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Version: 24.3

Splitting a Defect

This article explains how to split defects in Agility.

Overview​

Defect splitting typically occurs at the end of a sprint or iteration. If you discover that only a portion of the work is complete, you can split the defect so the completed work remains under the current defect. The incomplete, open work will be moved to an new defect in the next sprint or iteration. This allows you to get credit for completed work and move any remaining elsewhere to allow for more accurate accounting.

Note that splitting is not the same as copying.

Splitting should not become common practice. Defects should be sized appropriately so that the estimate from any one defect does not have a large impact on the velocity of a sprint or iteration. If you end a sprint or iteration with multiple defects that need to be split, it's often a sign that your team has too much work in progress. It's much better to finish one defect than to end up with two that are half-done.

If the defect has...Then...
Tasks or TestsTasks and tests are handled based on status as follows:

Completed (e.g., To Do = 0)
Completed tasks or tests with a To Do of 0 stay with the original story in the existing sprint.
Not Started (e.g., Done = 0)
Not started tasks or tests are moved to a new story in the next sprint
Partially Completed (e.g., some Done and some To Do)
Partially completed tasks or tests are copied to the new backlog item in the next sprint, and will also remain with the original story in the existing sprint. The To Do on the tasks or tests in the existing sprint will be set to 0.  All of the Done stays with the tasks or tests in the existing sprint. The To Do amount at the time of the split is assigned to the tasks or tests in the next sprint.
AttachmentsAttachments are not carried forward during the split process. As a workaround, however, you can copy the item instead of splitting it. Copies retain all the relationships of the original, including links and attachments. The trade-off is that you would need to adjust your estimates on the two items.

Option 1. In any grid​

  1. In any grid, click the drop-down arrow next to the defect you want to split and select Split.
  2. On the Split page, modify the details as necessary and click Split.
  3. Make any additional changes and click Save. (Note that fields highlighted in yellow are pending until you click Save).

You can edit the following backlog item details when you split a backlog item or defect:

  • Title. Change the title of the 'new' backlog item or defect to make it unique (e.g. ABC Part 1 and ABC Part 2).
  • Estimate. Allocate the estimate appropriately across the two backlog items. Was any real value delivered by the partially completed backlog item or defect?
  • Detail Estimate and To Dos. Are the Detail Estimate and To Do amounts for the remaining workload appropriate?

Option 2. On the Team Scheduling Page​

  1. Click the hamburger icon Hamburger icon > Release > Team Scheduling.
  2. Click on a backlog item (either from the Team to which it is assigned or from the Backlog grid) to open the backlog item details page.
  3. Open the Edit drop-down menu and select the Split option. The Split Backlog Item window opens, showing details of the backlog item with remaining work estimate.
  4. Click the Split button. The system generates a new backlog item with the same name as the original. The remaining work estimate is transferred to the new backlog item. Completed estimates remain with the original backlog item.
  5. In the New Item section, select a new sprint from the Sprint drop-down list.
  6. Click Save next to the new item. The new backlog item details are saved.
  7. Click Save at the top of the window. The new backlog item is assigned to the team who worked the original backlog item, and the item shows in the Team box with the inherited work estimate.

Working with Defects

Why did I receive a Type error when converting a story to defect and defect to story

Planning

Acceptance Tests