Configuration Management in Web Access

Performing CM Tasks in Web Access

Most Configuration Management tasks are achieved using WorkBench but Configuration Management in Web Access is also available. For instance you can submit and review information in Web Access as well as unsubmitting items. These CM tasks are available in the Web AccessConfiguration Management” sidebar:

CM Sidebar in Web Access
Configuration Management in Web Access

You can submit items by query or you can submit them individually. Providing there are reviewers for the information, any user can submit information for approval.

Items can also be unsubmitted which cancels their review. This does depend on:

  • The ownership of the items
  • The current user’s privileges
  • The status of the item in the database
  • Whether any reviewers have started to review the item

Once items have been submitted for review, they can also be reviewed in Web Access.

If you have the TEAM_APPROVE privilege you can review information on behalf of a team member, therefore preventing reviews being held up due to team absences,

Configuration Management in Web Access
Review Dialog

In conclusion, if you are remotely working, with access to Cradle only via a browser,  it is possible to review and approve or reject items. This can have great benefits to time-scales, it alleviates waiting for reviews to complete and negates having to manage an email ping-pong.

A Reviewer Specific UI in Web Access

Continue reading “Configuration Management in Web Access”

How do I save my progress in Document Loader?

Saving progress in Document Loader

If you are working on a large document and need to save  your current position, for example if you need to shut-down your PC for any reason. You can save progress in Document Loader by using a session to save a snapshot. You can then return to the same point at a later time and date. You can then continue to finish your capture or just do a little more and re-save the session to continue again later.

A session stores information about the state of Document Loader at a given point, such as:

  • A copy of the current document
  • A copy of the current capture setup definition
  • Which parts of the document have already been captured
  • The state of the Document Explorer tree nodes
  • Any mappings, e.g. table mappings
  • Any changes made in the Options dialog
screenshot showing load session retains previous progress
Load Session in Document Loader

For further information on how to save progress in Document Loader and Save/Load and Delete sessions in Document Loader please read this post.

Article Updated –  28/01/2019 Increased image size

Using Parametric Queries

Parametric Queries in WorkBench and Web Access

Parametric queries prompt you at runtime for values for certain parameters prior to the query being run. They are supported for Identity, Name, Key, Level and free-format categories (including picklists).

You are prompted for values when the query is run from the following places:

  • Query Details dialog
  • Definitions sidebar
  • Phase tree
  • As part of a report
  • When performing an export by query
  • A start page

From the Query dialog press the arrow button next to the field you want to set the prompt for and select “Choose at Runtime“. This produces the “Runtime Parameter Definition” dialog where you can setup the parametric query prompt:

Screenshot to show prompt when running parametric queries
Prompt shown when running parametric queries

You can also specify more than one parametric in the query dialog. This can prove very useful in simplifying the interaction in not having to use the full query details window.

When you run a parametric query the prompt will be shown. An example is shown below:

Prompt shown when running a parametric query
Parametric Query Prompt

Parametric queries are supported in both WorkBench and Web Access.

For further information please see the Cradle online help.

Article Updated 04/02/2019 –  Added further details

Copying Text from Multiple Data Cells

What are Multiple Data Cells?

Multiple data cells are a useful way to combine a number of attributes in a single view cell. However, unlike other cells,  the contents of Multiple Data cells can’t be copied in the same way. However, copying text from Multiple Data cells is still possible.

Scrrenshot of the View details dialog and Multiple Data Cell Setup
Multiple Data Cell Setup

Read information on creating Multiple Data Cells   in the online help.

Copying Text from Multiple Data Cells

Usually, when in the Table or Document view styles, to copy the text contained in a cell you can simply click the cell to make it editable, select the text and use a keyboard shortcut (<ctrl> + C) to copy.

A Multiple Data Cell can use data from different sources. This means all cells of this type are uneditable from within a View. For this reason the method used to copy the contents of the cell is different from a standard Text Frame or Category, for example.

To copy the text contained within a multiple data cell, select the item which has the text you wish to copy and right-click to open the context menu. Once the context menu is open, select More -> Copy Item Text -> Multiple. The contents of the multiple data cell for the selected item will now be in your copy/paste buffer.

How to copy text from a multiple data cell in Cradle
Copying text from a multiple data cell in WorkBench
Article Updated 04/02/2019 – Added an image showing the setup of a multiple data cell

Using Sessions in Document Loader

Sick of having to start from scratch when working with large documents in Document Loader? Want to save your current progress and return at a later date?

You can use a session to save a snapshot of Document Loader, so you can return to the same point at a later time. Sessions are useful when working with large documents or if you need to shutdown your PC for any reason.

What is a Session?

Sessions store information about the state of Document Loader at a given point, such as:

  • A copy of the current document
  • A copy of the current capture setup definition
  • Which parts of the document have already been captured
  • The state of the Document Explorer tree nodes
  • Any mappings, e.g. table mappings
  • Any changes made in the Options dialog

How can I save a Session?

