Mercurial > p > roundup > code
diff doc/user_guide.txt @ 1661:b9c1226cb600
Reflowed text to 72 cols...
...made leading whitespace before headings consistent, and got rid of
references to <display> and <property>.
| author | Jean Jordaan <neaj@users.sourceforge.net> |
|---|---|
| date | Mon, 16 Jun 2003 15:27:15 +0000 |
| parents | 7b680b906417 |
| children | 67e530e2a0ae |
line wrap: on
line diff
--- a/doc/user_guide.txt Tue Jun 10 23:01:07 2003 +0000 +++ b/doc/user_guide.txt Mon Jun 16 15:27:15 2003 +0000 @@ -2,27 +2,30 @@ User Guide ========== -:Version: $Revision: 1.22 $ +:Version: $Revision: 1.23 $ .. contents:: -Note: this document will refer to *issues* as the primary store of information -in the tracker. This is the default of the classic template, bubt may vary in -any given installation. +Note: this document will refer to *issues* as the primary store of +information in the tracker. This is the default of the classic template, +but may vary in any given installation. + Your Tracker in a Nutshell ========================== -Your tracker holds information about issues in bundles we call *items*. An -item may be an *issue* (a bug or feature request) or a *user*. The issue-ness or -user-ness is called the item's *class*. So, for bug reports and features, the -class is "issue", and for users the class is "user". +Your tracker holds information about issues in bundles we call *items*. +An item may be an *issue* (a bug or feature request) or a *user*. The +issue-ness or user-ness is called the item's *class*. So, for bug +reports and features, the class is "issue", and for users the class is +"user". -Each item in the tracker has an id number that identifies it along with its -item class. To identify a particular issue or user, we combine the class with -the number to create a unique label, so that user 1 (who, incidentally, is -*always* the "admin" user) is referred to as "user1". Issue number 315 is -referred to as "issue315". We call that label the item's *designator*. +Each item in the tracker has an id number that identifies it along with +its item class. To identify a particular issue or user, we combine the +class with the number to create a unique label, so that user 1 (who, +incidentally, is *always* the "admin" user) is referred to as "user1". +Issue number 315 is referred to as "issue315". We call that label the +item's *designator*. Accessing the Tracker @@ -34,8 +37,8 @@ 2. through the `e-mail gateway`_, or 3. using the `command line tool`_. -The last is usually only used by administrators. Most users will use the web -and email interfaces. All three are explained below. +The last is usually only used by administrators. Most users will use the +web and email interfaces. All three are explained below. Issue life cycles in Roundup @@ -43,23 +46,23 @@ New issues may be submitted via the web or email. -By default, the issue will have the status "unread". If another message is -received for the issue, its status will change to "chatting". +By default, the issue will have the status "unread". If another message +is received for the issue, its status will change to "chatting". -The "home" page for a tracker will generally display all issues which are -not "resolved. +The "home" page for a tracker will generally display all issues which +are not "resolved. -If an issue is closed, and a new message is received then it'll be reopened -to the state of "chatting". +If an issue is closed, and a new message is received then it'll be +reopened to the state of "chatting". Entering values in your Tracker ------------------------------- -All interfaces to your tracker use the same format for entering values. This -means the web interface for entering a new issue, the web interface for -searching issues, the email interface and even the command-line administration -tool. +All interfaces to your tracker use the same format for entering values. +This means the web interface for entering a new issue, the web interface +for searching issues, the email interface and even the command-line +administration tool. String and Numeric properties @@ -81,14 +84,14 @@ Fields like "Assigned To" and "Topics" hold references to items in other classes ("user" and "keyword" in those two cases.) -Sometimes, the selection is done through a menu, like in the "Assigned To" -field. +Sometimes, the selection is done through a menu, like in the "Assigned +To" field. Where the input is not a simple menu selection, we use a comma-separated list of values to indicated which values of "user" or "keyword" are -interesting. The values may be either numeric ids or the -names of items. The special value "-1" may be used to match items where the -property is not set. For example, the following searches on the issues: +interesting. The values may be either numeric ids or the names of items. +The special value "-1" may be used to match items where the property is +not set. For example, the following searches on the issues: ``assignedto=richard,george`` match issues which are assigned to richard or george. @@ -109,15 +112,16 @@ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Some fields in the search page (e.g. "Activity" or "Creation date") hold -dates. A plain date entered as a search field will match that date exactly -in the database. We may also accept ranges of dates. You can specify range -of dates in one of two formats: +dates. A plain date entered as a search field will match that date +exactly in the database. We may also accept ranges of dates. You can +specify range of dates in one of two formats: 1. English syntax:: [From <value>][To <value>] - Keywords "From" and "To" are case insensitive. Keyword "From" is optional. + Keywords "From" and "To" are case insensitive. Keyword "From" is + optional. 