Assembla’s system is flexible enough to meet the needs of almost any team or project. In order to get the most out of your Assembla projects, use the following tips and tricks to help you and your team work smarter and faster.
Using code repositories (SVN, Git and Perforce)
Importing an SVN or Git repository from another provider into an Assembla repository
For SVN, visit the Import/Export subtab of your repository and follow the import instructions. Learn more here. For Git, you can edit your local Git config file which is under the hidden folder named “.git”. Change the URL line to the Assembla Git repository URL, and then save the file. Now commit/push your repository to import.
Note: If you need to add a new SVN or Git repository, you can do so in the Admin Tools section. Learn more here.
Using simple commit commands to reference or update tickets
Link your commit to a ticket by using re #ticket_number, such as re #122. Using <status> #ticket_number updates a ticket status, such as Test #4 changes Ticket #4 status to Test. Note that the status name in this instance is not case sensitive.
Protecting specific branches of your SVN or Git repository so only certain team members are allowed to push commits to a given branch
Within a Subversion or Git repository in Assembla, click the Settings sub-tab, and go to the Protected Branches section. Here you can define the actions that team members are allowed to perform and to which given branches.
Forking a Git repository
Visit the repository’s tab within Assembla and simply click on the Fork button on the top right of the page. You can choose to fork the repository within the existing project and create a new project with the forked repository. Learn more here.
Using server-side hooks to have more control over your repository code
Visit the repository’s tab within Assembla, click the Settings sub-tab, and go to the Server-Side Hooks section for a library of ready-to-use hooks, such as reject commits if they are empty or reject commits with shorter commit message than MIN_LENGTH. If you want a different server-side hook, you can submit your own for an Assembla engineer to add it to the ever-growing library.
Using Assembla merge requests for code review when working on multiple branches or repositories
Visit the repository’s tab within Assembla, and click New Merge Request. There you can specify the source branch as well as the target repository and branch. The Create merge request button is enabled only when there are changes between selected branches. Once created, team members can easily get changes, discuss, vote, and ultimately merge a request. You can combine this feature with the protected branches functionality so that only certain team members can merge to specific branches, such as the master branch. Learn more here.
Using Assembla’s compare feature to see changes in code between different branches, tags, commits, and repositories
Visit the repository’s tab within Assembla, and click the Compare button in the top right or click the Compare sub-tab (both options take you to the same page). Select what you want to compare. From a comparison, you can easily create a merge request.
Reviewing code using inline comments from both merge requests and the commits page
If you want to comment on a file diff while viewing a merge request, simply open the Files Affected tab, and then expand the appropriate file diff. Find the line you want to comment on, and then click the line number. A comment box appears for your comment. Note that you can even @mention other team members in your comment. If you’re in a commit page, the process is almost the same after selecting the diff on which you want to comment.
Using collaboration tools
Using tags to mention different teams or groups like @marketing or @support
To use tags, go to Space Tools > Space Team. Click on the Tag column to edit tags for any team members. Once you add a tag, such as support, you can type @support to get the support team’s attention.
Sending an instant email to a user or an entire group (see labels above) using an exclamation point at the end of any @mention
After any @mention, type an exclamation point with no spaces, for example @adam! or @support! and that user or group receives an instant email with your request. Learn more here.
Using Assembla’s Google Docs and Dropbox integration to instantly share one of these file types with your team members
From a ticket or the Files tool, you have the ability to select a file from your computer OR attach a Google Doc or Dropbox file. When selecting a Google Doc or Dropbox file, Assembla’s on demand permissioning instantly shares that file with any team member when they click the file link.
Using Assembla’s markup language to quickly reference tickets, commits, files, embed images inline, and much more inside of wiki pages and messages
Reference a ticket by typing #{ticket number} such as #112. Link to a file using [[file:{file name}]], such as [[file:screenshot.png]]. Or directly embed an image inline using [[image:{file name}]], such as [[image:screenshot.png]].
Using other tools and project configurations
Changing your email notifications settings to determine what events and at what frequency you want to receive emails
To change your desired email alerts and frequencies for a space, go to Space Tools > Stream > Alert Settings and make the appropriate changes. Be sure to click Update settings once done.
Linking to other commonly-used websites and tools from within your Assembla project with the Custom Tab tool
To link commonly-used websites and tools from within your project, go to Space Tools > Space Settings > Tools. Scroll toward the bottom of the list, and then click Add or Add another next to Custom Tab. Now look in the left navigation pane, and click on the new Custom Tab to configure. You can define the URL and set it to open as an iframe within the Assembla project, or have it open a new tab when clicking. Learn more here and here.
Reordering the tool access bar to make the most important tools easily accessible
To reorder the tool access bar, go to Space Tools > Space Settings, and then click Appearance. Scroll to the Navigation section, where you can drag and drop to rearrange the navigational order as well as select the desired tool in the Default landing tab is dropdown. Be sure to click Save Changes when done.
Need help? Please contact us at support@assembla.com.