These release notes provide information critical to installing and using Rational RequisitePro, including supported platforms and known issues with this release.
Copyright © 1995-2001 Rational Software Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Visual Basic, Microsoft SQL Server, and Visual SourceSafe are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Oracle, Oracle7, Oracle8, and SQL*Net are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. Rational, the Rational logo, RequisitePro, Rational Rose, SoDA, ClearCase, and ClearQuest are trademarks or registered trademarks of Rational Software Corporation in the United States and in other countries. All other names are used for identification purposes only and are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Contents
Scope - Product Definition
Hardware/Software Information
- Client Requirements
- Enterprise Database Server Requirements
- Application Server Support
Getting Started
- Installation Information
- Installation/Upgrade Issues
- Product Documentation
Compatibility Issues
- Compatible Applications
- Running RequisitePro on Micron Systems
- Oracle Database Issues
- SQL Server Database Issues
- Let's Go Display
- Using the Rational E-Mail Reader with RequisitePro
New and Changed Features
- Focus on Quality
- Microsoft Word-linked Files as Requirements
- Rational RequisitePro Tutorial
- Data Transport Wizard
Guidelines and Restrictions on Using RequisitePro
- Using RequisitePro with Windows NT
- Microsoft Word Issues
- Offline Authoring
- ClearCase UCM/Baseline Issues
- Numerical Attributes
- Views and Queries
- Requirement Metrics
Known Issues
- Database Type Conversion/Data Transport Wizard
- Microsoft Word-linked Files
- Internationalization Issues
- Using ClearCase UCM with RequisitePro
- Using ClearCase LT to Archive RequisitePro Projects
- Using Rose with RequisitePro (Integrated Use Case Management)
- Using ClearQuest with RequisitePro
Contacting Technical Support
Scope - Product Definition
This document provides information about the 2001A.04.00 release of Rational RequisitePro. The release number is listed in the About RequisitePro dialog box (Help > About RequisitePro).
For information regarding RequisiteWeb, including system requirements and known issues, refer to the Rational RequisiteWeb Installation and Configuration document (RequisiteWebInstall.html).
Before installing RequisitePro, be sure to read the release notes sections Hardware/Software Information and Getting Started.
Hardware/Software Information
This section provides basic information on the platforms supported and the hardware and software requirements for running RequisitePro. Refer to Compatibility Issues for more information.
Client Requirements
Operating Systems:
Processor:
- 200 MHz or greater.
- 300 MHz or higher is recommended.
Memory:
- 64 MB or greater.
- 128 MB is recommended.
Note: 256 MB is recommended for RequisitePro project administrators using UCM to create baselines of RequisitePro projects.
Disk Space: 200 MB.
Monitor:
- 800 X 600 X 256-color video resolution, or greater.
- High Color or True Color recommended.
Mouse/pointing device: Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.
Word Processor:
- Microsoft Word 97 Service Release 2.
- Microsoft Word 2000 Service Release 1.
- See recommendations for Microsoft Office above.
At the time of this release, Word XP is not generally available. However, if it is installed on your system, it appears as an option in the RequisitePro Options dialog box (Tools > Options). Word XP has not been fully tested for use with this version of RequisitePro.
MDAC: Version 2.5.
XML Parser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 Service Pack 1 or later.
Requirement Metrics Reporting:
- Microsoft Excel 97 Service Release 2.
- Microsoft Excel 2000 Service Release 1.
- At the time of this release, Excel XP is not generally available. Excel XP has not been fully tested for use with this version of RequisitePro.
LAN Support: Microsoft networks. (Novell networks are not supported.)
Automated License Key Requests: Internet connection required for automated license requests.
Microsoft Access Database: Access 2000 is shipped with this version of RequisitePro and is required for opening Access-based projects in RequisitePro version 2000.02.10 and later. Refer to the Upgrading to a Microsoft Access 2000 database section below.
