Why is the HTML markup now showing up in TFS web access?

Question

Hi everyone,

I am having a problem with one of the TFS Web Access fields. I was trying to convert the Symptom field from an HTML field to a plaintext field, so I went into the database, Field table, and changed the Type and New Type columns from '576' to '64'. I experienced some problems after I had done this, so I converted it back to '576'. But now, when text is typed into this field, it looks great in VS, but in the web access, all the HTML markup is being displayed along with the text.

Does anybody know why this is happening and, more importantly, how to fix it?

 

Thanks for your help.

Aaron

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Aaron Sellers

Answer 1

I just noticed that the HTML formatting toolbar is missing in the Web Access, but not in VS. So, for some reason, it looks like the Web Access thinks the field is NOT an HTML field. Not sure why because in the work item template, I am using the same field in both the Web and the Winforms Layout Targets.

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Aaron Sellers

Answer 2

Try resetting app pool of Web Access. Work item types are cached application wide. This might solve your issue.

Regards,

Serkan

Answer 3

I reset the App Pool, but it didn't fix the problem. :( Thanks anyway.

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Aaron Sellers

Answer 4

Aaron,

Add my two cents, you could try to rebuild Client Cache:

1. Run this command with elevate previlige: witadmin rebuildcache /collection:http://AdventureWorksServer:8080/AWTeam/Collection1
2. Reconnect to TFS with web access

Does this fix the problem?

Frankly speaking, modifying the TFS configuration database is way of hack, it is not suggested. Suggested way is to use the TFS Power Tool. You can customize work item template from Visual Studio after you install it.

[Edit] I'm referring to: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd273722.aspx

 

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Forrest Guo | MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 5

Hi, is there any update? I'll try my best to assist.

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Forrest Guo | MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 6

We tried the rebuildcache function of witadmin, but the Symptom field is still acting like a plain text field in webaccess and is still displaying the HTML markup along with the text.

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Aaron Sellers

Answer 7

OK. I try to get other people help on this question. Please wait some time.

Still, the idea is to restore the database you have modifed, then modify the workitem field with TFS Power Tool.

Best Regards,

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Forrest Guo | MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 8

Aaron,

 

You should delete that field and make it again using the supported tools, rather than editing the SQL back-end tables directly. Please use the Power Tools Process Editor as suggested, or the command line tools to delete and then recreate that field as the desired type. After you've done that, let us know if you need more help.

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Trevor Hancock (Microsoft)
Please remember to "Mark As Answer" the replies that help.

Answer 9

Aaron, do you still need help with this?

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Trevor Hancock (Microsoft)
Please remember to "Mark As Answer" the replies that help.

Answer 10

Thanks, Trevor. I will talk to my boss and see if he thinks this is a viable solution. I believe that by doing this we will lose all the info in that field in all the bugs that we have written up to date and I'm not sure this will work for us. If we do decide to go ahead with this, I'll update this thread.

Thanks again.

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Aaron Sellers

Answer 11

After talking with my boss, we have determined that deleting the field is not a viable option for us. We would lose all the Bug descriptions we have in the database currently. So if anybody else has an idea of how to get this working without having to delete the field, please let me know.

Thanks!

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Aaron Sellers

Answer 12

I found a solution to this problem. I went back into the TFS database to the Fields table and changed the Type and NewType columns to '64' again like I originally did and then immediately switched them back to '576' and then reimported the Bug template. When I opened a Bug again in the Web Access, the Symptom field had finally reverted back to being an HTML field and the HTML markup was now gone. :)

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Aaron Sellers