The Connector

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The Connector

The Connector is a Microsoft Project extension plug-in that will allow connection directly from Microsoft Project to Atlassian JIRA. Create a project plan using Microsoft Project and directly import tasks from JIRA. Use JIRA for task management and quickly and easily sync between the two systems. The Connector provides direct integration with Microsoft Project creating a JIRA toolbar right in Project. From this toolbar, you have access to a variety of JIRA functionality like importing, updating resource assignments, due dates and task descriptions.

The Connector is a Microsoft Project plug-in/extension that will allow for direct access to Atlassian JIRA. The extension works with Microsoft Project 2003 – Microsoft Project 2007 and Atlassian JIRA 3.6 and greater. The extension can be used in standard mode or extended mode. Using the standard mode, the plug-in accesses and uses the stock JIRA web services that are provided when JIRA is purchased. The extended version adds some additional functionality but requires the installation and configuration of Ecliptic Technologies custom JIRA web services. Using the extended mode, you can have The Connector update actual percentages complete of JIRA issues based on the time entered against an issue in JIRA, import and create sub-tasks, and exchange custom field data with JIRA and Microsoft Project.
Importing Issues
The Connector provides a powerful and flexible tool for importing issues from JIRA to Microsoft Project. Using the import wizard of The Connector, you can import issues from any JIRA project directly into Microsoft Project. A variety of importing filters and options are available to importing and grouping JIRA issues. Some of the options are listed below:
    • Import from multiple projects and JIRA filters
    • Save and reuse import profiles
    • Share import profiles with other team members or project managers
    • Import sub-tasks
    • Group imported issues
    • Sort imported issues
    • Filter by status, type, resolution and priority
    • Filter by version and components
    • And more…
Exchange Data between JIRA issues and Microsoft Project tasks
The Connector can exchange data with Microsoft Project and JIRA in both direction. The Connector provides three functions for this exchange.
  • Send To JIRA - Allows data from Microsoft Project to be sent to JIRA. Issues can be both updated and created.
  • Update From JIRA - Allows data from JIRA to be updated into Microsoft Project. Data like the worklogs and percentage complete of task in your plan can be updated.
  • Sync All - Provides a way to synchronize data in both directions in one step. You can send new tasks to JIRA and update values back to Microsoft Project.
Advanced mapping functionality allows you the ability to control what information is exchanged with JIRA giving flexibility for a wide variety of uses.
Direct Access to JIRA through a Microsoft Project toolbar
The Connector creates a custom toolbar inside Microsoft Project which allows quick and easy access to JIRA while you work on your project plan. Direct links to the JIRA issues from the Microsoft Project tasks allow you to quickly and easily look at information in both systems.
The Connector also creates an menu option on the main menu of Microsoft Project which allows access to all the functionality of The Connector.
 
Optimized Issue and Project Browsing
When JIRA has a large number of users, projects and issues, using the built in web services can be slow to load. Using the Ecliptic Technologies optimized browsing plugin for JIRA will provide much faster performance for browsing projects and issues in The Connector.
Populate Microsoft Project Task Hyperlink with the JIRA issue Link
An option on the configuration screen has been added to allow you to populate the Microsoft Project Task Hyperlink field with a link to the JIRA issue. Now, from the project task list, you can click the hyperlink and go directly to JIRA to view details about the issue.
Cache Project List In Memory
An option has been added to the configuration for caching the project list. Once the project list is loaded, it will be retrieved from memory each time you browse projects. This speeds up the user experience by eliminating the delay time of the round trip to JIRA.
Resource Creation Options
Resources from JIRA can now use a number of different options when importing and syncing between JIRA. The resource name in Microsoft Project can be the JIRA username or JIRA full name. An option has also been added to only assign a user if it exists in Microsoft Project. This will prevent unwanted resource entries from being created on your resource sheet.
Additional JIRA Fields
Support for additional JIRA fields have been added including Project ID, Environment, Components, Affects Versions, Fix Versions and Reporter. This information can now be edited through Microsoft Project and synced with JIRA.
 