Note: At the time of this release, Access XP is not generally available. Access XP has not been fully tested for use with this version of RequisitePro.
Oracle Client: Versions 7.3.4, 8.1.6, or 8.1.7.
Enterprise Database Server Requirements
- Microsoft SQL Server: versions 7.0 Service Pack 2 or 2000.
- Oracle Server: versions 7.3.4, 8.1.6, or 8.1.7.
(In Oracle version 8.0.5, the ability to create a table based on a query that uses an "Order By" clause was not available. RequisitePro requires this clause.)
Note: If you are using a version 7.3.4 server, we recommend that you use a version 7.3.4 client.
- Memory: 128 MB minimum. For projects with approximately 50,000 requirements, 256 MB is recommended.
Note: Memory requirements will vary depending on the number of concurrent users, the amount of data being requested, and the size of the database.
RequisitePro does not require the installation of the Oracle Java Runtime components. Installing them requires approximately 50 MB of RAM.
- Disk Space for a database or schema: 200 MB recommended.
For more information on using Oracle or SQL Server, refer to Compatibility Issues.
Application Server Support
MetaFrame 1.8 Service Pack 2 application server software by Citrix Systems, Inc. on Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 Terminal Services is required.
Getting Started
Installation Information
For full installation instructions, refer to the manual Installing Rational RequisitePro (also available in an electronic version on the Rational Solutions for Windows Online Documentation CD).
For information on upgrading Rational Suite or integrations with other Rational
products, refer to the manual Installing Rational Suite (also available
in an electronic version on the Rational Solutions for Windows Online Documentation
CD) and the Rational Suite Release Notes.
Installation/Upgrade Issues
All users must use the same release of RequisitePro in order to access shared projects. We recommend that all RequisitePro users uninstall previous versions of RequisitePro before installing this version.
Upgrading Projects from Versions Earlier than RequisitePro 4.0
If a project is in a version of RequisitePro earlier than version 4.0, you must first upgrade the project to RequisitePro 4.0 before using the Database Upgrade Wizard. Contact Technical Support for information.
Upgrading an Oracle- or SQL Server-based Project
If you use RequisitePro version 2000.02.10 or a prior release to open an Oracle-based or SQL Server-based project that has already been upgraded to the current version, an error message appears, informing you that an Access database was not found. The project is still based in Oracle or SQL Server, but you must upgrade RequisitePro on your system to the current version. (15459)
Upgrading RequisitePro Projects with Rational Synchronizer Links
If you previously used the Rational Synchronizer with RequisitePro, you must manually change the "SynchLinks" attribute to "SynchronizerSynchLinks" for each requirement attribute in order for previously generated links to be recognized. (15637) (RATL00037926)
Upgrading from RequisitePro 2000 or earlier
If you are upgrading a RequisitePro project and you plan to use it with the Rational Administrator, you must open the project in RequisitePro before you associate it with a Rational Project. (16951)
Upgrading to a Microsoft Access 2000 database
Microsoft Access 2000 is the default database format for RequisitePro version 2000.02.10 and later. If you have a project that was created in an earlier release of RequisitePro, the project database is in Microsoft Access 97 format. If you want to view a RequisitePro project from a previous release in Microsoft Access 2000, you must upgrade the project database to Microsoft Access 2000.
Rational has provided a utility to convert Microsoft Access-based RequisitePro projects from Access 97 format to Access 2000 format. The utility "RqAcc2KConv.exe" (located in the RequisitePro/bin/ directory) can be invoked by either dragging and dropping the RequisitePro project file (.rqs) onto the executable, or running the utility from the command line and specifying the entire path to the RequisitePro project file (.rqs) file. As part of the conversion process, the utility will create a backup copy of your database with the .tac extension instead of the .mdb extension. The backup copy can be removed once you are satisfied that the conversion was successful. The utility will also repair and compact the database.
