I have just installed the new Power Tools.

Downloads:

• TFS Power Tools
• MSSCCI (Was not updated in this release)

Besides the fact that you will need to install the Power Tools both on the Client computers and on the Server nothing is changed in the installation.

It is important to have on the Application Tier the SQL Server Management Studio for the Backup and Restore functionality to run correctly, this feature is using it’s API to work.

So What Was Changed? These Four things:

1. We now have a Backup and Restore GUI in the TFS Administration Console so every one can now Backup and Restore in a few Clicks of a Mouse.
2. Clowning Build Definitions using the right click on the build definition and choosing “Clown Build Definition”
3. “Open With” option in Source Control that let you choose a program like “Notepad” for example when opening files
4. Ability to: Convert, Reparent, List and Update Branches.

Microsoft has added bug fixes to the installation so it is highly recommended to upgrade to this version of the Power Tools.

Note: I have also added the description of each of the existed functionality from the product site.

Have Fun!!!

Alerts Explorer

A plug-in to Visual Studio, Alerts Explorer provides a graphical user interface that supports flexible subscription of alerts based on check-in, work item change, or build completion.

Team Foundation Server Backups

New! The tool can schedule backups for the following databases that your deployment of Team Foundation Server uses:

• the configuration database
• the database for each team project collection
• the databases that Team Foundation Server uses in conjunction with SharePoint Products, if your deployment includes integration with SharePoint Products
• the databases that Team Foundation Server uses in conjunction with SQL Server Reporting Services, if your deployment includes reports

By using the restore wizard included with this tool, you can restore your entire deployment to new hardware, or selectively restore team project collections to an earlier point in time.

Microsoft Team Foundation Server 2010 Best Practices Analyzer

Updated! A diagnostic tool with a graphical user interface that you can use to perform the following actions:

• Verify that the deployment for Team Foundation Server is configured according to recommended best practices
• Identify the source of problems in an unhealthy deployment.
• Take a snapshot of the configuration of a deployment.
• Obtain usage data about the volume of data stored or accessed in the past 14 days. Includes specific information about database tables that have a tendency to grow and that may need to be reduced in size.

Custom Check-in Policy Pack

A supplemental set of four custom check-in policies to use to enforce software development practices during the check-in process.

Process Editor

An add-in to the Tools menu, the Process Editor provides a graphical user interface for editing Team Foundation Server process templates inside the Visual Studio IDE. This tool also provides a GUI for viewing the values assigned to all fields defined in a project collection.

Team Explorer Enhancements

Updated! This tool provides additional Visual Studio menu options and functions to support finding files under version control by status or wildcard, opening a folder using Windows Explorer from the Source Control Explorer context menu, and labeling files and folders in Source Control Explorer.

Team Foundation Power Tool (TFPT.EXE) Tool

Updated! A command line tool that you can use to work with files and directories under version control, team projects, and work items. Some commands display a graphical user interface when run.

Team Members

An add-in to Team Explorer, this tool allows you to organize users into sub-teams and access a number of collaborative tools, such as IM and email, sharing of queries and links, and downloading and installation of custom Team Foundation components.

Windows PowerShell Cmdlets for Visual Studio Team System Team Foundation Server

This tool provides a Windows PowerShell interface that supports basic version control commands and a pipeline and glue to enable scripting.

Windows Shell Extensions

This tool provides integration with Windows Explorer and the common file dialogs. With this integration, you can perform many source control operations without having to run Visual Studio or a Team Foundation command-line tool.

Work Item Templates

This tool provides an add-in to the Team menu and a folder under each team project node in Team Explorer. With this tool, you can create, apply, capture, set, and organize default work item templates.