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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 and a Cradle System Administration course.

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

Coronavirus (covid-19): Notice - ALL Training Courses will be offered online only until further notice.

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 3 day User course, a 2 day Requirements Management course, a 2 day Document Generation course and a 2 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

Cradle User Course

Cradle User Course (3 days duration) Contents:

U1 - Introduction to Cradle:

  1. What is Cradle?
  2. Cradle Scope
  3. Why use Cradle?:
  4. Cradle components
  5. Summary

U2 - Cradle Training Environment:

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

U3 - 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

U4 - Capturing Data - Office Tools:

  1. Updating your Training database
  2. Capturing Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
  3. Capturing from Microsoft Visio
  4. Integration with Microsoft Project
  5. Summary

U5 - Engineering Data:

  1. Updating our Cradle Database
  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

U6 - Hierarchies in Cradle:

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

U7 - Traceability:

  1. Updating your Cradle 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

U8 - Customising WorkBench Environments:

  1. What are Environments?
  2. Who can Create Environments?
  3. Forms
  4. Queries
  5. Views
  6. Matrices
  7. Navigations
  8. Metrics
  9. Dashboards
  10. Other Definition Files
  11. Managing Environments
  12. Summary

U9 - Modelling in Cradle (Introduction):

  1. Training Database
  2. The purposes of modelling
  3. What is a model?
  4. How models are organised in the database
  5. How models can be linked
  6. The modelling notations provided
  7. Non-model items
  8. How to create models
  9. How to draw diagrams
  10. Checking models
  11. Export and import
  12. Summary

U10 - Configuration Management and Change Control:

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

U11 - Outputs and Reports (WorkBench):

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

U12 - Outputs and Reports (Document Publisher):

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

U13 - Customising your Environment:

  1. Schema
  2. Customising your Environment
  3. Phase Hierarchy
  4. Start Pages
  5. Preferences
  6. Summary

U14 - Tool Support:

  1. 3SL Support
  2. Newsletters
  3. Extensive PDF Documentation
  4. Website Resources
  5. Logging Calls
  6. Online Help
  7. Summary

Cradle Requirements Management Course

Cradle Requirements Management Course (2 days duration) Contents:

R1 - Introduction to Cradle:

  1. What is Cradle?
  2. Cradle Scope
  3. Why use Cradle?
  4. Cradle Components
  5. Summary

R2 - Cradle Training Environment:

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

R3 - 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

R4 - Capturing Data - Office Tools:

  1. Updating your Training database
  2. Capturing Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
  3. Capturing from Microsoft Visio
  4. Integration with Microsoft Project
  5. Summary

R5 - Engineering Data:

  1. Updating your Cradle Database
  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

R6 - Hierarchies in Cradle:

  1. What is a Hierarchy?
  2. How to set up Hierarchies
  3. Creating Hierarchies
  4. Reorganising Hierarchies
  5. Summary

R7 - 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

R8 - Customising WorkBench Environments:

  1. What are Environments?
  2. Who can Create Environments?
  3. Forms
  4. Queries
  5. Views
  6. Matrices
  7. Navigations
  8. Metrics
  9. Dashboards
  10. Other Definition Files
  11. Managing Environments
  12. Summary

R9 - Configuration Management and Change Control:

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

R10 - Outputs and Reports (WorkBench):

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

R11 - Outputs and Reports (Document Publisher):

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

R12 - Customising your Environment:

  1. Schema
  2. Customising your Environment
  3. Phase Hierarchy
  4. Start Pages
  5. Preferences
  6. Summary

R13 - Tool Support:

  1. 3SL Support
  2. Newsletters
  3. Extensive PDF Documentation
  4. Website Resources
  5. Logging Calls
  6. Online Help
  7. 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. Publishing a Template
  10. Summary

DP6 - Verification Document Example 2:

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

DP7 - Item Lists Example 3:

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

DP8 - Draft and Formal Documents:

  1. Publishing as Draft
  2. Formal Documents
  3. Formal Document usage in WorkBench
  4. Publishing New Version of Formal Document
  5. Publishing Single Tags
  6. Command Line Batch Files
  7. 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

SA2 - Deployment:

  1. Operating Requirements
  2. Cradle Communications
  3. Cradle Components

SA3 - Installations

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

SA4 - LDAP:

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

SA5 - Open Database Connectivity:

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

SA6 - Web Service 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

SA7 - Email Alerts:

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

SA8 - Backup Procedures:

  1. Types of Backup
  2. Image Backups
  3. Archive Exports

SA9 - Cradle Maintenance:

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

SA10 - 3SL Support:

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

Cradle Project Administration Course

Cradle Project Administration Course (1 day duration) Contents:

PA1 - Introduction to Cradle:

  1. What is Cradle
  2. Cradle Scope
  3. Why use Cradle
  4. Cradle Components

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

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

PA4 - Defining Items and Links:

  1. Training Schema
  2. Cross References
  3. Cradle Usage of Cross References
  4. Setting Cross Reference Parameters

PA5 - Setting up Users:

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

PA6 - WorkBench Environment:

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

PA7 - Database Management:

  1. Project Housekeeping Tools
  2. Item Recovery
  3. Item Integrity
  4. Renumbering Items
  5. Reordering Items
  6. Comparing Items
  7. Spellchecker
  8. Conformance Checker
  9. Modifying Multiple Items (Properties)

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

PA9 - Customisation:

  1. Preferences
  2. WorkBench Sessions
  3. Phase Hierarchy
  4. Start Pages

PA10 - Support and Troubleshooting:

  1. Planning your Projects
  2. Concept of Operations
  3. 3SL Support
  4. Calls
  5. Upgrades
  6. Online Help