1---2name: azure-boards-23description: Expert knowledge for Azure Boards development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. Use when configuring Boards processes, Kanban/WIP, GitHub/Excel integrations, WIQL queries, or permissions, and other Azure Boards related development tasks. Not for Azure DevOps (use azure-devops), Azure Pipelines (use azure-pipelines), Azure Repos (use azure-repos), Azure Test Plans (use azure-test-plans).4---5# Azure Boards Skill
6
7This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Boards. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.
8
9## How to Use This Skill
10
11> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: Use the **Category Index** below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., `L35-L120`), use `read_file` with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., `[security.md](security.md)`), use `read_file` on the linked reference file
12
13> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: If `metadata.generated_at` is more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. If `mcp_microsoftdocs` tools are not available, suggest the user install it: [Installation Guide](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp/blob/main/README.md)
14
15This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:
16- **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill`. Returns Markdown.
17- **Fallback**: Use `fetch_webpage` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown`. Returns Markdown.
18
19## Category Index
20
21| Category | Lines | Description |
22|----------|-------|-------------|
23| Troubleshooting | L35-L43 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure Boards + Excel/Office integration issues (sync, add-in, connection, mapping) and resolving backlog nesting/reordering errors. |
24| Best Practices | L44-L52 | Guidance on agile planning with Azure Boards: Kanban usage, WIP limits, scalable Agile patterns, and sprint/Scrum setup and execution best practices. |
25| Decision Making | L53-L60 | Guidance on choosing Azure Boards processes, tools, and integrations, plus planning cross-team dependencies and migrations to get the right setup for your organization. |
26| Limits & Quotas | L61-L66 | Managing Azure Boards limits for test artifacts and work item attachments, including size/quantity constraints and how to restore deleted test-related items. |
27| Security | L67-L73 | Managing Azure Boards security: default permissions, configuring query/folder access, and setting access controls and policies to protect work items and boards. |
28| Configuration | L74-L87 | Configuring Azure Boards processes, fields, and Kanban WIP limits, and integrating Boards with GitHub (repos, badges, GitHub Enterprise) plus using queries and work item field references. |
29| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L88-L96 | Connecting Azure Boards to Excel, GitHub (artifacts & Copilot), Slack, Teams, and writing WIQL queries for integrated work item tracking workflows |
30
31### Troubleshooting
32| Topic | URL |
33|-------|-----|
34| Resolve common Excel and Azure Boards integration questions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/office/faqs?view=azure-devops |
35| Troubleshoot Azure DevOps Office integration issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/office/tfs-office-integration-issues?view=azure-devops |
36| Troubleshoot Azure DevOps Office integration issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/office/tfs-office-integration-issues?view=azure-devops |
37| Troubleshoot Azure DevOps Office integration issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/office/tfs-office-integration-issues?view=azure-devops |
38| Fix Azure Boards backlog nesting and reorder errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/resolve-backlog-reorder-issues?view=azure-devops |
39
40### Best Practices
41| Topic | URL |
42|-------|-----|
43| Apply Azure Boards agile product management practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/best-practices-agile-project-management?view=azure-devops |
44| Use Azure Boards Kanban boards effectively | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/boards/kanban-overview?view=azure-devops |
45| Configure and tune WIP limits in Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/boards/wip-limits?view=azure-devops |
46| Apply scalable Agile practices in Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/plans/practices-that-scale?view=azure-devops |
47| Apply sprint and Scrum best practices in Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/sprints/best-practices-scrum?view=azure-devops |
48
49### Decision Making
50| Topic | URL |
51|-------|-----|
52| Plan cross-team dependencies with Dependency Tracker | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/extensions/dependency-tracker?view=azure-devops |
53| Select migration and integration options for Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/extensions/migrate-integrate?view=azure-devops |
54| Choose Azure Boards tools for cross-team visibility | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/plans/visibility-across-teams?view=azure-devops |
55| Choose the right Azure Boards process template | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/guidance/choose-process?view=azure-devops |
56
57### Limits & Quotas
58| Topic | URL |
59|-------|-----|
60| Manage and restore deleted Azure Boards test artifacts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/delete-test-artifacts?view=azure-devops |
61| Manage Azure Boards work item attachments and limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/manage-attachments?view=azure-devops |
62
63### Security
64| Topic | URL |
65|-------|-----|
66| Understand default permissions and access in Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/get-started/permissions-access-boards?view=azure-devops |
67| Configure permissions for Azure Boards queries and folders | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/queries/set-query-permissions?view=azure-devops |
68| Secure Azure Boards with access controls and policies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/secure-your-azure-boards?view=azure-devops |
69
70### Configuration
71| Topic | URL |
72|-------|-----|
73| Configure and customize Azure Boards processes and boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/configure-customize?view=azure-devops |
74| Add Azure Boards status badges to GitHub repos | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/configure-status-badges?view=azure-devops |
75| Configure on-premises Azure DevOps with GitHub Enterprise | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/connect-on-premises-to-github?view=azure-devops-server |
76| Connect Azure Boards projects to GitHub repositories | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/connect-to-github?view=azure-devops |
77| Configure Azure Boards GitHub app connections | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/install-github-app?view=azure-devops |
78| Use Azure Boards query fields, operators, and macros | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/queries/query-operators-variables?view=azure-devops |
79| Track bugs, issues, and risks fields in CMMI process | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/guidance/cmmi/guidance-bugs-issues-risks-field-reference-cmmi?view=azure-devops |
80| Use code review and feedback fields in Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/guidance/guidance-code-review-feedback-field-reference?view=azure-devops |
81| Reference Agile and Scrum work item fields in Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/guidance/work-item-field?view=azure-devops |
82| Configure and manage Azure Boards work item fields | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/work-item-fields?view=azure-devops |
83
84### Integrations & Coding Patterns
85| Topic | URL |
86|-------|-----|
87| Connect Azure Boards work tracking with Excel | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/office/track-work?view=azure-devops |
88| Integrate Azure Boards work items with GitHub artifacts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/link-to-from-github?view=azure-devops |
89| Integrate GitHub Copilot with Azure Boards work items | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/work-item-integration-github-copilot?view=azure-devops |
90| Integrate Azure Boards with Slack channels | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/integrations/boards-slack?view=azure-devops |
91| Use Azure Boards with Microsoft Teams channels | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/integrations/boards-teams?view=azure-devops |
92| Use WIQL syntax for Azure Boards queries | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/queries/wiql-syntax?view=azure-devops |
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