2. "Geek" syntax:: @@ -131,7 +135,8 @@ Searching of "-2m; -1m" on activity field gives you issues which were active between period of time since 2 months up-till month ago. -Other possible examples (consider local time is Sat Mar 8 22:07:48 2003):: +Other possible examples (consider local time is Sat Mar 8 22:07:48 +2003):: >>> Range("from 2-12 to 4-2") <Range from 2003-02-12.00:00:00 to 2003-04-02.00:00:00> @@ -169,9 +174,9 @@ Web Interface ============= -Note: this document contains screenshots of the default look and feel. Your -site may have a slightly (or very) different look, but the functionality will -be very similar, and the concepts still hold. +Note: this document contains screenshots of the default look and feel. +Your site may have a slightly (or very) different look, but the +functionality will be very similar, and the concepts still hold. The web interface is broken up into the following parts: @@ -183,9 +188,9 @@ Lists of Items -------------- -The first thing you'll see when you log into Roundup will be a list of open -(ie. not resolved) issues. This list has been generated by a bunch of controls -`under the covers`_ but for now, you can see something like: +The first thing you'll see when you log into Roundup will be a list of +open (ie. not resolved) issues. This list has been generated by a bunch +of controls `under the covers`_ but for now, you can see something like: .. img: images/index_logged_out.png @@ -201,8 +206,8 @@ .. img: images/index_logged_in.png -Note that the sidebar menu has changed slightly, so you can now get to your -"My Details" page: +Note that the sidebar menu has changed slightly, so you can now get to +your "My Details" page: .. img: images/my_details.png @@ -212,14 +217,13 @@ Display, edit or entry of an item --------------------------------- -Create a new issue with "create new" under the issue subheading. This will -take you to: +Create a new issue with "create new" under the issue subheading. This +will take you to: .. img: images/new_issue.png -The `nosy list`_ is explained below. -Enter some information and click "submit new entry" and you'll be rewarded -with: +The `nosy list`_ is explained below. Enter some information and click +"submit new entry" and you'll be rewarded with: .. img: images/new_issue_created.png @@ -232,33 +236,34 @@ Searching Page -------------- -See `entering values in your tracker`_ for an explanation of what you may -type into the search form. +See `entering values in your tracker`_ for an explanation of what you +may type into the search form. Under the covers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -The searching page converts your selections into the following arguments: +The searching page converts your selections into the following +arguments: ========== ============================================================= Argument Description ========== ============================================================= -:sort sort by prop name, optionally preceeded with '-' - to give descending or nothing for ascending sorting. -:group group by prop name, optionally preceeded with '-' or - to sort in descending or nothing for ascending order. +:sort sort by prop name, optionally preceeded with '-' to give + descending or nothing for ascending sorting. +:group group by prop name, optionally preceeded with '-' or to sort + in descending or nothing for ascending order. :filter selects which props should be displayed in the filter section. Default is all. -:columns selects the columns that should be displayed. - Default is all. -propname selects the values the item properties given by propname - must have (very basic search/filter). +:columns selects the columns that should be displayed. Default is + all. +propname selects the values the item properties given by propname must + have (very basic search/filter). ========== ============================================================= -You may manually write URLS that contain these arguments, like so (whitespace -has been added for clarity):: +You may manually write URLS that contain these arguments, like so +(whitespace has been added for clarity):: /issue?status=unread,in-progress,resolved& topic=security,ui& @@ -271,8 +276,9 @@ Access Controls --------------- -User access is controlled through Permissions. These are are grouped into -Roles, and users have a comma-separated list of Roles assigned to them. +User access is controlled through Permissions. These are are grouped +into Roles, and users have a comma-separated list of Roles assigned to +them. Permissions divide access controls up into answering questions like: @@ -280,8 +286,8 @@ - is the user allowed to use the web interface ("Web Access") - may the user edit other user's Roles through the web ("Web Roles") -Any number of new Permissions and Roles may be created as described in the -customisation documentation. Examples of new access controls are: +Any number of new Permissions and Roles may be created as described in +the customisation documentation. Examples of new access controls are: - only managers may sign off issues as complete - don't give users who register through email web access @@ -298,6 +304,7 @@ 3. `e-mail message content`_ which is to be extracted 4. e-mail attachments which should be associated with the message + Subject-line information ------------------------ @@ -307,31 +314,36 @@ 2. the type of item the message should create, or 3. we default the item class and try some trickiness -If the subject line contains a prefix in ``[square brackets]`` then we're -looking at case 1 or 2 above. Note that any "re:" or "fwd:" prefixes are -stripped off the subject line before we start looking for real information. +If the subject line contains a prefix in ``[square brackets]`` then +we're looking at case 1 or 2 above. Note that any "re:" or "fwd:" +prefixes are stripped off the subject line before we start looking for +real information. -If an item designator (class name and id number, for example ``issue123``) -is found there, a new "msg" item is added to the "messages" property for -that item, and any new "file" items are added to the "files" property for -the item. +If an item designator (class name and id number, for example +``issue123``) is found there, a new "msg" item is added to the +"messages" property for that item, and any new "file" items are added to +the "files" property for the item. -If just an item class name is found there, we attempt to create a new item of -that class with its "messages" property initialized to contain the new "msg" -item and its "files" property initialized to contain any new "file" items. +If just an item class name is found there, we attempt to create a new +item of that class with its "messages" property initialized to contain +the new "msg" item and its "files" property initialized to contain any +new "file" items. -The third case above - where no ``[information]`` is provided, the tracker's -``MAIL_DEFAULT_CLASS`` configuration variable defines what class of item -the message relates to. We try to match the subject line to an existing -item of the default class, and if there's a match, the message is related to -that matched item. If not, then a new item of the default class is created. +The third case above - where no ``[information]`` is provided, the +tracker's ``MAIL_DEFAULT_CLASS`` configuration variable defines what +class of item the message relates to. We try to match the subject line +to an existing item of the default class, and if there's a match, the +message is related to that matched item. If not, then a new item of the +default class is created. + Setting Properties ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -The e-mail interface also provides a simple way to set properties on items. At -the end of the subject line, propname=value pairs can be specified in square -brackets, using the same conventions as for the roundup set shell command. +The e-mail interface also provides a simple way to set properties on +items. At the end of the subject line, propname=value pairs can be +specified in square brackets, using the same conventions as for the +roundup set shell command. For example, @@ -351,17 +363,17 @@ Subject: Re: [issue2] we're out of widgets [nosy=-richard;priority=bug] -In all cases, the message relates to issue 2. The ``Re:`` prefix is stripped -off. +In all cases, the message relates to issue 2. The ``Re:`` prefix is +stripped off. Automatic Properties ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **status of new issues** - When a new message is received that is not identified as being related to an - existing issue, it creates a new issue. The status of the new issue is - defaulted to "unread". + When a new message is received that is not identified as being related + to an existing issue, it creates a new issue. The status of the new + issue is defaulted to "unread". **reopening of resolved issues** When a message is is received for a resolved issue, the issue status is @@ -373,28 +385,29 @@ --------------------- If the sender of an email is unknown to Roundup (looking up both user -primary email addresses and their alternate addresses) then a new user will -be created. The new user will have their username set to the "user" part of -"user@domain" in their email address. Their password will be completely -randomised, and they'll have to visit the web interface to have it -changed. Note that some sites don't allow web access by users who register -via email like this. +primary email addresses and their alternate addresses) then a new user +will be created. The new user will have their username set to the "user" +part of "user@domain" in their email address. Their password will be +completely randomised, and they'll have to visit the web interface to +have it changed. Note