional component that [[TracRepositoryAdmin#trac-post-commit-hook|replaces the old trac-post-commit-hook]], in Trac 0.12.
     
    124180Have a look at the [[trac:wiki:0.11/TracWorkflow#How-ToCombineSVNtrac-post-commit-hookWithTestWorkflow|Trac 0.11 recipe]] for the `trac-post-commit-hook`, this will give you some ideas about how to modify the component.
    125181
    126 == Example: Add simple optional generic review state ==
     182== Example: Add simple optional generic review state
    127183
    128184Sometimes Trac is used in situations where "testing" can mean different things to different people so you may want to create an optional workflow state that is between the default workflow's `assigned` and `closed` states, but does not impose implementation-specific details. The only new state you need to add for this is a `reviewing` state. A ticket may then be "submitted for review" from any state that it can be reassigned. If a review passes, you can re-use the `resolve` action to close the ticket, and if it fails you can re-use the `reassign` action to push it back into the normal workflow.
     
    130186The new `reviewing` state along with its associated `review` action looks like this:
    131187
    132 {{{
     188{{{#!ini
    133189review = new,assigned,reopened -> reviewing
    134190review.operations = set_owner
     
    136192}}}
    137193
    138 Then, to integrate this with the default Trac 0.11 workflow, you also need to add the `reviewing` state to the `accept` and `resolve` actions, like so:
    139 
    140 {{{
     194Then, to integrate this with the default Trac 0.11 workflow, you also need to add the `reviewing` state to the `accept` and `resolve` actions:
     195
     196{{{#!ini
    141197accept = new,reviewing -> assigned
    142198[…]
     
    144200}}}
    145201
    146 Optionally, you can also add a new action that allows you to change the ticket's owner without moving the ticket out of the `reviewing` state. This enables you to reassign review work without pushing the ticket back to the `new` status.
    147 
    148 {{{
     202Optionally, you can also add a new action that allows you to change the ticket's owner without moving the ticket out of the `reviewing` state. This enables you to reassign review work without pushing the ticket back to the `new` status:
     203
     204{{{#!ini
    149205reassign_reviewing = reviewing -> *
    150 reassign_reviewing.name = reassign review
     206reassign_reviewing.label = reassign review
    151207reassign_reviewing.operations = set_owner
    152208reassign_reviewing.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
     
    155211The full `[ticket-workflow]` configuration will thus look like this:
    156212
    157 {{{
     213{{{#!ini
    158214[ticket-workflow]
     215create = <none> -> new
     216create.default = 1
     217create_and_assign = <none> -> assigned
     218create_and_assign.label = assign
     219create_and_assign.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
     220create_and_assign.operations = may_set_owner
    159221accept = new,reviewing -> assigned
    160222accept.operations = set_owner_to_self
     
    177239reassign_reviewing = reviewing -> *
    178240reassign_reviewing.operations = set_owner
    179 reassign_reviewing.name = reassign review
     241reassign_reviewing.label = reassign review
    180242reassign_reviewing.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
    181243}}}
    182244
    183 == Example: Limit the resolution options for a new ticket ==
    184 
    185 The above resolve_new operation allows you to set the possible resolutions for a new ticket.  By modifying the existing resolve action and removing the new status from before the `->` we then get two resolve actions. One with limited resolutions for new tickets, and then the regular one once a ticket is accepted.
    186 
    187 {{{
     245== Example: Limit the resolution options for a new ticket
     246
     247The above `resolve_new` operation allows you to set the possible resolutions for a new ticket. By modifying the existing resolve action and removing the new status from before the `->` we then get two resolve actions. One with limited resolutions for new tickets, and then the regular one once a ticket is accepted.
     248
     249{{{#!ini
    188250resolve_new = new -> closed
    189 resolve_new.name = resolve
     251resolve_new.label = resolve
    190252resolve_new.operations = set_resolution
    191253resolve_new.permissions = TICKET_MODIFY
     
