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Commit 7d40542a authored by jake%bugzilla.org's avatar jake%bugzilla.org
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Bug 267873 - Massive FAQ update. Everything should be up to date now.

Patch by Shane H. W. Travis <travis@sedsystems.ca> r=jake
parent aa4c8c19
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docs/xml/faq.xml
View file @ 7d40542a
...@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ ...@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
<ulink url="http://bugzilla.org/consulting.html"/> <ulink url="http:/www.bugzilla.org/support/consulting.html"/>
is a list of people and companies who have asked us to list them is a list of companies and individuals who have asked us to
as consultants for Bugzilla. list them as consultants for Bugzilla.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
There are several experienced There are several experienced
...@@ -76,9 +76,8 @@ ...@@ -76,9 +76,8 @@
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
A A <ulink url="http://www.bugzilla.org/developers/profiles.html">core
<ulink url="http://www.bugzilla.org/who_we_are.html">core team</ulink>, team</ulink>, led by Dave Miller (justdave@bugzilla.org).
led by Dave Miller (justdave@bugzilla.org).
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -92,20 +91,21 @@ ...@@ -92,20 +91,21 @@
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
We can't find any head-to-head comparisons of Bugzilla against We can't find any head-to-head comparisons of Bugzilla against
other defect-tracking software. If you know of one, please other defect-tracking software. If you know of one, please get
get in touch. However, from the author's personal in touch. In the experience of Matthew Barnson (the original
experience with other bug-trackers, Bugzilla offers author of this FAQ), though, Bugzilla offers superior
superior performance on commodity hardware, better price performance on commodity hardware, better price (free!), more
(free!), more developer- friendly features (such as stored developer-friendly features (such as stored queries, email
queries, email integration, and platform independence), integration, and platform independence), improved scalability,
improved scalability, open source code, greater greater flexibility, and superior ease-of-use when compared
flexibility, and superior ease-of-use. to commercial bug-tracking software.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
If you happen to be a commercial bug-tracker vendor, please If you happen to be a vendor for commercial bug-tracking
step forward with a list of advantages your product has over software, and would like to submit a list of advantages your
Bugzilla. We'd be happy to include it in the "Competitors" product has over Bugzilla, simply send it to
section. <email>documentation@bugzilla.org</email> and we'd be happy to
include the comparison in our documentation.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -120,17 +120,38 @@ ...@@ -120,17 +120,38 @@
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
It may be that the support has not been built yet, or that you It may be that the support has not been built yet, or that you
have not yet found it. Bugzilla is making tremendous strides in have not yet found it. While Bugzilla makes strides in usability,
usability, customizability, scalability, and user interface. It customizability, scalability, and user interface with each release,
is widely considered the most complete and popular open-source that doesn't mean it can't still use improvement!
bug-tracking software in existence. </para>
</para> <para>
<para> The best way to make an enhancement request is to <ulink
That doesn't mean it can't use improvement! url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=Bugzilla">file
You can help the project along by either hacking a patch yourself a bug at bugzilla.mozilla.org</ulink> and set the Severity
that supports the functionality you require, or else submitting a to 'enhancement'. Your 'request for enhancement' (RFE) will
"Request for Enhancement" (RFE) using the bug submission interface start out in the UNCONFIRMED state, and will stay there until
at <ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=Bugzilla">bugzilla.mozilla.org</ulink>. someone with the ability to COMFIRM the bug reviews it.
If that person feels it to be a good request that fits in with
Bugzilla's overall direction, the status will be changed to
NEW; if not, they will probably explain why and set the bug
to RESOLVED/WONTFIX. If someone else has made the same (or
almost the same) request before, your request will be marked
RESOLVED/DUPLICATE, and a pointer to the previous RFE will be
added.
</para>
<para>
Even if your RFE gets approved, that doesn't mean it's going
to make it right into the next release; there are a limited
number of developers, and a whole lot of RFEs... some of
which are <emphasis>quite</emphasis> complex. If you're a
code-hacking sort of person, you can help the project along
by making a patch yourself that supports the functionality
you require. If you have never contributed anything to
Bugzilla before, please be sure to read the
<ulink url="http://www.bugzilla.org/docs/developer.html">Developers' Guide</ulink>
and
<ulink url="http://www.bugzilla.org/docs/contributor.html">Contributors' Guide</ulink>
before going ahead.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -139,7 +160,7 @@ ...@@ -139,7 +160,7 @@
<question id="faq-general-mysql"> <question id="faq-general-mysql">
<para> <para>
Why MySQL? I'm interested in seeing Bugzilla run on Why MySQL? I'm interested in seeing Bugzilla run on
Oracle/Sybase/Msql/PostgreSQL/MSSQL. PostgreSQL/Sybase/Oracle/Msql/MSSQL.
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
...@@ -149,16 +170,34 @@ ...@@ -149,16 +170,34 @@
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
There is currently work in progress to make Bugzilla work on There is currently work in progress to make Bugzilla work on
PostgreSQL and Sybase in the default distribution. You can track PostgreSQL; track the progress of this initiative in <ulink
the progress of these initiatives in <ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=98304">bug 98304</ulink>.
url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=98304">bug 98304</ulink>
and <ulink
url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=173130">bug 173130</ulink>
respectively.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
Once both of these are done, adding support for additional Sybase support is no longer being worked on. Even if it eventually
database servers should be trivial. happens, it's VERY unlikely to work without the end-user-company
having to stick a few developers on making several manual changes.
Sybase is just NOT very standards-compliant (despite all the hype),
and it turned out that way too much had to be changed to make it
work -- like moving half of the application logic into stored
procedures to get any kind of decent performance out of it.
<ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=173130">Bug
173130</ulink> is the relevant bug.