that some sites don't allow web access by users +who register via email like this. E-Mail Message Content ---------------------- -Roundup only associates plain text (MIME type ``text/plain``) as messages for -items. Any other parts of a message are associated as downloadable files. If -no plain text part is found, the message is rejected. +Roundup only associates plain text (MIME type ``text/plain``) as +messages for items. Any other parts of a message are associated as +downloadable files. If no plain text part is found, the message is +rejected. To do this, incoming messages are examined for multiple parts: * In a multipart/mixed message or part, each subpart is extracted and - examined. The text/plain subparts are assembled to form the textual body - of the message, to be stored in the file associated with a "msg" class - item. Any parts of other types are each stored in separate files and - given "file" class items that are linked to the "msg" item. + examined. The text/plain subparts are assembled to form the textual + body of the message, to be stored in the file associated with a "msg" + class item. Any parts of other types are each stored in separate files + and given "file" class items that are linked to the "msg" item. * In a multipart/alternative message or part, we look for a text/plain subpart and ignore the other parts. @@ -405,24 +418,24 @@ Message summary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -The "summary" property on message items is taken from the first non-quoting -section in the message body. The message body is divided into sections by blank -lines. Sections where the second and all subsequent lines begin with a ">" or -"|" character are considered "quoting sections". The first line of the first -non-quoting section becomes the summary of the message. +The "summary" property on message items is taken from the first +non-quoting section in the message body. The message body is divided +into sections by blank lines. Sections where the second and all +subsequent lines begin with a ">" or "|" character are considered +"quoting sections". The first line of the first non-quoting section +becomes the summary of the message. Address handling ---------------- All of the addresses in the ``To:`` and ``Cc:`` headers of the incoming -message are -looked up among the tracker users, and the corresponding users are placed -in the -"recipients" property on the new "msg" item. The address in the ``From:`` header -similarly determines the "author" property of the new "msg" item. The default -handling for addresses that don't have corresponding users is to create new -users with no passwords and a username equal to the address. +message are looked up among the tracker users, and the corresponding +users are placed in the "recipients" property on the new "msg" item. The +address in the ``From:`` header similarly determines the "author" +property of the new "msg" item. The default handling for addresses that +don't have corresponding users is to create new users with no passwords +and a username equal to the address. The addresses mentioned in the ``To:``, ``From:`` and ``Cc:`` headers of the message may be added to the `nosy list`_ depending on: @@ -430,8 +443,8 @@ ``ADD_AUTHOR_TO_NOSY`` Does the author of a message get placed on the nosy list automatically? If 'new' is used, then the author will only be added when a message - creates a new issue. If 'yes', then the author will be added on followups - too. If 'no', they're never added to the nosy. + creates a new issue. If 'yes', then the author will be added on + followups too. If 'no', they're never added to the nosy. ``ADD_RECIPIENTS_TO_NOSY`` Do the recipients (To:, Cc:) of a message get placed on the nosy list? @@ -445,16 +458,16 @@ Roundup watches for additions to the "messages" property of items. -When a new message is added, it is sent to all the users -on the "nosy" list for the item that are not already on the "recipients" list -of the message. Those users are then appended to the "recipients" property on -the message, so multiple copies of a message are never sent to the same user. -The journal recorded by the hyperdatabase on the "recipients" property then -provides a log of when the message was sent to whom. +When a new message is added, it is sent to all the users on the "nosy" +list for the item that are not already on the "recipients" list of the +message. Those users are then appended to the "recipients" property on +the message, so multiple copies of a message are never sent to the same +user. The journal recorded by the hyperdatabase on the "recipients" +property then provides a log of when the message was sent to whom. -If the author of the message is also in the nosy list for the item that the -message is attached to, then the config var ``MESSAGES_TO_AUTHOR`` is queried -to determine if they get a nosy list copy of the message too. +If the author of the message is also in the nosy list for the item that +the message is attached to, then the config var ``MESSAGES_TO_AUTHOR`` +is queried to determine if they get a nosy list copy of the message too. Mail gateway script command line @@ -462,17 +475,17 @@ The roundup mail