    197259}}}
    198260
    199 == Advanced Ticket Workflow Customization ==
    200 
    201 If the customization above is not extensive enough for your needs, you can extend the workflow using plugins.  These plugins can provide additional operations for the workflow (like code_review), or implement side-effects for an action (such as triggering a build) that may not be merely simple state changes.  Look at [trac:source:trunk/sample-plugins/workflow sample-plugins/workflow] for a few simple examples to get started.
     261== Advanced Ticket Workflow Customization
     262
     263If the customizations above do not meet your needs, you can extend the workflow with plugins. Plugins can provide additional operations for the workflow, like code_review, or implement side-effects for an action, such as triggering a build, that may not be merely simple state changes. Look at [trac:source:trunk/sample-plugins/workflow sample-plugins/workflow] for a few examples to get started.
    202264
    203265But if even that is not enough, you can disable the !ConfigurableTicketWorkflow component and create a plugin that completely replaces it.
    204266
    205 == Adding Workflow States to Milestone Progress Bars ==
    206 
    207 If you add additional states to your workflow, you may want to customize your milestone progress bars as well.  See [TracIni#milestone-groups-section TracIni].
    208 
    209 == some ideas for next steps ==
    210 
    211 New enhancement ideas for the workflow system should be filed as enhancement tickets against the `ticket system` component.  If desired, add a single-line link to that ticket here.  Also look at the [http://trac-hacks.org/wiki/AdvancedTicketWorkflowPlugin AdvancedTicketWorkflowPlugin] as it provides experimental operations.
    212 
    213 If you have a response to the comments below, create an enhancement ticket, and replace the description below with a link to the ticket.
    214 
    215  * the "operation" could be on the nodes, possible operations are:
    216    * '''preops''': automatic, before entering the state/activity
    217    * '''postops''': automatic, when leaving the state/activity
    218    * '''actions''': can be chosen by the owner in the list at the bottom, and/or drop-down/pop-up together with the default actions of leaving the node on one of the arrows.
    219 ''This appears to add complexity without adding functionality; please provide a detailed example where these additions allow something currently impossible to implement.''
    220 
    221  * operations could be anything: sum up the time used for the activity, or just write some statistical fields like
    222 ''A workflow plugin can add an arbitrary workflow operation, so this is already possible.''
    223 
    224  * set_actor should be an operation allowing to set the owner, e.g. as a "preop":
    225    * either to a role, a person
    226    * entered fix at define time, or at run time, e.g. out of a field, or select.
    227 ''This is either duplicating the existing `set_owner` operation, or needs to be clarified.''
    228 
    229  * Actions should be selectable based on the ticket type (different Workflows for different tickets)
    230 ''Look into the [http://trac-hacks.org/wiki/AdvancedTicketWorkflowPlugin AdvancedTicketWorkflowPlugin]'s `triage` operation.''
    231 
    232  * I'd wish to have an option to perform automatic status changes. In my case, I do not want to start with "new", but with "assigned". So tickets in state "new" should automatically go into state "assigned". Or is there already a way to do this and I just missed it?
    233 ''Have a look at [http://trac-hacks.org/wiki/TicketCreationStatusPlugin TicketCreationStatusPlugin] and [http://trac-hacks.org/wiki/TicketConditionalCreationStatusPlugin TicketConditionalCreationStatusPlugin]''
    234 
    235  * I added a 'testing' state. A tester can close the ticket or reject it. I'd like the transition from testing to rejected to set the owner to the person that put the ticket in 'testing'. The [http://trac-hacks.org/wiki/AdvancedTicketWorkflowPlugin AdvancedTicketWorkflowPlugin] is close with set_owner_to_field, but we need something like set_field_to_owner.
    236 
    237  * I'd like to track the time a ticket is in each state, adding up 'disjoints' intervals in the same state.
     267== Adding Workflow States to Milestone Progress Bars
     268
     269If you add additional states to your workflow, you may want to customize your milestone progress bars as well. See [TracIni#milestone-groups-section TracIni].
     270
     271== Ideas for next steps
     272
     273Enhancement ideas for the workflow system should be filed as enhancement tickets against the [trac:query:?status=assigned&status=new&status=reopened&keywords=~workflow&component=ticket+system ticket system] component.  You can also document ideas on the [trac:TracIdeas/TracWorkflow TracIdeas/TracWorkflow] page. Also look at the [http://trac-hacks.org/wiki/AdvancedTicketWorkflowPlugin AdvancedTicketWorkflowPlugin] as it provides experimental operations.