</para>
<para>
Red Hat once ran a version of Bugzilla that worked on Oracle,
but that was long, long ago; that version (Bugzilla 2.8) is
now obsolete, insecure, and totally unsupported. Red Hat's
current Bugzilla (based on Bugzilla 2.17.1) uses PostgreSQL,
and work is being done to merge those changes into the main
distribution. (See above.) At this time we know of no recent
ports of Bugzilla to Oracle. (In our honest opinion, Bugzilla
doesn't need what Oracle offers.)
</para>
<para>
<ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=237862">Bug
237862</ulink> is a good bug to read through if you'd like to see
what progress is being made on general database compatibility.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -171,8 +210,8 @@ ...@@ -171,8 +210,8 @@
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Bugzilla used to have the path to perl on the shebang line set to Bugzilla used to have the path to perl on the shebang line set
<filename>/usr/bonsaitools/bin/perl</filename> because when to <filename>/usr/bonsaitools/bin/perl</filename> because when
Terry first started writing the code for mozilla.org he needed a Terry first started writing the code for mozilla.org he needed a
version of Perl and other tools that were completely under his version of Perl and other tools that were completely under his
control. This location was abandoned for the 2.18 release in favor control. This location was abandoned for the 2.18 release in favor
...@@ -188,19 +227,52 @@ ...@@ -188,19 +227,52 @@
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-general-perlpath"> <question id="faq-general-perlpath">
<para> <para>
My perl is not located at <filename>/usr/bin/perl</filename>, is My perl is located at <filename>/usr/local/bin/perl</filename>
there an easy way to change it everywhere it needs to be changed? and not <filename>/usr/bin/perl</filename>. Is there an easy
to change that in all the files that have this hard-coded?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Yes, the following bit of perl magic will change all the shebang The easiest way to get around this is to create a link from
lines. Be sure to change <filename>/usr/local/bin/perl</filename> one to the other:
to your path to the perl binary. <command>ln -s /usr/local/bin/perl /usr/bin/perl</command>.
If that's not an option for you, the following bit of perl
magic will change all the shebang lines (that is to say,
the line at the top of each file that starts with '#!'
and contains the path) to something else:
</para> </para>
<programlisting> <programlisting>
perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</programlisting> </programlisting>
<para>
Sadly, this command-line won't work on Windows unless you
also have Cygwin. However, MySQL comes with a binary called
<command>replace</command> which can do the job:
</para>
<programlisting>
C:\mysql\bin\replace "#!/usr/bin/perl" "#!C:\perl\bin\perl" -- *.cgi *.pl
</programlisting>
<note>
<para>
If your perl path is something else again, just follow the
above examples and replace
<filename>/usr/local/bin/perl</filename> with your own perl path.
</para>
</note>
<para>
If using Apache on Windows, you can avoid the whole problem
by setting the <ulink
url="http://httpd.apache.org/docs-2.0/mod/core.html#scriptinterpretersource">
ScriptInterpreterSource</ulink> directive to 'Registry'.
(If using Apache 2 or higher, set it to 'Registry-Strict'.)
ScriptInterperterSource requires a registry entry
<quote>HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.cgi\Shell\ExecCGI\Command</quote> to
associate .cgi files with your perl executable. If one does
not already exist, create it with a default value of
<quote>&lt;full path to perl&gt; -T</quote>, e.g.
<quote>C:\Perl\bin\perl.exe -T</quote>.
</para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -225,7 +297,11 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -225,7 +297,11 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
At present, no. This is being worked on. At present, no. Work is slowly taking place to remove global
variables, use $cgi, and use DBI. These are all necessary for
mod_perl (as well as being good for other reasons). Visit
<ulink url="https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=87406">
bug 87406</ulink> to view the discussion and progress.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -252,9 +328,9 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -252,9 +328,9 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-priorities"> <question id="faq-phb-priorities">
<para> <para>
Does Bugzilla allow us to define our own priorities and levels? Do we Does Bugzilla allow us to define our own priorities and levels?
have complete freedom to change the labels of fields and format of them, and Do we have complete freedom to change the labels of fields and
the choice of acceptable values? format of them, and the choice of acceptable values?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
...@@ -274,14 +350,15 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -274,14 +350,15 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-reporting"> <question id="faq-phb-reporting">
<para> <para>
Does Bugzilla provide any reporting features, metrics, graphs, etc? You Does Bugzilla provide any reporting features, metrics, graphs,
know, the type of stuff that management likes to see. :) etc? You know, the type of stuff that management likes to see. :)
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Yes. Look at <ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/report.cgi"/> Yes. Look at <ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/report.cgi"/>
for samples of what Bugzilla can do in reporting and graphing. for samples of what Bugzilla can do in reporting and graphing.
Fuller documentation is provided in <xref linkend="reporting"/>.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
If you can not get the reports you want from the included reporting If you can not get the reports you want from the included reporting
...@@ -297,15 +374,15 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -297,15 +374,15 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-email"> <question id="faq-phb-email">
<para> <para>
Is there email notification and if so, what do you see when you get an Is there email notification? If so, what do you see
email? when you get an email?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Email notification is user-configurable. By default, the bug id and Email notification is user-configurable. By default, the bug id
summary of the bug report accompany each email notification, along with and summary of the bug report accompany each email notification,
a list of the changes made. along with a list of the changes made.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -319,15 +396,16 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -319,15 +396,16 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Bugzilla email is sent in plain text, the most compatible mail format Bugzilla email is sent in plain text, the most compatible
on the planet. mail format on the planet.
<note> <note>
<para> <para>
If you decide to use the bugzilla_email integration features If you decide to use the bugzilla_email integration features
to allow Bugzilla to record responses to mail with the associated bug, to allow Bugzilla to record responses to mail with the
you may need to caution your users to set their mailer to "respond associated bug, you may need to caution your users to set
to messages in the format in which they were sent". For security reasons their mailer to <quote>respond to messages in the format in
Bugzilla ignores HTML tags in comments, and if a user sends HTML-based which they were sent</quote>. For security reasons Bugzilla
ignores HTML tags in comments, and if a user sends HTML-based
email into Bugzilla the resulting comment looks downright awful. email into Bugzilla the resulting comment looks downright awful.