 
 
Multiple Project Support
Version 1.0 of The Connector would allow only a single JIRA project to be used with each project plan. This restriction has been removed and now you can have tasks that are linked to issues in multiple JIRA projects.
Enhanced Importing Options
The import functionality is being improved to allow more flexibility for filtering the JIRA issues that are imported. You will be able to restrict by issue types, priorities, status and assigned/unassigned. Example: You will be able import all unassigned high priority bugs into your project plan or all open in-progress tasks.
Background Processing of JIRA Queries
The Project Browser and Issue Browser service calls has been placed on a background thread so the user interface no longer locks up when making long queries to JIRA. Also, long queries can be cancelled if needed.
Project Plan Dialog
A new option has been added to the toolbar for a ?Project Plan? dialog. This will give general information about the project plan such as the total number of issues, number of unassigned or uncreated issues, etc. It also provides a place to put a general comment about the project plan and a way to modify the initialization settings of a plan once it has been created.
Enhanced Issue Editor
The Issue Information dialog of version 1.0 has been replaced with an Issue Editor. This provides a much richer interface for making changes to the information associated with the task and provides a mechanism for setting components and versions.
Enhanced Issue Browser
The Issue Browser dialog has been enhanced to allow for background loading and canceling of long queries to JIRA. It also allows for filtering by issue type, status and priorities to speed up the process of finding the issue you need.
Group Updating
This new feature allows updating of a group of Project tasks at one time. Now you can select a group of tasks and change all their priorities, statuses, types or assigee at one time. This feature greatly reduces the amount of time necessary to update a large number of tasks.
The Connector System Requirements
The Connector is a Microsoft Project extension plug-in for Atlassian JIRA. To use The Connector, you must have the following software:
To take a trial and evaluate the software please contact us at sales@unitedaddins.com and we will be happy to arrange that for you.
NOTE: These videos require a Flash plug-in to play.
Using Custom Fields (click to view)
This demonstration video will explain how to use The Connector to exchange custom field information with JIRA.
Creating Issues (click to view)
This demonstration video will explain how to use The Connector to create JIRA issues from tasks that are in Microsoft Project.
Conditional Importing (click to view)
This demonstration video will show the conditional importing ability of The Connector allowing you more control over the issues you import into Microsoft Project.
Using the Issue Editor (click to view)
Version 1.1 has a new issue editor dialog that allows modification of much of JIRA's issue properties right from within Microsoft Project. Changes can be made in Project and updated to JIRA when desired.
Updating From JIRA (click to view)
This demonstration video will explain how to use The Connector to update your Microsoft Project task list using the built in mapping statuses. As JIRA issues get resolved and closed, your project plan gets updated to reflect those changes.
Creating Sub Tasks (click to view)
This demonstration video will show the ability of The Connector to create sub tasks in JIRA.
Group Updating (click to view)
This demonstration video shows the ease of using The Connector for updating groups of tasks at one time.
Using Multiple JIRA Projects (click to view)
This demonstration video will show the flexibility of The Connector by combining a single Microsoft Project plan with issues that span multiple JIRA projects.
Using Deadlines and Due Dates (click to view)
This demonstration video will explain using Microsoft Project's task deadline value for the JIRA issue due date.
Extended Worklog Usage (click to view)
This demonstration video will demonstrate the use of Ecliptic Technologies' extended worklog services that will calculate actual percentage complete of your issues.
Our Customers
The Connector is used by a growing number of JIRA users all around the globe. Our customers range from small organizations and non-profits to acedemic institutions and Fortune 500 companies.
Product
 
Price/USD
 
 
Single User (Includes 1 year free upgrades)
 
     $499.00 
 
 
3 User (Includes 1 year free upgrades)
 
     $1,299.00 
 
 
5 User (Includes 1 year free upgrades)
 
     $1,999.00 
 
 
10 User (Includes 1 year free upgrades)
 
     $2,999.00 
 
 
Site License (Includes 1 year free upgrades)
 
     $3,500.00 
 
 
Enterprise License (Includes 1 year free upgrades)
 
     $5,000.00 
 
Site License Allows for unlimited users at a single physical location.
Enterprise License Allows for unlimited users located at multiple physical locations.
For any questions on our product licensing, please contact sales@unitedaddins.com.