Product Documentation
RequisitePro setup creates a Start menu program group for RequisitePro with the following items: Let's Go RequisitePro, Online Help, Rational Administrator, Rational License Key Administrator, Rational RequisitePro, Rational Software Installed Product Information, Release Notes, Rational Extensibility Interface Help, RequisitePro Tutorial, Technical Support, and database configuration documentation (if installed). To start RequisitePro, select the Rational RequisitePro menu item.
Let's Go RequisitePro opens when RequisitePro is first started. Use the Let's Go RequisitePro online help to access the RequisitePro Tutorial as well as these release notes, online help, project administration tips, white papers, the Rational Unified Process, and Web resources. Let's Go RequisitePro can also be launched from the RequisitePro Help menu.
In addition to online help, refer to the manual Using Rational RequisitePro (also available in an electronic version on the Rational Solutions for Windows Online Documentation CD).
Compatibility Issues
Compatible Applications
RequisitePro is compatible with the following applications:
- Rational ClearCase and ClearCase LT, version 2001A.04.00
- Rational TestManager, version 2001A.04.00
- Rational Rose, version 2001A.04.00
- Rational SoDA for Word, version 2001A.04.00
- Rational ClearQuest, version 2001A.04.00
- Rational Unified Process, version 2001A.04.00
- Microsoft Project 98 and 2000
Note: Oracle and SQL Server versions are listed in the Hardware/Software Information.
Running RequisitePro on Micron Systems
If you experience problems running RequisitePro on Micron systems, contact Rational Technical Support for a technical note relating to the issue. For additional information, contact Micron PC Technical Support at:
http://support.micronpc.com/contact/support/.
Oracle Database Issues
- Before installing the Oracle client, remove all previous versions of Oracle.
- The 8.1.5 client is not compatible with Windows 98 or Windows 2000 due to a Microsoft-Oracle ODBC driver limitation.
- If you are having difficulty configuring the 8.1.5 client, uninstall and install a previous version of the client (such as 8.0.5 or 7.3.4), and then reinstall the 8.1.5 client. Refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q239719. (6050)
- By default, when Oracle databases are created on UNIX systems, the Oracle character set installed is incompatible with Microsoft Word's extended characters. This incompatibility prevents proper storage of special characters in RequisitePro requirement text and causes requirements to be marked as "modified" in documents. The required character set is WE8ISO8859P1. For more information, contact Rational Technical Support.
SQL Server Database Issues
- When configuring SQL Server, do not select the check box "Change the language of SQL Server system messages to..." When this check box is selected, users are unable to open the RequisitePro project after its initial creation. (10411)
- Database names that contain spaces are not supported for use with RequisitePro projects. (16601)
- If you have SQL Server 2000 installed and you are running the Database Upgrade Wizard, you may receive an error message informing you that you lack permissions to perform an action. This occurs because SQL Server 2000 allows only server administrators to drop and add system messages (specifically to execute the sp_dropmessage and sp_addmessage stored procedures). To complete the upgrade, your DBA will need to assign the RequisitePro user (e.g. reqpro) to the ServerAdmin role. When the DBA has completed this task, run the Database Upgrade Wizard again and you should not receive the error message. Remove the user from the ServerAdmin role when the upgrade has been completed. (14296)
Let's Go Display
- The graphical heading banners and icons in Let's Go RequisitePro may be distorted when displayed on PCs with the 256 Colors display setting. For clearer graphics, set your display properties to High Color (16 bit) or the True Color (24 or 32 bit) settings. (11573)
- For best results when opening PDF files from Let's Go, make sure you are using Acrobat Reader version 4.0. This version of Acrobat Reader is shipped with RequisitePro. (11837)
Using the Rational E-mail Reader with RequisitePro
You must use the SMTP mail protocol when configuring the Rational E-Mail Reader for RequisitePro discussions. MAPI is not supported. (14370)
New and Changed Features
Focus on Quality
Significant quality improvements and defect fixes have been achieved in this release, with particular attention given to addressing customer requests.