</para> </para>
</note> </note>
...@@ -338,10 +416,11 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -338,10 +416,11 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-data"> <question id="faq-phb-data">
<para> <para>
Does Bugzilla allow data to be imported and exported? If I had outsiders Does Bugzilla allow data to be imported and exported? If I had
write up a bug report using a MS Word bug template, could that template be outsiders write up a bug report using a MS Word bug template,
imported into "matching" fields? If I wanted to take the results of a query could that template be imported into <quote>matching</quote>
and export that data to MS Excel, could I do that? fields? If I wanted to take the results of a query and export
that data to MS Excel, could I do that?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
...@@ -377,8 +456,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -377,8 +456,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-l10n"> <question id="faq-phb-l10n">
<para> <para>
Has anyone converted Bugzilla to another language to be used in other Has anyone converted Bugzilla to another language to be
countries? Is it localizable? used in other countries? Is it localizable?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
...@@ -386,9 +465,9 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -386,9 +465,9 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
Yes. For more information including available translated templates, Yes. For more information including available translated templates,
see <ulink see <ulink
url="http://www.bugzilla.org/download.html#localizations"/>. url="http://www.bugzilla.org/download.html#localizations"/>.
The admin interfaces are still not included in these translated Some admin interfaces have been templatized (for easy localization)
templates and is therefore still English only. Also, there may be but many of them are still available in English only. Also, there
issues with the charset not being declared. See <ulink may be issues with the charset not being declared. See <ulink
url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=126266">bug 126226</ulink> url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=126266">bug 126226</ulink>
for more information. for more information.
</para> </para>
...@@ -398,8 +477,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -398,8 +477,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-reports"> <question id="faq-phb-reports">
<para> <para>
Can a user create and save reports? Can they do this in Word format? Can a user create and save reports?
Excel format? Can they do this in Word format? Excel format?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
...@@ -410,53 +489,150 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -410,53 +489,150 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-midair"> <question id="faq-phb-backup">
<para> <para>
Does Bugzilla provide record locking when there is simultaneous access Are there any backup features provided?
to the same bug? Does the second person get a notice that the bug is in use
or how are they notified?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Bugzilla does not lock records. It provides mid-air collision detection, MySQL, the database back-end for Bugzilla, allows hot-backup
and offers the offending user a choice of options to deal with the conflict. of data. You can find strategies for dealing with backup
considerations at <ulink
url="http://www.mysql.com/doc/B/a/Backup.html"/>.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-backup"> <question id="faq-phb-maintenance">
<para> <para>
Are there any backup features provided? What type of human resources are needed to be on staff to install
and maintain Bugzilla? Specifically, what type of skills does the
person need to have? I need to find out what types of individuals
would we need to hire and how much would that cost if we were to
go with Bugzilla vs. buying an <quote>out-of-the-box</quote>
solution.
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
MySQL, the database back-end for Bugzilla, allows hot-backup of data. If Bugzilla is set up correctly from the start, continuing
You can find strategies for dealing with backup considerations maintenance needs are minimal and can be done easily using
at <ulink url="http://www.mysql.com/doc/B/a/Backup.html"/>. the web interface.
</para>
<para>
Commercial Bug-tracking software typically costs somewhere
upwards of $20,000 or more for 5-10 floating licenses. Bugzilla
consultation is available from skilled members of the newsgroup.
Simple questions are answered there and then.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-livebackup"> <question id="faq-phb-installtime">
<para>
What time frame are we looking at if we decide to hire people
to install and maintain the Bugzilla? Is this something that
takes hours or days to install and a couple of hours per week
to maintain and customize, or is this a multi-week install process,
plus a full time job for 1 person, 2 people, etc?
</para>
</question>
<answer>
<para>
It all depends on your level of commitment. Someone with much
Bugzilla experience can get you up and running in less than a day,
and your Bugzilla install can run untended for years. If your
Bugzilla strategy is critical to your business workflow, hire
somebody to who has reasonable Perl skills, and a familiarity
with the operating system on which Bugzilla will be running,
and have them handle your process management, bug-tracking
maintenance, and local customization.
</para>
</answer>
</qandaentry>
<qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-cost">
<para>
Is there any licensing fee or other fees for using Bugzilla? Any
out-of-pocket cost other than the bodies needed as identified above?
</para>
</question>
<answer>
<para>
No. Bugzilla, Perl, the Template Toolkit, and all other support
software needed to make Bugzilla work can be downloaded for free.
MySQL -- the database used by Bugzilla -- is also open-source, but
they ask that if you find their product valuable, you purchase a
support contract from them that suits your needs.
</para>
</answer>
</qandaentry>
<qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-renameBugs">
<para>
We don't like referring to problems as 'bugs'. Can we change that?
</para>
</question>
<answer>
<para>
Yes! As of Bugzilla 2.18, it is a simple matter to change the
word 'bug' into whatever word/phrase is used by your organization.
See the documentation on Customization for more details,
specifically <xref linkend="template-specific"/>.
</para>
</answer>
</qandaentry>
</qandadiv>
<qandadiv id="faq-admin">
<title>Administrative Questions</title>
<qandaentry>
<question id="faq-admin-midair">
<para>
Does Bugzilla provide record locking when there is simultaneous
access to the same bug? Does the second person get a notice
that the bug is in use or how are they notified?
</para>
</question>
<answer>
<para>
Bugzilla does not lock records. It provides mid-air collision
detection -- which means that it warns a user when a commit is
about to conflict with commits recently made by another user,
and offers the second user a choice of options to deal with
the conflict.
