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Cradle Training Courses

3SL is proud to offer training courses in the administration and practical usage of Cradle. We offer courses which cover the basic usage of Cradle, courses specialising in Requirements Management, Document Publisher, Cradle Project Administration, Risk Management and Cradle System Administration.

Cradle training courses can be provided on-site. We also offer public/online training courses. Please see the Public/Online Training page for further information

Book your Cradle Training Course or please see our blog for the Training Course calendar.

Training is always provided on the latest version of Cradle as a prerequisite of the course.

Course Requirements

We offer a 1 day Project Administration course, a 2 day Requirements Management course, a 2 day Document Publisher course, a one day Risk Management course and a 1 day System Administration course.

You need to provide:

For online courses:

  • Computers to be used by the course attendees

For onsite courses on your premises:

  • Computers to be used by the course attendees
  • Data projector to be used by the course tutor
  • Training room with sufficient furniture for the course instructor and attendees
  • Refreshments and meals for the course attendees

We will provide:

For online courses:

  • Cradle licences (all modules) for use by the course attendees during the training and for up to 2 weeks after the training has ended
  • Soft copy of training materials - for use by the attendees only
  • An official certificate of completion

For public courses at our chosen location:

  • Computers to be used by the course attendees
  • Data projector to be used by the course tutor
  • Training room with sufficient furniture for the course instructor and attendees
  • Refreshments and meals for the course attendees
  • Cradle licences (all modules) for use by the course attendees during the training and for up to 2 weeks after the training has ended
  • Soft copy of training materials - for use by the attendees only
  • An official certificate of completion

For onsite courses at your premises:

  • Cradle licences (all modules) for use by the course attendees during the training and for up to 2 weeks after the training has ended
  • Soft copy of training materials - for use by the attendees only
  • An official certificate of completion

Public Training Courses

3SL offer a number of Cradle public training courses.

Public courses may include people from several organisations. They are ideal when:

  • You have a small number of people to be trained
  • Some training is needed at short notice
  • New people join your team and need to be trained quickly

The following public training courses are available in 2023:

  • January 17th to 18th - Project Administration
  • January 24th to 25th - User Introduction
  • February 20th to 23rd - Requirements Management
  • March 20th to 23rd - Document Publisher
  • April 18th to 19th - Risk Management
  • May 23rd to 24th - Test Management and Execution
  • June 20th to 21st - Configuration Management
  • July 18th to 19th - Project Administration
  • July 25th to 26th - User Introduction
  • August 21st to 24th - Requirements Management
  • September 18th to 21st - Document Publisher
  • October 24th to 25th - Risk Management
  • November 21st to 22nd - Test Management and Execution
  • December 12th to 13th - Configuration Management

To book a place on one of our public training courses please visit the website shop.

Cradle User Introduction Course

Cradle User Introduction Course (1 day duration) Contents:

U1 - Rationale:

  1. The Problem
  2. Definitions
  3. What is Cradle
  4. Cradle Benefits
  5. Example Applications
  6. Example Uses
  7. Lifecycle Coverage
  8. Scope
  9. User Training Objectives
  10. Summary

U2 - Cradle Modules and Components:

  1. Project Data Management (PDM)
  2. Requirements Management (REQ)
  3. Metrics (MET)
  4. Dashboard (DASH)
  5. Systems Modelling (SYS)
  6. Performance Modelling (PERF)
  7. Document Generation (DOC)
  8. Web Publisher (WEBP)
  9. Web Access (WEBA)
  10. Software Engineering (SWE)
  11. Risk Management (RISK)
  12. Test Execution (TEST)
  13. Cradle Licences
  14. Cradle Components
  15. Summary

U3 - Basic Concepts:

  1. Items
  2. Cross References
  3. Parts of the Schema
  4. Hierarchy of Items
  5. Definition Files
  6. Reports and Documents
  7. Reducing Complexity
  8. User Accounts
  9. Summary

U4 - Cradle WorkBench:

  1. WorkBench
  2. WorkBench Interface
  3. Dashboards
  4. Selecting Views
  5. Presentation Styles
  6. Creating Items
  7. Links and Navigations
  8. Queries
  9. Generating Reports
  10. Producing Graphs
  11. Forms
  12. Closing Items, Panes and Queries
  13. Finding Items
  14. Embedded Documents (Binary Frames)
  15. Change History
  16. Discussions
  17. Matrices
  18. Hierarchy Diagrams (HIDs)
  19. Modelling
  20. Risk Management in Cradle
  21. Test Execution in Cradle
  22. Customising WorkBench Environment
  23. Summary

U5 - Toolsuite Tools:

  1. Document Loader
  2. Starting Document Loader
  3. Capture Setup Definitions
  4. Document Loader Interface
  5. Setting up your Capture
  6. Register and Capture Document
  7. New Versions of Documents
  8. Document Loader Example
  9. Office Add-Ins
  10. Document Publisher
  11. Starting Document Publisher
  12. Document Publisher Interface
  13. Steps to Create a Document
  14. Tag Types
  15. Define Hierarchy
  16. Draft and Formal Documents
  17. Example Document
  18. Summary

U6 - Configuration:

  1. Layered Approach to Configuring Cradle
  2. Layer A - Define Item Types and Links
  3. Layer B - Define Workflows and Users
  4. Layer C - Define Basic Queries, Views and Forms
  5. Layer D - Define Traceability/Coverage Views and Queries
  6. Layer E - Define Reports
  7. Layer F - Define Metrics/KPIs
  8. Layer G - Define Phase Hierarchy/Start Pages
  9. Layer H - Define Documents
  10. Additional Refined Features
  11. Summary

U7 - Support and Troubleshooting:

  1. Contacting 3SL
  2. Maintenance
  3. Support Call Logging
  4. Help and Documentation
  5. 3SL Website and Resources
  6. Training
  7. Summary

Cradle Project Administration Course

Cradle Project Administration Course (1 day duration) Contents:

PA1 - Introduction to Cradle:

  1. The Problem
  2. What is Cradle
  3. Cradle Scope
  4. Why use Cradle
  5. Cradle Components
  6. Cradle Benefits
  7. Example Applications
  8. Example Uses
  9. Summary

PA2 - Project Management:

  1. Cradle Projects
  2. Project Manager
  3. Creating a Project
  4. Organising a Project
  5. Project Attributes
  6. Locking Projects
  7. Project Manager Reports
  8. Deleting Projects
  9. Moving Projects
  10. Repairing Projects
  11. Launching Cradle Applications from Project Manager
  12. Summary

PA3 - Designing a Schema:

  1. Starting our Schema Design
  2. Modifying our Schema
  3. Item Recovery Setting
  4. Hiding Item Types
  5. Master Tree
  6. Export Project Schema
  7. Summary

PA4 - Defining Items and Links:

  1. Training Import File
  2. Training Schema
  3. Cross References
  4. Cradle Usage of Cross References
  5. Setting Cross Reference Parameters
  6. Summary

PA5 - Setting up Users:

  1. Training Import File
  2. User Accounts
  3. MANAGER User
  4. Adding a User
  5. Privileges
  6. Security Clearance
  7. User Types
  8. Skills
  9. Teams
  10. Roles
  11. Switch Identity Option
  12. LDAP Authentication
  13. Summary

PA6 - WorkBench Environment:

  1. Training Import File
  2. WorkBench Environment
  3. Definition Files
  4. Queries
  5. Views
  6. Matrices
  7. Forms
  8. Navigations
  9. Metrics
  10. Dashboards
  11. Other Definition Files
  12. Managing Environments
  13. Summary

PA7 - Database Management:

  1. Training Import File
  2. Project Housekeeping Tools
  3. Item Recovery
  4. Item Integrity
  5. Renumbering Items
  6. Reordering Items
  7. Comparing Items
  8. Spellchecker
  9. Conformance Checker
  10. Modifying Multiple Items (Properties)
  11. Snapshots
  12. Summary

PA8 - Configuration and Change:

  1. Training Import File
  2. Configuration Management in Cradle
  3. Lightweight CM - Discussions
  4. Micro CM - Change History
  5. Macro CM - Configuration Management System
  6. Change Ownership
  7. Alerts
  8. Summary

PA9 - Customisation:

  1. Training Import File
  2. Preferences
  3. WorkBench Sessions
  4. Phase Hierarchy
  5. Start Pages
  6. Summary

PA10 - Support and Troubleshooting:

  1. Planning your Projects
  2. Concept of Operations
  3. Contacting 3SL
  4. Maintenance
  5. Support Call Logging
  6. Help and Documentation
  7. 3SL Website and Resources
  8. Training
  9. Summary

Cradle Requirements Management Course

Cradle Requirements Management Course (2 days duration) Contents:

RM1 - Introduction to Cradle:

  1. The Problem
  2. What is Cradle
  3. Cradle Scope
  4. Why use Cradle
  5. Cradle Components
  6. Cradle Benefits
  7. Example Applications
  8. Example Uses
  9. Summary

RM2 - Cradle Training Environment:

  1. Training Project Schema
  2. Users
  3. Exploring WorkBench
  4. Demonstration and Objectives
  5. Summary

RM3 - Capturing Data - Document Loader (Introduction):

  1. Document Loader
  2. Source Document Preparation
  3. Training Source Document
  4. Starting Document Loader
  5. Opening a Document
  6. Document Loader Interface
  7. Setting up your Capture
  8. Captured Data in Cradle
  9. New Document Versions
  10. Summary

RM4 - Capturing Data - Office Tools:

  1. Training Import file
  2. Project Schema
  3. Capturing Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
  4. Capturing from Microsoft Visio
  5. Integration with Microsoft Project
  6. Summary

RM5 - Engineering Data:

  1. Training Import File
  2. Exploring the WorkBench User Interface
  3. Viewing our Customer Needs
  4. Editing Items
  5. Forms
  6. Creating Items
  7. Deleting items
  8. Copying items
  9. Discussions
  10. Item Operations
  11. Queries and Views
  12. Spellchecker
  13. Conformance Checker
  14. Summary

RM6 - Hierarchies in Cradle:

  1. Training Import File
  2. What is a Hierarchy
  3. How to set up Hierarchies
  4. Creating Hierarchies
  5. Reorganising Hierarchies
  6. Summary

RM7 - Traceability:

  1. Updating our Training Database
  2. Traceability
  3. Cross References
  4. Creating Cross References
  5. Navigations
  6. Unlinking Items
  7. Viewing Linked Items
  8. Checking Item Integrity using Links
  9. Summary

RM8 - Customising WorkBench Environments:

  1. Updating our Training Database
  2. What are Environments
  3. Forms
  4. Queries
  5. Views
  6. Matrices
  7. Navigations
  8. Metrics
  9. Dashboards
  10. Other Definition Files
  11. Managing Environments
  12. Summary

RM9 - Configuration Management and Change Control:

  1. Updating our Training Database
  2. Configuration Management in Cradle
  3. Lightweight CM - Discussions
  4. Micro CM - Change History
  5. Macro CM - Configuration Management System
  6. Workflows
  7. Audit Trail
  8. Change Ownership
  9. Alerts
  10. Summary

RM10 - Outputs and Reports (WorkBench):

  1. Updating our Training Database
  2. Publishing Data
  3. Document Publisher
  4. Publishing Tables
  5. Publishing Selected Items
  6. Publishing a Matrix
  7. Publishing Individual Items
  8. Printing Diagrams
  9. Publishing Dashboards
  10. Graphs
  11. Reports
  12. Web Publisher
  13. Summary

RM11 - Outputs and Reports (Document Publisher):

  1. Updating our Training Database
  2. Document Publisher Overview
  3. Starting Document Publisher
  4. User Interface
  5. Steps to Creating a Document
  6. Example Template
  7. Options
  8. Formal Documents
  9. Summary

RM12 - Customising your Environment:

  1. Updating our Training Database
  2. Schema
  3. Customising your Environment
  4. Phase Hierarchy
  5. Start Pages
  6. Preferences
  7. Summary

RM13 - Tool Support:

  1. Updating our Training Database
  2. Contacting 3SL
  3. Maintenance
  4. Support Call Logging
  5. Help and Documentation
  6. 3SL Website and Resources
  7. Training
  8. Summary

Cradle Document Publisher Course

Cradle Document Publisher Course (2 days duration) Contents:

DP1 - Introduction to Document Publisher:

  1. What is Document Publisher
  2. How Does Document Publisher Work
  3. Operational Requirements
  4. Preparing our Training Database
  5. Summary

DP2 - Designing a Template:

  1. Understanding your Database
  2. Document Structures
  3. Static Text
  4. Defining Document Headings
  5. Using a Corporate Template
  6. Microsoft Word Knowledge
  7. Summary

DP3 - Navigating the Interface:

  1. Log In
  2. Document Publisher Interface
  3. Options
  4. Publishing a Document
  5. Summary

DP4 - Tags and Hierarchies:

  1. What are Tags
  2. Tag Types
  3. Formatting Tags
  4. Defining Hierarchies
  5. Importing from other Templates
  6. Filters
  7. Summary

DP5 - Specification Document - Example 1:

  1. Overview and Startup
  2. Adding Cover Page
  3. Computed Headings
  4. Adding Field Tags to Paragraph Group
  5. Publishing a Hierarchy Diagram
  6. Adding a Functional Requirements Table
  7. Requirements Traceability Matrix
  8. Inserting a WorkBench Table Tag
  9. Headers and Footers
  10. List of Figures
  11. Summary

DP6 - Verification Document - Example 2:

  1. Training Import File
  2. Objectives
  3. Example Template
  4. Creating a New Template
  5. Adding a MS Word Table
  6. Bookmarking the Table
  7. Adding a Paragraph Group Tag
  8. Defining a Hierarchy
  9. Parametrics
  10. Adding the Field Tags
  11. Adding the Field Tags with Filters
  12. Save and Publish the Template
  13. Summary

DP7 - Item Lists - Example 3:

  1. Training Import File
  2. Objectives
  3. Item Lists
  4. Creating a New Template
  5. Defining Item List User Variables
  6. Building the Item Lists
  7. Using the Item Lists
  8. Referencing Item Lists in Filters
  9. Summary

DP8 - Draft and Formal Documents:

  1. Training Import File
  2. Publishing as Draft
  3. Formal Documents
  4. Formal Document Usage in WorkBench
  5. Publishing New Version of Formal Document
  6. Publishing Single Tags
  7. Command Line Batch Files
  8. Summary

Cradle Risk Management Course

Cradle Risk Management Course (1 day duration) Contents:

R1 - Introduction to Risk Management:

  1. Introduction to Risk Management
  2. Risk Management Plan
  3. Risk Management in Cradle
  4. Licence Prerequisite
  5. Summary

R2 - Setting up a Risk Item Type:

  1. Schema Import
  2. Creating a Risk Item Type
  3. Define Link Rules
  4. Creating Environments for RISK Items
  5. Summary

R3 - Managing Risks:

  1. Schema Import
  2. Defining a Risk Assessment Matrix (RAM)
  3. Creating Associated Risks
  4. Adding a Second RAM
  5. Modifying a RAM
  6. Preparing a Risk Register
  7. Creating Links to Risks
  8. Creating Views for Risks
  9. Summary

R4 - Reporting Risks:

  1. Schema Import
  2. Graphs
  3. Reports
  4. Document Publisher
  5. Summary

R5 - Example Usage Demo:

  1. Context
  2. Introduction
  3. Schema Settings
  4. Overview
  5. RBS
  6. Risk Summary
  7. Risk Registers
  8. Risk Profiles
  9. Summary

Cradle Test Management and Execution Course

Cradle Test Management and Execution Course (1 day duration) Contents:

T1 - Introduction to Test Management:

  1. Introduction to Test Execution in Cradle
  2. Sequence of Operations in Cradle
  3. Licence Prerequisite
  4. Test Ribbon in WorkBench
  5. Summary

T2 - Setting up Supporting Item Types:

  1. Schema Overview
  2. Enabling Test Execution and Recording
  3. Adding Additional Links
  4. User Profiles
  5. Adding Environments
  6. Summary

T3 - Test Planning:

  1. Schema Subset (Import)
  2. Creating Test Cases
  3. Defining a Test Plan
  4. Adding Test Information
  5. Summary

T4 - Test Execution and Recording:

