| title | Hosted XML process model |
|---|---|
| titleSuffix | Azure DevOps Services |
| description | How to customize work tracking features using the Hosted XML process model |
| ms.service | azure-devops-boards |
| ms.custom | engagement-fy23 |
| ms.topic | overview |
| ms.author | chcomley |
| author | chcomley |
| monikerRange | azure-devops |
| ms.date | 03/24/2026 |
| ai-usage | ai-assisted |
[!INCLUDE version-eq-azure-devops]
Note
Feature availability: The Hosted XML process model is only supported for organizations that migrate to Azure DevOps by using the data migration tool for Azure DevOps.
By using the Hosted XML process model, you can customize work tracking objects and Agile tools for a project by modifying and importing a process template. When you update the process template, you apply those updates to projects that you created by using that process.
[!INCLUDE temp]
You can perform the following tasks by using the Hosted XML process model.
:::row:::
:::column span="1":::
Area
:::column-end:::
:::column span="3":::
Customization support
:::column-end:::
:::row-end:::
:::row:::
:::column span="1":::
Fields
:::column-end:::
:::column span="3":::
- Add or modify a field
- Add a checkbox (Boolean) field
- Add rules to a field
- Change a field label
- Add a custom control field
- Remove a field
:::column-end::: :::row-end:::
:::row:::
:::column span="1":::
Pick lists
:::column-end:::
:::column span="3":::
- Area paths- Iteration paths
- State or Reason fields
- Person-name field (add users)
- Add a custom pick list
- Predefined field
- Resolution State or Failure Type :::column-end::: :::row-end:::
:::row::: :::column span="1"::: Work item types :::column-end::: :::column span="3":::
- Add or modify a work item type
- Change the workflow (States, Reasons, Transitions)
- Specify the WIT color
- Specify the WIT icon
- Specify the workflow state color
:::column-end::: :::row-end:::
:::row:::
:::column span="1":::
Backlogs and process configuration
:::column-end:::
:::column span="3":::
- Add WITs to backlogs or boards
- Add portfolio backlogs
- Configure the quick add panel
- Configure the default backlog columns
- Set maximum number of Taskboard items
- Set default weekend days (Scrum)
- Set default bug management behavior
- Set default hidden backlogs
- Process configuration
:::column-end::: :::row-end:::
:::row::: :::column span="1"::: Process template :::column-end::: :::column span="3":::
:::column-end::: :::row-end:::
The release deployments control shows release information for only those work items that are associated with a commit that's part of a build being released. To add the release deployments control to a work item type, add the following syntax to the work item type XML definition. To learn more about this control, see Link work items to deployments.
[!div class="tabbedCodeSnippets"]
<Group Label="Deployment">
<Control Type="DeploymentsControl" Name="Deployments" />
</Group>Add this syntax to the following work item type definitions of the default process templates.
[!div class="mx-tdBreakAll"]
Agile Basic Scrum CMMI - Bug
- Epic
- Feature
- Issue
- Task
- Test Case
- User Story- Issue
- Task
- Test Case- Bug
- Epic
- Feature
- Impediment
- Product Backlog Item
- Task
- Test Case- Bug
- Change Request
- Epic
- Feature
- Issue
- Requirement
- Review
- Risk
- Task
Use the following sequences when you manage customizations by using the Hosted XML process model. This sequence requires you to update your project by updating the process template that it uses. Maintain your process templates in a repository for version control.