</para>
</answer>
</qandaentry>
<qandaentry>
<question id="faq-admin-livebackup">
<para> <para>
Can users be on the system while a backup is in progress? Can users be on the system while a backup is in progress?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Yes. However, commits to the database must wait Yes, but commits to the database must wait until the tables
until the tables are unlocked. Bugzilla databases are typically are unlocked. Bugzilla databases are typically very small,
very small, and backups routinely take less than a minute. and backups routinely take less than a minute. If your database
is larger, you may want to look into alternate backup
techniques, such as database replication, or backing up from
a read-only mirror. (Read up on these in the MySQL docs
on the MySQL site.)
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-cvsupdate"> <question id="faq-admin-cvsupdate">
<para> <para>
How can I update the code and the database using CVS? How can I update the code and the database using CVS?
</para> </para>
...@@ -513,77 +689,47 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -513,77 +689,47 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<warning> <warning>
<para> <para>
Once you run checksetup.pl, the only way to go back is Once you run checksetup.pl, the only way to go back is
to restore the database backups. You can't "downgrade" to restore the database backups. You can't
the system cleanly under most circumstances. <quote>downgrade</quote> the system cleanly under most
circumstances.
</para> </para>
</warning> </warning>
</listitem> </listitem>
</orderedlist> </orderedlist>
</para> </para>
</answer>
</qandaentry>
<qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-maintenance">
<para> <para>
What type of human resources are needed to be on staff to install and See also the instructions in <xref linkend="upgrade-cvs"/>.
maintain Bugzilla? Specifically, what type of skills does the person need to
have? I need to find out if we were to go with Bugzilla, what types of
individuals would we need to hire and how much would that cost vs buying an
"out-of-the-box" solution?
</para>
</question>
<answer>
<para>
If Bugzilla is set up correctly from the start, continuing maintenance
needs are minimal and can be done easily using the web interface.
</para>
<para>
Commercial Bug-tracking software typically costs somewhere upwards
of $20,000 or more for 5-10 floating licenses. Bugzilla consultation
is available from skilled members of the newsgroup. Simple questions
are answered there and then.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-installtime"> <question id="faq-admin-enable-unconfirmed">
<para> <para>
What time frame are we looking at if we decide to hire people to install How do I make it so that bugs can have an UNCONFIRMED status?
and maintain the Bugzilla? Is this something that takes hours or weeks to
install and a couple of hours per week to maintain and customize or is this
a multi-week install process, plus a full time job for 1 person, 2 people,
etc?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
It all depends on your level of commitment. Someone with much Bugzilla To use the UNCONFIRMED status, you must have the 'usevotes'
experience can get you up and running in less than a day, and parameter set to <quote>On</quote>. You must then visit the
your Bugzilla install can run untended for years. If your <filename>editproducts.cgi</filename> page and set the <quote>
Bugzilla strategy is critical to your business workflow, hire somebody Number of votes a bug in this product needs to automatically
with reasonable UNIX or Perl skills to handle your process management and get out of the UNCONFIRMED state</quote> to be a non-zero number.
bug-tracking maintenance &amp; customization. (You will have to do this for each product that wants to use
</para> the UNCONFIRMED state.) If you do not actually want users to be
</answer> able to vote for bugs entered against this product, leave the
</qandaentry> <quote>Maximum votes per person</quote> value at '0'.
<qandaentry>
<question id="faq-phb-cost">
<para>
Is there any licensing fee or other fees for using Bugzilla? Any
out-of-pocket cost other than the bodies needed as identified above?
</para> </para>
</question>
<answer>
<para> <para>
No. MySQL asks, if you find their product valuable, that you purchase There is work being done to decouple the UNCONFIRMED state from
a support contract from them that suits your needs. the 'usevotes' parameter for future versions of Bugzilla.
Follow the discussion and progress at <ulink
url="https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=162060">bug
162060</ulink>.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
</qandadiv> </qandadiv>
<qandadiv id="faq-security"> <qandadiv id="faq-security">
...@@ -592,21 +738,24 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -592,21 +738,24 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-security-mysql"> <question id="faq-security-mysql">
<para> <para>
How do I completely disable MySQL security if it's giving me problems How do I completely disable MySQL security if it's giving
(I've followed the instructions in the installation section of this guide)? me problems? (I've followed the instructions in the installation
section of this guide...)
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<!-- Should we really even answer this question? --> <!-- Should we really even answer this question? -->
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Run MySQL like this: "mysqld --skip-grant-tables". Please remember <emphasis>this Run MySQL like this: <command>mysqld --skip-grant-tables</command>.
makes MySQL as secure as taping a $100 to the floor of a football stadium Please remember that <emphasis>this makes MySQL as secure as
bathroom for safekeeping.</emphasis> taping a $100 to the floor of a football stadium bathroom for
safekeeping.</emphasis>
</para> </para>
<warning> <warning>
<para>This can't be stressed enough. Doing this is a bad idea. <para>
Please consult <xref linkend="security-mysql"/> of this guide and This can't be stressed enough. Doing this is a bad idea.
the MySQL documentation for better solutions. Please consult <xref linkend="security-mysql"/> of this guide
and the MySQL documentation for better solutions.
</para> </para>
</warning> </warning>
</answer> </answer>
...@@ -620,11 +769,11 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -620,11 +769,11 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
The Bugzilla code has undergone a reasonably complete security audit, The Bugzilla code has undergone a reasonably complete security
and user-facing CGIs run under Perl's taint mode. However, audit, and user-facing CGIs run under Perl's taint mode. However,
it is recommended that you closely examine permissions on your Bugzilla it is recommended that you closely examine permissions on your
installation, and follow the recommended security guidelines found Bugzilla installation, and follow the recommended security
in The Bugzilla Guide. guidelines found in The Bugzilla Guide.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -636,15 +785,19 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -636,15 +785,19 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-email-nomail"> <question id="faq-email-nomail">
<para> <para>
I have a user who doesn't want to receive any more email from Bugzilla. I have a user who doesn't want to receive any more email
How do I stop it entirely for this user? from Bugzilla. How do I stop it entirely for this user?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
The user should be able to set The user can stop Bugzilla from sending any mail by unchecking
this in user email preferences (uncheck all boxes) or you can add all boxes on the 'Edit prefs' -> 'Email settings' page.