Microsoft Word-linked Files as Requirements
In RequisitePro documents, you can include Microsoft Word-linked files as requirement text. If you change the linked file, any traceability or hierarchical relationships with the requirement are marked as suspect.
Rational RequisitePro Tutorial
The Rational RequisitePro Tutorial is an online tutorial designed to introduce you to key features of RequisitePro that will help you manage projects successfully. You will have an opportunity to use the software to create a project and to work with an existing sample project. You can open the RequisitePro Tutorial from the Let's Go RequisitePro help screen (available from Help > Let's Go RequisitePro), click the RequisitePro Tutorial icon.
Data Transport Wizard
The Database Type Conversion Wizard (rqdbtypewiz.exe) was renamed the Data Transport Wizard (rqdatatransportwiz.exe).
Guidelines and Restrictions on Using RequisitePro
Using RequisitePro with Windows NT
Although multiple users with different Windows user names can use RequisitePro on the same machine, those users have individual project lists in RequisitePro. All users must add projects to their own project lists. (8795)
Microsoft Word Issues
Text Boxes in Word
Avoid creating requirements inside text boxes. RequisitePro cannot access them properly.
Tables in Word
Avoid creating requirements that span more than one cell in a table.
Customized Macros
RequisitePro doesn't support Word customized macros. (10108)
Revision Numbers in Word
When saving RequisitePro documents, Microsoft Word records the revision number for all revisions as "2." This revision number is available on the Statistics tab of the document Properties dialog box, which is accessed from the File menu using the Properties command. This revision number does not affect the document revision information in RequisitePro, which is available on the Revision tab of the Document dialog box (Click Document > Properties). (1826) (1109)
Importing Word Documents with Existing Formatting
If you are importing a Word document that uses a template other than Word's normal.dot template or an existing RequisitePro outline, you should set up that template as a RequisitePro outline prior to importing the document. RequisitePro will overwrite any unrecognized formatting, such as Word styles, with the normal.dot formatting.
If you have customized the formatting within the Word document, you should save the document as a Word template and copy it to the RequisitePro outlines directory. Refer to the Microsoft Word documentation for help in creating Word templates. Refer to the RequisitePro online help topic "Creating outlines" for help in managing RequisitePro outlines.
Word 2000 Issues
- RequisitePro contains a Refresh Requirements command on the Document menu that allows you to reset the style and color of all requirement text in a document in case you inadvertently change it. However, if you change the color of any requirement text using Word 2000, the color cannot be reset using the Refresh Requirements command. To refresh requirement text color, save the document and then select the Refresh Requirements command. (5359)
- If you are using Word 2000 and choose to clear the Trust all installed add-ins and templates check box on the Tools > Macro > Security dialog box, you must click Enable at the Microsoft Word message box each time you open the RequisitePro Word Workplace. (11361)
Nontextual Requirements
If you include the following in the text of a requirement located in a document, you will not be able to edit the requirement text outside the document (even when the extended editing feature is enabled):
- OLE objects
- Fields (e.g., author, title, subject)
- Pictures (both inline and floating)
- Tables
- Annotations (comments, footnotes, bookmarks, hyperlinks)
- Subdocuments
- Lists containing more than a single item (including bulleted and numbered headings or other styles, both sequential and outline)
Linked files
If you create an Include Text link in Microsoft Word to an Excel spreadsheet (by clicking Insert > File and selecting the Insert as Link option), you cannot create a requirement from the link. (16518)
Offline Authoring
- If you experience problems with the RequisitePro menus when using offline documents, clean all temp files and delete normal.dot.