You can only save a session when working with a new document; not a new version of a document. You can save a session at any time, so long as you have a document open.

To save a session you can either:

  • Press the Save Session button button from the Toolbar
  • Select Save Session from the File pulldown menu
  • Press Ctrl + S
    (
    The Status Bar shows the progress of the Save operation)

How can I load/restore a Session?

  • To load a saved session you can either:
  • Select Load Session from the File pulldown menu
  • Press Ctrl + L
    If you attempt to load a session with a document open you will be prompted to close the current document. The Load Session dialog will be displayed as shown below:
screenshot showing the load sessions dialog
Load Session Dialog

Simply identify the session you wish to load and select it in the list. You can sort on any column by clicking on its column heading; click once for ascending order and again for descending order.
Click the OK button to load the selected session.

How can I delete a Session?

To delete a session you need to open the Load Session dialog by either:

  • Selecting Load Session from the File pulldown menu
  • Pressing Ctrl+L
    Select the appropriate session and press the Delete button. Select Yes to confirm the deletion and Cancel to remove the Load Session dialog.

Star Wars Day 2017

Set the Context for Universal Domination in a DFD

Happy Star Wars day 2017

Whatever your Systems Engineering tasks you can use diagrams to illustrate the various components. In classic functional modelling the Essential domain shows the operational, theoretical, side of the design, and the Implementation domain models the actual real world components.

Data Flow Diagram DFD showing Cradle Globes as Death Star
Death Star DFD

The Context Diagram shows the entire system or subsystem as one process with the exchanges of information between it and its environment.  In today’s example, this is the ‘Death Star‘ , the external environment being the universe!

From the context diagram a set of hierarchical Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) give a view of units of functionality and the exchanges of data between these units. So we would expect DFDs covering the Emperor’s Tower, Surface City, Superlaser Focus Lens and so on. So May the Fourth Be With you, and all your modelling.

 

Batch File Reporting in Cradle

Publishing Reports

Do you want to run your reports faster or wish you could run them overnight or at weekends so they are ready when you arrive at work in the morning? With batch file reports, you can do this quickly and easily.

What is a Batch File?

A batch file contains a series of DOS commands, and is commonly written to automate frequently performed tasks including publishing reports and documents. Instead of typing the same commands over and over in a Command Prompt, you can simply double-click the batch file or use Windows Task Scheduler to set it running during down times e.g. over night or weekends which then creates all the reports you require.

The following report will show you how to create a batch file for these reports.

How to Write a Batch File for Reporting

Using a plain text application like Notepad, you need to first set the folder the application to be used is in. In this case, it is in the same place all Cradle applications are held, the command does need to be surrounded by quotes

“%CRADLEHOME%\bin\exe\windows\c_table.exe”

You then need the login information to the project that you would normally would when using a Command Prompt.

-login admin,ADMIN,demo or -login reqman,REQMAN,demo

After these 2 necessary parts, you need the options for the report; you can find these options in our online Help System for c_table. If you are already in the Command Prompt in the correct location then just type in c_table and you will see the Information popup.

Information on command options for c_table to use in batch file reporting
C_Table Command Options

Once you have finished writing you batch file, the command should look something like this:

"%CRADLEHOME%\bin\exe\windows\c_table.exe" -login reqman,REQMAN,demo -file "C:\Temp\Project_Setup_Demo.rtf" -report Project_Setup -rloc project -format rtf

You can use c_table to publish data from a matrix:

"%CRADLEHOME%\bin\exe\windows\c_table.exe" -login reqman,REQMAN,demo -file "C:\Temp\Coverage.htm" -matrix "Requirement Coverage" -mloc project -format html

Metrics can be published in the same way:

"%CRADLEHOME%\bin\exe\windows\c_table.exe" -login reqman,REQMAN,demo -file "C:\Temp\Project Analysis.htm" -metric "Project Analysis" -metloc project -format html

Graphs can be displayed in html, rtf or svg

"%CRADLEHOME%\bin\exe\windows\c_table.exe" -login reqman,REQMAN,demo -file "C:\TempVerified Requirements.htm" -graph "Verified requirements" -gloc project -gprint batch -gprloc project -format html

You can publish queries using different views:

"%CRADLEHOME%\bin\exe\windows\c_table.exe" -login reqman,REQMAN,demo -file "C:\Temp\Requirements All.rtf" -query "Requirements - All" -qloc project -view "Requirement - Complete" -vloc project -format rtf

You can also publish comma separated data into a csv file:

"%CRADLEHOME%\bin\exe\windows\c_table.exe" -login reqman,REQMAN,demo -file "C:\Temp\Requirememts_All.csv" -query "Requirements - All" -qloc project -view "Requirement - Complete" -vloc project -format csv

Remember to put quotes around any options with spaces in them e.g. “Requirements – All”

Save this file using the DOS extension of .bat e.g. batch file reports.bat

How to Run a Batch File for Reports

Running a batch file is simple, as long as all the options in the commands are correct; just double click on the .bat file. You will see a Command Prompt open and as each report finished, the next will begin.