their email address to the <filename>data/nomail</filename> file. (As of 2.18,this is made easier by the addition of a 'Disable
All Mail' button.) Alternately, you can add their email address
to the <filename>data/nomail</filename> file (one email address
per line). This will override their personal preferences, and
they will never be sent mail again.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -652,14 +805,14 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -652,14 +805,14 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-email-testing"> <question id="faq-email-testing">
<para> <para>
I'm evaluating/testing Bugzilla, and don't want it to send email to I'm evaluating/testing Bugzilla, and don't want it to send email
anyone but me. How do I do it? to anyone but me. How do I do it?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Edit the "newchangedmail" Param. Replace "To:" with "X-Real-To:", New to 2.18: Go into <filename>BugMail.pm</filename>
replace "Cc:" with "X-Real-CC:", and add a "To: &lt;youremailaddress&gt;". and set the '$enableSendMail' value to '0'.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -673,12 +826,21 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -673,12 +826,21 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Try Klaas Freitag's excellent patch for "whineatassigned" For older versions of Bugzilla, you may be able to apply
functionality. You can find it in <ulink Klaas Freitag's patch for <quote>whineatassigned</quote>,
url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=6679">bug 6679</ulink>. This which can be found in
patch is against an older version of Bugzilla, so you must apply <ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=6679">bug
the diffs manually. 6679</ulink>. Note that this patch was made in 2000, so it may take
<!-- TODO: Mention Joel's "Fine Whine" patch. --> some work to apply cleanly to any releases of Bugzilla newer than
that, but you can use it as a starting point.
</para>
<para>
An updated (and much-expanded) version of this functionality is
due to be released as part of Bugzilla 2.20; see
<ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=6679">bug
185090</ulink> for the discussion, and for more up-to-date patches
if you just can't wait.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -700,22 +862,29 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -700,22 +862,29 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-email-sendmailnow"> <question id="faq-email-sendmailnow">
<para> <para>
Email takes FOREVER to reach me from Bugzilla -- it's extremely slow. Email takes FOREVER to reach me from Bugzilla -- it's
What gives? extremely slow. What gives?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
If you are using <application>sendmail</application>, try enabling If you are using <application>sendmail</application>, try
<option>sendmailnow</option> in <filename>editparams.cgi</filename>. enabling <option>sendmailnow</option> in
<!-- TODO provide more info about this, possibly a link to admin --> <filename>editparams.cgi</filename>. For earlier versions of
<application>sendmail</application>, one could achieve
significant performance improvement in the UI (at the cost of
delaying the sending of mail) by setting this parameter to
<literal>off</literal>. Sites with
<application>sendmail</application> version 8.12 (or higher)
should leave this <literal>on</literal>, as they will not see
any performance benefit.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
If you are using an alternate <glossterm linkend="gloss-mta">MTA</glossterm>, If you are using an alternate
make sure the options given in <filename>Bugzilla/BugMail.pm</filename> <glossterm linkend="gloss-mta">MTA</glossterm>, make sure the
and any other place where <application>sendmail</application> is called from options given in <filename>Bugzilla/BugMail.pm</filename>
are correct for your MTA. You should also ensure that the and any other place where <application>sendmail</application>
<option>sendmailnow</option> param is set to <literal>on</literal>. is called are correct for your MTA.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -728,15 +897,22 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -728,15 +897,22 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Double-check that you have not turned off email in your user preferences. Double-check that you have not turned off email in your user
Confirm that Bugzilla is able to send email by visiting the "Log In" preferences. Confirm that Bugzilla is able to send email by
link of your Bugzilla installation and clicking the "Email me a password" visiting the <quote>Log In</quote> link of your Bugzilla
installation and clicking the <quote>Email me a password</quote>
button after entering your email address. button after entering your email address.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
If you never receive mail from Bugzilla, chances are you do not have If you never receive mail from Bugzilla, chances are you do
sendmail in "/usr/lib/sendmail". Ensure sendmail lives in, or is symlinked not have sendmail in "/usr/lib/sendmail". Ensure sendmail
to, "/usr/lib/sendmail". lives in, or is symlinked to, "/usr/lib/sendmail".
</para>
<para>
If you are using an MTA other than
<application>sendmail</application> the
<option>sendmailnow</option> param must be set to
<literal>on</literal> or no mail will be sent.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -746,35 +922,17 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -746,35 +922,17 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<title>Bugzilla Database</title> <title>Bugzilla Database</title>
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-db-oracle">
<para>
I've heard Bugzilla can be used with Oracle?
</para>
</question>
<answer>
<para>
Red Hat's old version of Bugzilla (based on 2.8) worked on Oracle,
but it is now so old as to be obsolete, and is totally unsupported.
Red Hat's newer version (based on 2.17.1 and soon to be merged into
the main distribution) runs on PostgreSQL. At this time we know of
no recent ports of Bugzilla to Oracle; to be honest, Bugzilla
doesn't need what Oracle offers.
