Set alerts, get notified when changes occur

As changes occur to work items, code reviews, source control files, and builds, you can receive email notifications for alerts that you define. For example, you can set an alert to be notified whenever a bug that you opened is resolved or a work item is assigned to you. You can set personal alerts or team alerts.

Note

The instructions in this topic require you to connect to TFS 2012 or a later version. If you have upgraded to VS 2012 and are connecting to TFS 2010 or an earlier version, then you may have to install Team Explorer 2010 side-by-side to manage alerts stored on TFS 2010.

Set alerts just for yourself

1. Open alerts management. If you don't see this option, then you must configure an SMTP server to support TFS.

   

2. Enter one or more email addresses. Separate addresses with a semi-colon.

   

3. Select the check box for each alert of interest.

   

   Tip

   When you clear an alert, you also clear all email addresses defined for the alert.

4. For more options, open custom alerts and choose one of the options available. Also, you can open a basic alert and modify its settings, such as changing the email format from HTML to plain text or SOAP.

   

5. Define alert filters in the same way you define query filters.

   

6. For even more options, open the Select New Alert Template.

   

7. Choose from one of the several alert types listed.

   

Set alerts for your team

1. Open team alerts from Manage TFS Alerts.

   

2. Expand the team and open Select New Alert Template.

   

3. Choose an alert type.

   

4. Notice how the subscriber is set to the team context.

   

You can set filters for as many as 20 different alert types, specify the email addresses for yourself and other team members, and select the delivery format. Also, you can set team alerts to keep all team members notified of important changes.

Related content

Monitor build progress using the build notification application.