Command prompt with some of the command lines used in the Batch File Reports
Command Lines for Batch File Reporting
Showing some of the reports from the batch files within the set folder. The folder in this case is the Temp folder on the C drive
Reports in the Temp Folder

As you will see running batch file reports is quicker and easier. You can also then add any reports you require to the file. The newly added reports are then also published the next time you run the batch file.

If you wish to use Task Scheduler for out of hour’s usage, you can find information here on the Microsoft website.

You can also use batch files for import and exporting through the c_io, publishing documents through Document Publisher  and converting CSV information into a Cradle import/export file for loading into a Cradle PDB using the CSV Converter Utility.

Linked Items in Views

Displaying Linked Items in Views

You can expand and collapse items shown in a table in Table view or Document view displaying linked items in views. This is similar to expanding nodes in a tree using the current navigation. When an item is expanded (double click the number in the first column) in a table,  a dot(.) is displayed in the first column representing the level:

. (1 dot = level 1 item)
.. (2 dots = level 2 item)
(3 dots = level 3 item)

Screenshot showing linked items in views
Linked items in views

For further information please see the Cradle online help.

Copying a User’s Role

Need to Create a New User Similar to the Last?

When setting up a new project it is very likely that you will have a number of users who need the same access and privileges. Copying a user’s role you have set up for one user to use as a template is the easiest way to do this.

  • Create the first user and set up all their privileges. Save this user.
  • Choose ‘Save Role…” to create a template from this current user
  • Use ‘New…‘ to create a new user and give them a unique name.
  • Use ‘Select Role… ‘ to choose the role saved in the previous steps, choose how much of the template you want to apply.
Saving and applying a copy of a user role
Copy a User Role

Read the help for further information on setting up users, and roles.

May Day 2017 Madness. Win a copy of Cradle

Cradle Giveaway


WINNER!

@FPreobrazhensky

@baguetteio– Unclaimed prize by 07/06/2017

Congratulations on being selected to receive a copy of Cradle RM Desktop.


#FreebieFriday

#FreebieFriday to win £249* worth of Requirements Management Software

To enter:  Retweet this – 3SL giveaway Tweet and Follow @threesl on Twitter

3SL Cradle RM Desktop Box

The prize consists of one licence for the current version of Cradle RM Desktop. The features of which are defined on our products page. Support is 7 day installation assistance after download.

*The value of the prize is that defined on 01/05/2017 in the Cradle shop.

This is a free to enter draw. Entry is open between 9:00am 01/05/2017 GMT and 23:59 GMT on #FreebieFriday 05/05/2017

The draw will take place on Monday 08/05/2017 before 10:00 eligible entrants must have retweeted and followed @threesl

Terms and Conditions

 

  1. The promoter is: 3SL (Structured Software Systems Ltd.)  Suite 2, 22a Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1HH UK Registered in England: 2153654
  2. Employees of Structured Software Systems Limited or their registered distributors, or their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the competition or helping to set up the competition shall not be permitted to enter the competition.
  3. Entrants must be 16 years or older.
  4. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
  5. The cost of Tweeting to enter and communications for the winner and downloading software are not covered.
  6. Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter are via Twitter.
  7. Closing date for entry will be 23:59 GMT on 05/05/2017.  After this date/time no further entries to the competition will be permitted.
  8. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason. ‘Receipt of entry’ shall be classed entrants showing in the list of @threesl followers on Twitter at the time of the draw and a notification of retweet from Twitter. If there is a doubt as to the timing of these events, the time stamped notification email from Twitter shall be used to decide.
  9. The rules of the competition are described here on the 3SL website and the Tweet shall only be considered as an ‘invite to enter’.
  10. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
  11. No cash alternative to the prize will be offered. The prize is not transferable. Prize is subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
  12. A winner will be chosen at random (based on a third party random number generation)  from all entries received and verified by staff of the promoter.
  13. The winner will be notified by a direct Twitter message within 28 days of the closing date. The winners details will be posted on the 3SL Website and via a Tweet and any other social media promotion chosen by the promoter. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 7 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
  14. The promoter will notify the winner how the prize can be downloaded and activated.
  15. The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  16. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by English law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.
  17. The winner agrees to the use of his/her name / (Twitter ID) and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.
  18. The winner’s name (chosen Twitter ID)  will be available 28 days after closing date by sending a stamped addressed envelope to the following address: 3SL (Structured Software Systems Ltd.)  Suite 2, 22a Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1HH.
  19. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
  20. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Twitter or any other Social Network. Interactions on Twitter are governed by their privacy rules. All other information supplied is to 3SL and not to any other party. The information provided will be used in conjunction with the standard 3SL Privacy Policy.