</para>
</answer>
</qandaentry>
<qandaentry>
<question id="faq-db-corrupted"> <question id="faq-db-corrupted">
<para> <para>
I think my database might be corrupted, or contain invalid entries. What I think my database might be corrupted, or contain
do I do? invalid entries. What do I do?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Run the <quote>sanity check</quote> utility Run the <quote>sanity check</quote> utility
(<filename>sanitycheck.cgi</filename>) from your web browser to see! (<filename>sanitycheck.cgi</filename>) from your web browser
If it finishes without errors, you're to see! If it finishes without errors, you're
<emphasis>probably</emphasis> OK. If it doesn't come back <emphasis>probably</emphasis> OK. If it doesn't come back
OK (i.e. any red letters), there are certain things OK (i.e. any red letters), there are certain things
Bugzilla can recover from and certain things it can't. If Bugzilla can recover from and certain things it can't. If
...@@ -798,33 +956,43 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -798,33 +956,43 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
There is no facility in Bugzilla itself to do this. It's also generally There is no facility in Bugzilla itself to do this. It's also
not a smart thing to do if you don't know exactly what you're doing. generally not a smart thing to do if you don't know exactly what
However, if you understand SQL you can use the <command>mysql</command> you're doing. If you understand SQL, though, you can use the
command line utility to manually insert, delete and modify table <command>mysql</command> command line utility to manually insert,
information. There are also more intuitive GUI clients available. delete and modify table information. There are also more intuitive
Personal favorites of the Bugzilla team are <ulink GUI clients available. Personal favorites of the Bugzilla team
url="http://www.phpmyadmin.net/">phpMyAdmin</ulink> and <ulink are <ulink url="http://www.phpmyadmin.net/">phpMyAdmin</ulink>
url="http://www.mysql.com/downloads/gui-mycc.html">MySQL Control and <ulink url="http://www.mysql.com/products/mysqlcc/">MySQL
Center</ulink>. Control Center</ulink>.
</para> </para>
<para>
Remember, backups are your friend. Everyone makes mistakes, and
it's nice to have a safety net in case you mess something up.
Consider using <command>mysqldump</command> to make a duplicate
of your database before altering it manually.
</para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-db-permissions"> <question id="faq-db-permissions">
<para> <para>
I think I've set up MySQL permissions correctly, but Bugzilla still can't I think I've set up MySQL permissions correctly, but Bugzilla still
connect. can't connect.
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Try running MySQL from its binary: "mysqld --skip-grant-tables". This Try running MySQL from its binary:
will allow you to completely rule out grant tables as the cause of your <command>mysqld --skip-grant-tables</command>.
frustration. If this Bugzilla is able to connect at this point then This will allow you to completely rule out grant tables as the
you need to check that you have granted proper permission to the user cause of your frustration. If this Bugzilla is able to connect
password combo defined in <filename>localconfig</filename>. at this point then you need to check that you have granted proper
permission to the user password combo defined in
<filename>localconfig</filename>.
</para> </para>
<warning> <warning>
<para> <para>
...@@ -839,26 +1007,28 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -839,26 +1007,28 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-db-synchronize"> <question id="faq-db-synchronize">
<para> <para>
How do I synchronize bug information among multiple different Bugzilla How do I synchronize bug information among multiple
databases? different Bugzilla databases?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Well, you can synchronize or you can move bugs. Synchronization will Well, you can synchronize or you can move bugs.
only work one way -- you can create a read-only copy of the database Synchronization will only work one way -- you can create
at one site, and have it regularly updated at intervals from the main a read-only copy of the database at one site, and have it
database. regularly updated at intervals from the main database.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
MySQL has some synchronization features builtin to the latest releases. MySQL has some synchronization features builtin to the
It would be great if someone looked into the possibilities there latest releases. It would be great if someone looked into
and provided a report to the newsgroup on how to effectively the possibilities there and provided a report to the
synchronize two Bugzilla installations. newsgroup on how to effectively synchronize two Bugzilla
installations.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
If you simply need to transfer bugs from one Bugzilla to another, If you simply need to transfer bugs from one Bugzilla to another,
checkout the "move.pl" script in the Bugzilla distribution. checkout the <quote>move.pl</quote> script in the Bugzilla
distribution.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -876,7 +1046,22 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -876,7 +1046,22 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Remove Windows. Install Linux. Install Bugzilla. Remove Windows. Install Linux. Install Bugzilla.
The boss will never know the difference. The boss will never know the difference. B^)
</para>
<para>
Seriously though, making Bugzilla work easily with Windows
was one of the major goals of the 2.18 milestone. If the
necessary components are in place (perl, a webserver, an MTA, etc.)
then installation of Bugzilla on a Windows box should be no more
difficult than on any other platform. As with any installation,
we recommend that you carefully and completely follow the
installation instructions in <xref linkend="os-win32"/>.
</para>
<para>
While doing so, don't forget to check out the very excellent guide
to <ulink url="http://www.bugzilla.org/docs/win32install.html">
Installing Bugzilla on Microsoft Windows</ulink> written by
Byron Jones. Thanks, Byron!
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -899,29 +1084,32 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -899,29 +1084,32 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-nt-mappings"> <question id="faq-nt-mappings">
<para> <para>
CGI's are failing with a "something.cgi is not a valid Windows NT CGI's are failing with a <quote>something.cgi is not a valid
application" error. Why? Windows NT application</quote> error. Why?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
Depending on what Web server you are using, you will have to configure Depending on what Web server you are using, you will have to
the Web server to treat *.cgi files as CGI scripts. In IIS, you do this by configure the Web server to treat *.cgi files as CGI scripts.
adding *.cgi to the App Mappings with the &lt;path&gt;\perl.exe %s %s as the In IIS, you do this by adding *.cgi to the App Mappings with
executable. the &lt;path&gt;\perl.exe %s %s as the executable.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
Microsoft has some advice on this matter, as well: Microsoft has some advice on this matter, as well:
<blockquote> <blockquote>
<para> <para>
"Set application mappings. In the ISM, map the extension for the script <quote>Set application mappings. In the ISM, map the extension
file(s) to the executable for the script interpreter. For example, you might for the script file(s) to the executable for the script
map the extension .py to Python.exe, the executable for the Python script interpreter. For example, you might map the extension .py to
interpreter. Note For the ActiveState Perl script interpreter, the extension Python.exe, the executable for the Python script interpreter.
