TFS (2005) Power Tools Final Release

The latest and final release of the Team Foundation Server 2005 Power Tools have been released.  This release includes two new additions to the existing Power Tool set:

1. TFS Work Item Templates - work item templates allow you to define templates for existing work item types with specific fields already filled in.  The work item templates are accessible via a Visual Studio add-in allowing easy access to your templates.  This can be a great time saver if you fill out lots of work items - especially if they have a lot of fields that tend to use the same default values each time.
   
2. Team Foundation Server Best Practices Analyzer (TfsBpa) - this is a utility that a lot of people have been eagerly waiting for for some time now.  The TfsBpa can be used to check an existing environment prior to installing TFS 2005 to ensure all pre-requisite requirements are met.  You can also utilize the TfsBpa to troubleshoot existing installation that may not be working as expected.  This utility is going to save a lot of time in the near future for anyone installing TFS 2005 or troubleshooting an existing installation.  There are some installation issues that need to be reviewed prior to installing so be sure to check out the link below.

Brian Harry has posted more details on the above release here.  Brian states that this will be the final Power Tools release for TFS 2005.  I only wish they would have gotten the TFS Best Practices Analyzer out a long time ago instead of waiting until the product has been (for all intents and purposes) replaced by TFS 2008.  He does write, however, that the 2008 version of these tools should be out within a few months along with some new tools that aren't in the current release.