gateway may be called in one of three ways: - . with an instance home as the only argument, - . with both an instance home and a mail spool file, or - . with both an instance home and a pop server account. + - with an instance home as the only argument, + - with both an instance home and a mail spool file, or + - with both an instance home and a pop server account. It also supports optional -C and -S arguments that allows you to set a fields for a class created by the roundup-mailgw. The default class if -not specified is msg, but the other classes: issue, file, user can -also be used. The -S or --set options uses the same +not specified is msg, but the other classes: issue, file, user can also +be used. The -S or --set options uses the same property=value[;property=value] notation accepted by the command line -roundup command or the commands that can be given on the Subject line -of an email message. +roundup command or the commands that can be given on the Subject line of +an email message. It can let you set the type of the message on a per email address basis. @@ -560,21 +573,21 @@ All commands (except help) require a tracker specifier. This is just the -path to the roundup tracker you're working with. A roundup tracker is where -roundup keeps the database and configuration file that defines an issue -tracker. It may be thought of as the issue tracker's "home directory". -It may be specified in the environment variable ``TRACKER_HOME`` or on -the command line as "``-i tracker``". +path to the roundup tracker you're working with. A roundup tracker is +where roundup keeps the database and configuration file that defines an +issue tracker. It may be thought of as the issue tracker's "home +directory". It may be specified in the environment variable +``TRACKER_HOME`` or on the command line as "``-i tracker``". -A designator is a classname and an itemid concatenated, eg. bug1, user10, ... -Property values are represented as strings in command arguments and in the -printed results: +A designator is a classname and an itemid concatenated, eg. bug1, +user10, ... Property values are represented as strings in command +arguments and in the printed results: - Strings are, well, strings. - Password values will display as their encoded value. -- Date values are printed in the full date format in the local time zone, - and accepted in the full format or any of the partial formats explained - below.:: +- Date values are printed in the full date format in the local time + zone, and accepted in the full format or any of the partial formats + explained below.:: Input of... Means... "2000-04-17.03:45" 2000-04-17.08:45:00 @@ -588,27 +601,28 @@ "2003-04" 2003-04-01.00:00:00 "." "right now" -- Link values are printed as item designators. When given as an argument, - item designators and key strings are both accepted. +- Link values are printed as item designators. When given as an + argument, item designators and key strings are both accepted. - Multilink values are printed as lists of item designators joined by - commas. When given as an argument, item designators and key strings are - both accepted; an empty string, a single item, or a list of items joined - by commas is accepted. + commas. When given as an argument, item designators and key strings + are both accepted; an empty string, a single item, or a list of items + joined by commas is accepted. When multiple items are specified to the roundup get or roundup set -commands, the specified properties are retrieved or set on all the listed -items. When multiple results are returned by the roundup get or roundup -find commands, they are printed one per line (default) or joined by commas -(with the "``-c``" option). +commands, the specified properties are retrieved or set on all the +listed items. When multiple results are returned by the roundup get or +roundup find commands, they are printed one per line (default) or joined +by commas (with the "``-c``" option). -Where the command changes data, a login name/password is required. The login may -be specified as either "``name``" or "``name:password``". +Where the command changes data, a login name/password is required. The +login may be specified as either "``name``" or "``name:password``". - ``ROUNDUP_LOGIN`` environment variable - the "``-u``" command-line option -If either the name or password is not supplied, they are obtained from the -command-line. +If either the name or password is not supplied, they are obtained from +the command-line. + Using with the shell -------------------- @@ -616,10 +630,9 @@ With version 0.6.0 or newer of roundup which supports: multiple designators to display and the -d, -S and -s flags. -To find all messages regarding chatting issues that -contain the word "spam", for example, you could execute the -following command from the directory where the database -dumps its files:: +To find all messages regarding chatting issues that contain the word +"spam", for example, you could execute the following command from the +directory where the database dumps its files:: shell% for issue in `roundup-admin -ds find issue status=chatting`; do > grep -l spam `roundup-admin -ds ' ' get messages $issue`
