How do I create a plan with just project start and end not rollup dates

Question

We have a lot of work in our project backlogs (probably a few years worth!), and don't have the time to plan out all the backlog items into sprints in order to roll up into a plan. Is it possible to build a plan that doesn't necessarily rollup the dates from the start and end dates of individual stories to show on the timeline, we just want to show the timeline based on estimated project start and end dates, not an aggregation. Is there a way of doing this please? The plan wizard seems to require you roll up from spaces/projects, boards or filters, which we haven't scoped out yet.

Trudy P Claspill · Answer

Yes, you could fill in the estimated start and end dates for Epics or another work item type at a higher level and limit your plan to showing only those items, either through applying a filter or by basing the plan on a Saved Filter that includes only those items.

martin griffiths · Answer

Ah ok, I'm sure an early iteration of roadmap used to have this feature. Never mind. We're trying to give our management board an understanding of projects we have in the pipeline over the next few years you see. They would only be ballpark estimations for now. May be if we gave start and end dates to Epics then it might work with the filter option?

Staffan Redelius · Answer

Hi @martin griffiths

If you just want some help to sort your backlog you could start by grouping things in releases (versions).

For example you could create a version called Q1, Q2, Q3 etc. and drag work items in the backlog to that relese and then use the version panel to quickly switch between the views in the backlog.

When you have done the high level sorting you can break the Q1 version down in sprints.

Best regards,
/Staffan