  1. Schema Subset (Import)
  2. Defining a Test Run
  3. Executing a Test Run
  4. Recording Test Results
  5. Summary

Cradle Configuration Management Course

Cradle Configuration Management Course (1 day duration) Contents:

C1 - Introduction to Configuration and Change Management:

  1. What is CM and Why Have it?
  2. CM Mechanisms
  3. CM Types in Cradle
  4. User Profiles
  5. Privileges and Settings
  6. Teams
  7. Baselines
  8. Workflows
  9. About this Course
  10. Summary

C2 - Lightweight and Micro CM:

  1. What is Lightweight CM?
  2. Discussions
  3. Privileges
  4. How to Create a Discussion
  5. Querying on Discussions
  6. Contributing to a Discussion
  7. What is Micro CM?
  8. Enabling Change History
  9. What Activities are Shown in History
  10. Reverse/Rewind Change History
  11. Summary

C3 - Macro CM:

  1. Configuration Management System
  2. Example Project
  3. Setting up Users
  4. Opening a Baseline
  5. Configuration Management Options
  6. Viewing Example Data
  7. Workflows
  8. Formal Changes
  9. Audit Trail
  10. Configuration Management Alerts
  11. Changing Ownership of Items
  12. Summary

C4 - Simple Review Example - Advance:

  1. Database Update
  2. Example Briefing
  3. Advance Mechanism
  4. Defining the Example Workflow
  5. Scenario Example
  6. Summary

C5 - Team Review Example:

  1. Database Update
  2. Example Briefing
  3. Advance Mechanism
  4. Setting up Teams
  5. Defining the Example Workflow
  6. Scenario Example
  7. Multiple Team Review
  8. Summary

C6 - Change Management Examples:

  1. Database Update
  2. Change Management
  3. Change Management Workflows
  4. Change Management Example
  5. Simplifying the Change Process
  6. Summary

C7 - Additional Configuration Features:

  1. Summary of Course
  2. Switch Identity
  3. Stage Forms
  4. Reports
  5. Alerts
  6. Change Ownership
  7. Baseline Mode
  8. Project Snapshots
  9. External Command Interface
  10. Summary

Cradle System Administration Course

Cradle System Administration Course (1 day duration) Contents:

SA1 - Introduction to Cradle:

  1. About Cradle
  2. Cradle Modules
  3. Cradle Features
  4. Cradle Components
  5. Summary

SA2 - Deployment:

  1. Operating Requirements
  2. Cradle Communications
  3. Cradle Components
  4. Cradle Utilities
  5. Summary

SA3 - Installations

  1. Types of Installation
  2. Installation Configurations
  3. Where can Cradle be Obtained
  4. Windows Installation
  5. Linux Installation
  6. Troubleshooting Installations
  7. Summary

SA4 - LDAP Setup:

  1. What is LDAP
  2. Cradle Use of LDAP
  3. LDAP Directories
  4. Cradle LDAP Configuration
  5. LDAP Troubleshooting
  6. Summary

SA5 - Open Database Connectivity:

  1. Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
  2. Project Data Storage
  3. ODBC Install Prerequisites
  4. Oracle Requirements
  5. MySQL Requirements
  6. Connection Pooling
  7. Summary

SA6 - Web Services Interface:

  1. What is Cradle Web Services Interface (WSI)
  2. WSI Licensing
  3. WSI Configuration
  4. WSI Operation
  5. HTTP Methods
  6. Item Handling
  7. Item Locking
  8. Error Responses
  9. WSI Examples
  10. Summary

SA7 - Email Alerts:

  1. Alerts in Cradle
  2. Alert Delivery Agent
  3. Email Templates
  4. Summary

SA8 - Backup Procedures:

  1. Types of Backup
  2. Image Backups
  3. Archive Exports
  4. Snapshots
  5. Summary

SA9 - Cradle Maintenance:

  1. Maintenance Services
  2. Cradle Utilities
  3. Managing Licences
  4. Admin Files
  5. Other Project Tools
  6. Summary

SA10 - 3SL Support:

  1. Contacting 3SL
  2. Maintenance
  3. Support Call Logging
  4. Help and Documentation
  5. 3SL Website and Resources
  6. Training
  7. Summary