Set current Sprint or close existing sprint in Visual Studio Team Services (was TFS Online)

TFS can be very confusing when it comes to sprint ends.

I have found that the best way to make it work is to ensure that you have several sprints configured, with the end date of one being followed the day after by the start date of the next.

If there is a gap between the sprint dates then the previous sprint stays 'current' up until the day on which the next sprint starts.

So something like this:

Sprint 1: 8th June - 21st June

Sprint 2: 22nd June - 5th July

Sprint 3: 6th July - 19th July

Note that there is no manual way to close a sprint. You have to do it with the dates.

I start a new iteration also automated via the start date. The old iteration remains marked as Current until the start date of the next iteration is reached.

• Iteration 1: 8th June - 21st June
• Iteration 2: 22nd June - 5th July

The Items are moved manually from Iteration 1 to Iteration 2.

Further Iteration settings in VSTS can be found in the current VSTS design under

• Project settings > Work > Team configuration > Iterations

Note: Each iteration will have a backlog and board.

In the VSTS web app:

1. Click on the project/team combo (upper left corner).
2. Click on the gear (blue bar).
3. Click the "Work" tab.
4. Add an iteration (if you don't already have the new one created).
5. Under "Backlog iteration", press "Change" and select the desired iteration.
6. Profit.

An even faster way is to change the ending of the VSTS URL to:

%20Team/_admin/_work?_a=iterations