📘 1. Smart Docs & Smart Reports 

Q: Why is the “Linked WI” column missing in Smart Docs?

A: It was introduced in MR 2025. Upgrading to MR 2025 enables this field.

Q: SmartDoc clone doesn’t open or shows no menu actions—why?

A: Simultaneous cloning, especially with special characters in names, can cause incomplete processing. Support may apply a hotfix to resolve this.

Q: Why are SmartDocs missing from the folder list even though work items exist?

A: This happens due to UI rendering or indexing delays. Support can restore missing entries if needed.

Q: SmartDoc shows old or incorrect versions of work items. What causes this?

A: Browser cache or rendering inconsistencies. Try switching browsers, clearing cache, or reloading.

Q: Sorting in Smart Reports doesn’t match backlog “Order.” Why?

A: “Order” is not an ADO field. Use Stack Rank instead. Newer hotfixes ensure sorting works even if Stack Rank is hidden.

Q: Can attachments be embedded inside Smart Reports?

A: Not currently. Reports can only display links, not embedded attachments.

Q: Approved SmartDoc shows attachment placeholders. Why?

A: SmartDocs reference attachments at approval time. If attachments are changed or removed later, placeholder text appears.

📘 2. Baselines, Reviews, and SmartView

Q: Why is the Baseline module extremely slow or failing?

A: Causes include previous custom fixes expiring, server changes, or template issues. Logs (console + HAR) are needed to diagnose.

Q: SmartView won’t open and shows “Page not found." What does this mean?

A: Often due to process template issues or multi‑value fields. Testing in another project confirms this.

Q: Reviewers are not receiving email notifications. How to fix this?

A: Configure SMTP settings in the Web.config of the MR Service. Missing SMTP host/credentials cause email failure.

Q: Can reviews/approvals be forced in sequence (1→2→3)?

A: No. Sequential flows are intentionally not supported due to workflow bottlenecks.

📘 3. Copilot4DevOps – Chat, Elicit, Analyze, 6C

Q: Copilot Chat freezes at 90% or displays a blank window. Why?

A: Most commonly caused by:

• Third‑party cookies disabled
• Edge Local Network Access restrictions
• VPN / proxy blocks
• Corporate network blocking LLM endpoints

Use Chrome, enable cookies, or request IT to unblock endpoints.

Q: Copilot doesn’t analyze all work items. Why?

A: Older builds page data (10 per batch). Use sequence:

1. “Fetch all work items…”
2. “Analyze all fetched items…”

Q: Why does Copilot modify work items unexpectedly?

A: Prompts that imply changes (e.g., “fix”, “improve”) trigger updates. Clearly state: "Do NOT modify work items."

Q: Translation stops mid‑way on long text. Why?

A: Long text triggers token limits. Fixed in v7+ and 7.1.

Q: Does Copilot support GPT‑5?

A: Only in v7 and newer.

Q: Why don’t “Translate” or “6C Method” work with my custom LLM?

A: Custom LLMs often hit token or payload limits. Compare behavior with MR's default models for verification.

Q: Copilot sidebar does not appear in Backlogs. How to enable it?

A: Requires:

• A Project Collection Admin to authorize the extension
• Refresh or new session after authorization
• Correct version of MR with Copilot integration

Q: Copilot reports “Rate Limit Reached” or “context length exceeded” for small prompts.

A: Token count includes entire conversation history + system instructions. Start a new chat session.

📘 4. API Behavior & Integrations

Q: Will API changes break existing automations?

A: No. API changes add new endpoints; older ones remain stable to avoid regressions.

Q: Will API updates deploy automatically?

A: For some customers, Dev/Test servers auto‑update. Production environments require approval.

Q: Can automation rely on existing Baseline/Smart Report API endpoints?

A: Yes. Existing endpoints remain functional even when new baseline APIs are added.

📘 5. Licensing & Activation

Q: Licensed user cannot access Copilot Chat. Why?

A: Common causes:

• Copilot extension not installed in the user’s ADO org
• User logged in with a different ADO identity
• License not synchronized

Q: User does not see activation popup or activation hangs. Why?

A: Usually due to browser network restrictions. HAR logs typically show blocked calls.

Q: How do we remove a user from the license server?

A: User clears their own license from MR → Support unbinds them → License becomes available.

📘 6. Installation, Server, & System Issues

Q: “Mongo Database service unavailable” appears frequently. Why?

A: Often caused by Windows Security Updates. Restarting service resolves it, but repeated failures require investigation.

Q: Copilot extension in Azure DevOps Server is stuck at version 40.0.1. What to do?

A:

1. Delete extension from local extension directory
2. Reinstall from Marketplace
3. Verify true Copilot version in Admin panel

📘 7. Browser, Cache, and Environment Issues

Q: Why does switching browsers fix SmartDoc display issues?

A: SmartDocs rely heavily on cached metadata. Edge has stricter local security checks than Chrome.

Q: Downloads from MR are blocked or warned by browser. Why?

A: Modern browsers block auto‑downloads for security. Manually allow downloads for the MR domain.

Q: Why does SmartDoc show different content in Edge vs Chrome?

A: Edge’s Local Network Access restrictions can block some calls that Chrome allows.

📘 8. Token Usage & Performance Constraints

Q: Why is my Copilot token quota consumed after very few prompts?

A: Token usage includes:

• Prompt
• System instructions
• Conversation history
• Function‑call data

Resetting chat or clearing history reduces token consumption.

Q: Why do I get context length errors even with short prompts?

A: Session history accumulates tokens. Clear session → retry.

📘 9. Work Item Creation & Automation

Q: Copilot gets stuck when creating an Epic or Story. Why?

A: Often due to blocked network/API calls. HAR logs typically show failing requests. Network unblock resolves it.

Q: Copilot fails due to required fields during work item creation. How to fix?

A: Required fields must match your process template. If template uses custom required fields, prompt Copilot with explicit values.

📘 10. Missing Functionality & Product Behavior

Q: Why doesn’t Copilot sidebar appear although it was shown in demos?

A: Some features only existed in Standalone Copilot initially. Recent updates added support for integrated MR+Copilot environments.

Q: Why can’t I configure fields for Baseline Compare?

A: Field selection is controlled via Admin → General. Move fields to "Selected" to include them.