Query work items by WIQL (filters and date range)

Use a WIQL (Work Item Query Language) query to filter work items by project, ID range, changed/created dates, work item type, state, priority, and more. The query runs on the server and returns only matching rows. This example shows typical filters: project, ID range, date variables like @Today and @StartOfYear, and ordering by changed date.

For full syntax and operators, see WIQL syntax and query operators and variables.

Standard SQL query example

This is the base query accepted by the connector. To execute it in SQL Server, you have to pass it to the Data Gateway via a Linked Server. See how to accomplish this using the examples below.

SELECT * FROM WorkItems WITH (Query='SELECT * FROM WorkItems 
WHERE [System.Id] > 2000 AND [System.Id] < 7050 
	AND [System.TeamProject]=''ProductTesting''
	AND [System.ChangedDate] < @Today
	AND [System.CreatedDate] > @StartOfYear
	AND [System.WorkItemType]=''Task'' 
	AND [System.State]=''Resolved'' 
	AND [Microsoft.VSTS.Common.Priority] >= 1
	ORDER BY [System.ChangedDate] DESC
	')

Using OPENQUERY in SQL Server

SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY([LS_TO_AZURE_DEVOPS_IN_GATEWAY], 'SELECT * FROM WorkItems WITH (Query=''SELECT * FROM WorkItems 
WHERE [System.Id] > 2000 AND [System.Id] < 7050 
	AND [System.TeamProject]=''''ProductTesting''''
	AND [System.ChangedDate] < @Today
	AND [System.CreatedDate] > @StartOfYear
	AND [System.WorkItemType]=''''Task'''' 
	AND [System.State]=''''Resolved'''' 
	AND [Microsoft.VSTS.Common.Priority] >= 1
	ORDER BY [System.ChangedDate] DESC
	'')')

Using EXEC in SQL Server (handling larger SQL text)

The major drawback of OPENQUERY is its inability to incorporate variables within SQL statements. This often leads to the use of cumbersome dynamic SQL (with numerous ticks and escape characters).

Fortunately, starting with SQL 2005 and onwards, you can utilize the EXEC (your_sql) AT [LS_TO_AZURE_DEVOPS_IN_GATEWAY] syntax.

DECLARE @MyQuery NVARCHAR(MAX) = 'SELECT * FROM WorkItems WITH (Query=''SELECT * FROM WorkItems 
WHERE [System.Id] > 2000 AND [System.Id] < 7050 
	AND [System.TeamProject]=''''ProductTesting''''
	AND [System.ChangedDate] < @Today
	AND [System.CreatedDate] > @StartOfYear
	AND [System.WorkItemType]=''''Task'''' 
	AND [System.State]=''''Resolved'''' 
	AND [Microsoft.VSTS.Common.Priority] >= 1
	ORDER BY [System.ChangedDate] DESC
	'')'
EXEC (@MyQuery) AT [LS_TO_AZURE_DEVOPS_IN_GATEWAY]