.pl is associated with PerlIS.dll by default. If you want to change the Note For the ActiveState Perl script interpreter, the extension
association of .pl to perl.exe, you need to change the application mapping. '.pl' is associated with PerlIS.dll by default. If you want
In the mapping, you must add two percent (%) characters to the end of the to change the association of .pl to perl.exe, you need to
pathname for perl.exe, as shown in this example: c:\perl\bin\perl.exe %s %s" change the application mapping. In the mapping, you must add
two percent (%) characters to the end of the pathname for
perl.exe, as shown in this example:
<command>c:\perl\bin\perl.exe %s %s</command></quote>
</para> </para>
</blockquote> </blockquote>
</para> </para>
...@@ -931,8 +1119,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -931,8 +1119,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-nt-dbi"> <question id="faq-nt-dbi">
<para> <para>
I'm having trouble with the perl modules for NT not being able to talk to I'm having trouble with the perl modules for NT not being
to the database. able to talk to the database.
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
...@@ -965,9 +1153,9 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -965,9 +1153,9 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</para> </para>
</listitem> </listitem>
</orderedlist> </orderedlist>
I reckon TimeDate and Data::Dumper come with the activeperl. You can check I reckon TimeDate and Data::Dumper come with the activeperl.
the ActiveState site for packages for installation through PPM. You can check the ActiveState site for packages for installation
<ulink url="http://www.activestate.com/Packages/"/>. through PPM. <ulink url="http://www.activestate.com/Packages/"/>.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -985,8 +1173,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -985,8 +1173,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
New in 2.16 - go to the Account section of the Preferences. You will New in 2.16 - go to the Account section of the Preferences. You
be emailed at both addresses for confirmation. will be emailed at both addresses for confirmation.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -994,14 +1182,40 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -994,14 +1182,40 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-use-query"> <question id="faq-use-query">
<para> <para>
The query page is very confusing. Isn't there a simpler way to query? The query page is very confusing.
Isn't there a simpler way to query?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
The interface was simplified by a UI designer for 2.16. Further The interface was simplified by a UI designer for 2.16. Further
suggestions for improvement are welcome, but we won't sacrifice power for suggestions for improvement are welcome, but we won't sacrifice
simplicity. power for simplicity.
</para>
<para>
As of 2.18, there is also a 'simpler' search available. At the top
of the search page are two links; <quote>Advanced Search</quote>
will take you to the familiar full-power/full-complexity search
page. The <quote>Find a Specific Bug</quote> link will take you
to a much-simplified page where you can pick a product and
status (open,closed, or both), then enter words that appear in
the bug you want to find. This search will scour the 'Summary'
and 'Comment' fields, and return a list of bugs sorted so that
the bugs with the most hits/matches are nearer to the top.
</para>
<note>
<para>
Matches in the Summary will 'trump' matches in comments,
and bugs with summary-matches will be placed higher in
the buglist -- even if a lower-ranked bug has more matches
in the comments section.
</para>
</note>
<para>
Bugzilla uses a cookie to remember which version of the page
you visited last, and brings that page up when you next do a
search. The default page for new users (or after an upgrade)
is the 'simple' search.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -1009,22 +1223,36 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -1009,22 +1223,36 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-use-accept"> <question id="faq-use-accept">
<para> <para>
I'm confused by the behavior of the "accept" button in the Show Bug form. I'm confused by the behavior of the <quote>Accept</quote>
Why doesn't it assign the bug to me when I accept it? button in the Show Bug form. Why doesn't it assign the bug
to me when I accept it?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
The current behavior is acceptable to bugzilla.mozilla.org and most The current behavior is acceptable to bugzilla.mozilla.org and
users. You have your choice of patches to change this behavior, however. most users. If you want to change this behavior, though, you
have your choice of patches:
<simplelist> <simplelist>
<member><ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/showattachment.cgi?attach_id=8029"> <member>
Add a "and accept bug" radio button</ulink></member> <ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug?id=35195">Bug 35195</ulink>
<member><ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/showattachment.cgi?attach_id=8153"> seeks to add an <quote>...and accept the bug</quote> checkbox
"Accept" button automatically assigns to you</ulink></member> to the UI. It has two patches attached to it:
<ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/showattachment.cgi?attach_id=8029">attachment 8029</ulink>
was originally created for Bugzilla 2.12, while
<ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/showattachment.cgi?attach_id=91372">attachment 91372</ulink>
is an updated version for Bugzilla 2.16
</member>
<member>
<ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug?id=37613">Bug
37613</ulink> also provides two patches (against Bugzilla
2.12): one to add a 'Take Bug' option, and the other to
automatically reassign the bug on 'Accept'.
</member>
</simplelist> </simplelist>
Note that these patches are somewhat dated. You will need to apply These patches are all somewhat dated now, and cannot be applied
them manually. directly, but they are simple enough to provide a guide on how
Bugzilla can be customized and updated to suit your needs.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -1032,15 +1260,15 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -1032,15 +1260,15 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-use-attachment"> <question id="faq-use-attachment">
<para> <para>
I can't upload anything into the database via the "Create Attachment" I can't upload anything into the database via the
link. What am I doing wrong? <quote>Create Attachment</quote> link. What am I doing wrong?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
The most likely cause is a very old browser or a browser that is The most likely cause is a very old browser or a browser that is
incompatible with file upload via POST. Download the latest Netscape, incompatible with file upload via POST. Download the latest version
Microsoft, or Mozilla browser to handle uploads correctly. of your favourite browser to handle uploads correctly.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -1053,9 +1281,10 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -1053,9 +1281,10 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
In the Bugzilla administrator UI, edit the keyword and it will let you In the Bugzilla administrator UI, edit the keyword and
replace the old keyword name with a new one. This will cause a problem it will let you replace the old keyword name with a new one.
with the keyword cache. Run sanitycheck.cgi to fix it. This will cause a problem with the keyword cache; run
<command>sanitycheck.cgi</command> to fix it.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -1063,21 +1292,38 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -1063,21 +1292,38 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-use-close"> <question id="faq-use-close">
<para> <para>
Why can't I close bugs from the "Change Several Bugs at Once" page? Why can't I close bugs from the <quote>Change Several Bugs
at Once</quote> page?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
The logic flow currently used is RESOLVED, then VERIFIED, then CLOSED. Simple answer; you can.
