TFS 2017 cannot find new Work Item Type

Question

I have just added a new work item type using the witadmin tool:

witadmin.exe importwitd /collection:"http://mytfsserver.com:8080/tfs/myprojcol" /p:"myproj" /f:"mywit.xml"

The import was successful with message:

The work item type import has completed.

I then proceeded to update the categories, referring the new WIT in the RequirementCategory:

witadmin.exe importcategories /collection:"http://mytfsserver:8080/tfs/myprojcol" /p:"myproj" /f:"categories.xml"

I got an error response:

TF237059: The import of the category definition failed. In the type definition,
category Requirement Category refers to a work item type that does not exist mywit.

I tried to get the list of WITs from the server:

witadmin.exe listwitd /collection:"http://mytfsserver:8080/tfs/myprojcol" /p:"myproj"

But my recently added WIT was not on the list.

I tried to remove it:

witadmin.exe destroywitd /collection:"http://mytfsserver:8080/tfs/myprojcol" /p:"myproj" /n:"mywit"

And also get its definition:

witadmin.exe exportwitd /collection:"http://mytfsserver:8080/tfs/myprojcol" /p:"myproj" /f:"mywit.xml" /n:"mywit"

And got the same error response for both requests:

TF201077: The work item type mywit cannot be found. It may have been renamed or destroyed.

But when I opened TFS through web browser, I can create a new item based on the WIT that I have just added.

Is this a TFS bug? How can I make TFS recognize the new WIT that I have just added?

Answer 1

It is a caching problem.

Try running:

witadmin.exe rebuildcache /collection:"http://mytfsserver:8080/tfs/myprojcol"

Afterwards you should see your recently added WIT.