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Overview
The Refinement Backlog is the first tab of Backlog Refinement. It lists every card in the Backlog or Groomed state, so you can review, estimate, and prioritise cards before a sprint. Backlog and Groomed cards share one list, so you do not move cards between two tabs.
The list has the same fields as the workitem listing for each card type.
Navigation
From the top menu of the project, expand Agile Planning and select Backlog Refinement. The Refinement Backlog opens first.
Summary
The Summary panel at the top gives the current picture. Use the arrow at its right to collapse it. It has six boxes:
- Backlog shows the number of cards in the Backlog state and their story points.
- Groomed shows the number of cards in the Groomed state and their story points.
- Unestimated shows the number of cards that have no estimate points.
- Blocked shows the number of blocked cards and their story points.
- Total Cards in backlog compares the cards in this list with all the cards in the project.
- Total points in backlog compares the estimate points of this list with the points of the whole project.
Select Backlog, Groomed, Unestimated, or Blocked to show only those cards in the list. The other boxes update to match. Select the box again to clear the filter.
Hover over a gauge to see how the project cards are spread. Done counts closed cards, In-Progress counts cards in an in-progress column type, and Pending counts the rest. Pending is split into Backlog, Groomed, and Ready for Sprint.
Card Types
The tabs below the Summary show one card type at a time, for example All Cards, User Story, and Technical Story. The number beside each tab is its card count. The drop-down at the top right does the same.
Group By
Select Group by at the top right to open the Group By drawer. A number beside the button shows how many group levels are on.
- In Group By, select the first level, for example Backlog Refinement State.
- In Then Group By, select a second level, for example Assigned to.
- To limit the list, tick the values you want in the drawer. Clear the tick to show them again.
- Select CLEAR to remove the grouping.
You can group by Assigned to, Backlog Refinement State, Blocking Reason, Board Column, Board Lane, Class of Service, Created By, Modified By, Parent Card, Priority, TShirt Size, or Card Type. The second level does not repeat the first.
Each group header shows the number of items, the story points, and a progress bar. A first-level header also shows how many cards of the project are completed.
Refinement Backlog Listing
The list shows the ID, name, assignee, estimate points, and status of each card. Select an ID to open the card. When you save it, you return to the list, and the Summary updates with the new points or state.
Move Cards Between States
Select the check boxes of the cards you want to move. The bar at the bottom shows how many cards you selected and their total story points. The buttons depend on the state of the selected cards:
- For Backlog cards, select MARK AS GROOMED.
- For Groomed cards, select MARK AS BACKLOG to send them back, or MOVE TO READY FOR SPRINT ALLOCATION to send them to Sprint Planning.
A message confirms the change and has an Undo link. You cannot select Backlog and Groomed cards together. If you try, a message asks you to select cards from one state only.
When you are ready, plan the cards in Sprint Planning.