You <emphasis>can</emphasis> mass-CLOSE bugs from the change several </para>
bugs at once page. <emphasis>but</emphasis>, every bug listed on the
page has to be in VERIFIED state before the control to do it will show <para>
up on the form. You can also mass-VERIFY, but every bug listed has to be The logic behind the page checks every bug in the list to
RESOLVED in order for the control to show up on the form. The logic determine legal state changes, and then only shows you controls
behind this is that if you pick one of the bugs that's not VERIFIED and to do things that could apply to <emphasis>every</emphasis> bug
try to CLOSE it, the bug change will fail miserably (thus killing any on the list. The reason for this is that if you try to do something
changes in the list after it while doing the bulk change) so it doesn't illegal to a bug, the whole process will grind to a halt, and all
even give you the choice. changes after the failed one will <emphasis>also</emphasis> fail.
Since that isn't a good outcome, the page doesn't even present
you with the option.
</para>
<para>
In practical terms, that means that in order to mark
multiple bugs as CLOSED, then every bug on the page has to be
either RESOLVED or VERIFIED already; if this is not the case,
then the option to close the bugs will not appear on the page.
</para>
<para>
The rationale is that if you pick one of the bugs that's not
VERIFIED and try to CLOSE it, the bug change will fail
miserably (thus killing any changes in the list after it
while doing the bulk change) so it doesn'teven give you the choice.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -1136,8 +1382,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -1136,8 +1382,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
enhancement for Bugzilla. enhancement for Bugzilla.
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
You can view bugs marked for &bz-nextver; release You can view bugs marked for &amp;bz-nextver; release
<ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/buglist.cgi?product=Bugzilla&amp;target_milestone=Bugzilla+&bz-nextver;">here</ulink>. <ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/buglist.cgi?product=Bugzilla&amp;target_milestone=Bugzilla+&amp;bz-nextver;">here</ulink>.
This list includes bugs for the &bz-nextver; release that have already This list includes bugs for the &bz-nextver; release that have already
been fixed and checked into CVS. Please consult the been fixed and checked into CVS. Please consult the
<ulink url="http://www.bugzilla.org/"> <ulink url="http://www.bugzilla.org/">
...@@ -1151,16 +1397,20 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -1151,16 +1397,20 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-hacking-priority"> <question id="faq-hacking-priority">
<para> <para>
How can I change the default priority to a null value? For instance, have the default How can I change the default priority to a null value?
priority be "---" instead of "P2"? For instance, have the default priority be <quote>---</quote>
instead of <quote>P2</quote>?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
<para> <para>
This is well-documented in <ulink url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=49862"> This is well-documented in <ulink
bug 49862</ulink>. Ultimately, it's as easy as adding the "---" priority field to your url="http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=49862">bug
localconfig file in the appropriate area, re-running checksetup.pl, and then changing the 49862</ulink>. Ultimately, it's as easy as adding the
default priority in your browser using "editparams.cgi". <quote>---</quote> priority field to your localconfig file
in the appropriate area, re-running checksetup.pl, and then
changing the default priority in your browser using
<command>editparams.cgi</command>.
</para> </para>
</answer> </answer>
</qandaentry> </qandaentry>
...@@ -1168,7 +1418,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -1168,7 +1418,8 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
<qandaentry> <qandaentry>
<question id="faq-hacking-patches"> <question id="faq-hacking-patches">
<para> <para>
What's the best way to submit patches? What guidelines should I follow? What's the best way to submit patches? What guidelines
should I follow?
</para> </para>
</question> </question>
<answer> <answer>
...@@ -1183,36 +1434,39 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl ...@@ -1183,36 +1434,39 @@ perl -pi -e 's@#\!/usr/bin/perl@#\!/usr/local/bin/perl@' *cgi *pl
</listitem> </listitem>
<listitem> <listitem>
<para> <para>
Upload your patch as a unified diff (having used "diff -u" against Upload your patch as a unified diff (having used <quote>diff
the <emphasis>current sources</emphasis> checked out of CVS), -u</quote> against the <emphasis>current sources</emphasis>
or new source file by clicking checked out of CVS), or new source file by clicking
"Create a new attachment" link on the bug page you've just created, and <quote>Create a new attachment</quote> link on the bug
include any descriptions of database changes you may make, into the bug page you've just created, and include any descriptions of
ID you submitted in step #1. Be sure and click the "Patch" checkbox database changes you may make, into the bug ID you submitted
in step #1. Be sure and click the <quote>Patch</quote> checkbox
to indicate the text you are sending is a patch! to indicate the text you are sending is a patch!
</para> </para>
</listitem> </listitem>
<listitem> <listitem>
<para> <para>
Announce your patch and the associated URL Announce your patch and the associated URL
(http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=XXXXXX) for discussion in (http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=XXXXXX)
the newsgroup (netscape.public.mozilla.webtools). You'll get a really for discussion in the newsgroup
good, fairly immediate reaction to the implications of your patch, (netscape.public.mozilla.webtools). You'll get a
which will also give us an idea how well-received the change would really good, fairly immediate reaction to the
be. implications of your patch, which will also give us
an idea how well-received the change would be.
</para> </para>
</listitem> </listitem>
<listitem> <listitem>
<para> <para>
If it passes muster with minimal modification, the person to whom If it passes muster with minimal modification, the
the bug is assigned in Bugzilla is responsible for seeing the patch person to whom the bug is assigned in Bugzilla is
is checked into CVS. responsible for seeing the patch is checked into CVS.
</para> </para>
</listitem> </listitem>
<listitem> <listitem>
<para> <para>
Bask in the glory of the fact that you helped write the most successful Bask in the glory of the fact that you helped write
open-source bug-tracking software on the planet :) the most successful open-source bug-tracking software
on the planet :)
</para> </para>
</listitem> </listitem>
</orderedlist> </orderedlist>
......
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