Watching Backlog Items, Defects, Tests, and Other Assets
When you watch an asset, Digital.ai Agility automatically sends alert notifications when updates are made to that specific item. This allows you to keep track of changes as they occur.
Watch vs. Subscriptions
Digital.ai Agility offers two ways to receive notifications about work items.
Watch an Asset for Item-Specific Tracking
Use Watch when you want to track a specific individual item such as a particular story, defect, or test. Watching is ideal for:
- Tracking a high-priority defect you need to monitor closely
- Following a specific story you're collaborating on
- Monitoring a particular test or test set
- Keeping tabs on an individual portfolio item or request
How it works: You watch individual assets one at a time from their detail page or from a grid. You receive notifications for all changes to that specific item, including updates to core and custom fields.
Quick setup: Click Watch from the asset's action menu—no configuration needed.
Use Subscriptions for Event-Based Tracking
Use Subscriptions when you want to receive notifications based on specific events or criteria across multiple items. Subscriptions are ideal for:
- Get notified when any defect is assigned to you
- Track when any story in a specific project changes status
- Monitor when any test owned by your team is closed
- Receive alerts for backlog items that meet certain filter criteria
How it works: You create subscription rules that define which types of events trigger notifications. For example, "notify me when a defect is assigned to me" or "notify me when a story status changes." One subscription can monitor many items based on your criteria.
Setup: For configuration details, see Creating Notification Subscription Alert.
Key Differences
| Feature | Watch | Subscriptions |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Single specific item | Multiple items based on criteria |
| Setup | One click per item | Configure once, applies to many items |
| Use Case | "I need to track this defect" | "I need to know when any defect is assigned to me" |
| Flexibility | All changes to watched item | Specific events (status change, assignment, etc.) |
| Management | Watch/unwatch individual items | Create and manage subscription rules |
You can use both features together. For example, subscribe to all defects assigned to you, and also watch specific high-priority defects for more detailed tracking.
Watch an Asset
You can start watching an asset from multiple locations in Digital.ai Agility. Choose the method that fits your current workflow.
Watch from an Asset's Details Page
Watch an asset while reviewing its full details. This method is useful when you're already examining a specific work item. For step-by-step instructions, see Watching an Asset from an Asset's Details Page.
Watch from a Grid View
Watch an asset directly from list views such as the Backlog, reports, or planning pages. This method allows you to quickly watch multiple items without opening each one. For step-by-step instructions, see Watching an Asset from a Grid.
Manage Watched Assets
View Watched Assets
All assets you're watching appear on your Subscriptions page alongside your subscription rules. Navigate to the Messages icon in the header and select Subscriptions to view and manage your watched items.
Stop Watching Assets
When you no longer need to track an asset, you can stop watching it from the asset's details page or from your Subscriptions page. For step-by-step instructions, see Stop Watching an Asset.
Notification Triggers
When you watch an asset, you receive notifications for:
- Changes to core fields (status, owner, priority, etc.)
- Changes to custom fields (text fields, drop-down lists, numbers, checkboxes)
- Changes to the Owners field
You will not receive notifications for:
- Changes you make yourself (only changes made by others)
- Changes to items that have multiple relationships (except the Owners field)
Related Topics
Watching an Asset from an Asset's Details Page
Managing Notifications and Subscriptions