Getting Started

Getting Started

This guide will help you install and configure Effort Tracker for your Azure DevOps organization.

Prerequisites

• Azure DevOps Services (cloud) or Azure DevOps Server 2019+
• Organization administrator access for installation
• Project Collection Administrator or Project Administrator role

Installation

Step 1: Install from Marketplace

1. Navigate to the Visual Studio Marketplace
2. Search for "Effort Tracker" by Sinaware
3. Click Get it free
4. Select your Azure DevOps organization
5. Click Install

Installing Effort Tracker from the Visual Studio Marketplace

Step 2: Verify Installation

After installation, verify that the extension is working:

1. Open any work item in Azure Boards
2. You should see a new Effort tab on the work item form

The Effort tab appears on work item forms after installation

Step 3: Initialize Your Organization

The first time you use Effort Tracker, it will automatically initialize your organization's data tables. This happens automatically when you:

1. Open the Effort tab on a work item
2. Navigate to any Effort Tracker hub

Extension Hubs

After installation, you'll have access to these hubs under Boards:

Hub	Location	Purpose
Effort	Work Item Form Tab	Log and view effort on individual work items
Reports	Boards > Effort Reports	Query and export effort data
Settings	Project Settings > Effort Tracker	Manage activity types
Organization Settings	Organization Settings > Effort Tracker	License and org-wide settings

Effort Tracker hubs in the Azure DevOps navigation

First Steps

1. Configure Activity Types (Optional)

Before logging effort, you may want to customize the activity types for your project:

1. Go to Project Settings > Effort Tracker
2. Add, edit, or remove activity types
3. Set display order as needed

See Admin Guide - Activity Types for details.

2. Log Your First Effort Entry

1. Open any work item
2. Click the Effort tab
3. Fill in the form:
   • Date: When the work was done
   • Hours: Time spent (supports decimals like 1.5)
   • Activity Type: Select from dropdown
   • Notes: Optional description
4. Click Add

Logging your first effort entry

Next Steps

• User Guide - Learn how to log and manage effort entries
• Reports Guide - Query and export effort data
• Admin Guide - Configure project settings