- Avoid hidden text in offline documents. If you create a requirement in an offline document, and the text at the end of the selected requirement text is hidden, the requirement text is truncated when you bring the document online.(17571)
- In Word 2000, you may need to adjust your macro security levels to use the Requirements > Create and Delete menu commands in offline authoring. Word 2000 defaults to the highest level for macro security. This setting prevents the enabling of the RequisitePro offline authoring macros. Reset the macro security in Word 2000 to medium on the Security dialog box, which is available by clicking Tools > Macro > Security.
ClearCase UCM/Baseline Issues
- The time required for adding a RequisitePro project to source control is proportional to the number of requirement types, documents, and saved views in the project. Subsequent check-in operations will be faster. (14374)
- RequisitePro cannot accept database fields (such as requirement text, and requirement attributes) with more than 4000 characters between carriage returns. If you are using RequisitePro with ClearCase or ClearCase UCM and one of the fields exceeds this limit, the integrations will fail. (14285)
- If you use Rational ClearQuest to manage UCM activities and you place a RequisitePro project under configuration control, make sure that you do not set the UCM policy, "Check Assignment Before Work On." (The default is for the policy not to be set.) When you set the policy, you cannot work on an activity unless you are the owner of that activity. In the current implementation of UCM for RequisitePro, an entire team of workers share the same activity, so if the policy is set, only one person -- not the entire team -- can work in a RequisitePro project. (RATL 45844)
Numerical Attributes
RequisitePro does not support a digit-grouping symbol of any kind (i.e., a thousand separator, such as the comma in 2,350). You cannot enter attributes with this symbol. RequisitePro does not display numbers with this symbol. (6858)
Views and Queries
- If you are using an Access database and you have slow performance with the Retain Hierarchy option in the views display or queries, upgrade the RequisitePro project to use Oracle or SQL Server. (15569)
- If a saved view includes a query with a user-defined date field parameter, the date is stored with the saved view in the date format that is set in your Control Panel/Regional Settings/Short Date Style. If you attempt to open a saved view on a PC that uses a different date format (such as dd/mm/yyyy), a run-time error occurs. (8328)
- In RequisitePro projects that use a Microsoft Access database, you may experience a 5- to 10-second delay between entry of data and display of the modified data. This is due to defects in Microsoft MDAC components, which RequisitePro uses in querying data in Access databases. For example, if you create or modify a requirement and then run a query for all requirements of that type, the new or modified requirement may not be displayed until after a delay. (2189)
Requirement Metrics
- The Parent Change filter cannot always detect when a requirement is changed from a root requirement to a child requirement, and vice versa. (8472)
- Close Requirement Metrics before you close the RequisitePro project. (7302)
Known Issues
This section identifies known issues that are expected to be fixed in a future
release of RequisitePro. For information on issues related to Rational Suite
or integrations with other Rational Products, see the Rational Suite Release
Notes.
Database Type Conversion/Data Transport Wizard
If you have not opened a RequisitePro sample project (Learning Project, Learning_Business, or QuarterByte Savings Bank Example Project) and you try to move the database or convert it to another database type using the Data Transport Wizard, you will receive an error message. If you want to experiment with changing the database type for a sample project, make sure you have opened the project at least once before you start the conversion. (14242)
Microsoft Word-linked Files
If you insert a linked object in Microsoft Word and then select it and text above it to create requirement text, an extra character is created in the requirement text. (17231)
Internationalization Issues
- When creating RequisitePro schemas or databases on international operating systems, use the default names and passwords: RequisitePro, reqpro, reqpro. Non-English characters are not supported for passwords for SQL-Server- and Oracle-based projects. (14940)
- When moving RequisitePro projects between databases, all characters in the database must be supported in the code page of the system from which the Data Transport Wizard is run (12011).
- In some languages, Excel and other products use a separator other than a comma when saving data as comma-separated value (CSV) files. If your language uses semicolons and you want to import a CSV file created from Excel to RequisitePro, change the semicolon separators to commas, and the requirements will be imported correctly. (11775)
- When running queries, if the decimal separator and thousand's separator are different from the default of the language, Visual Basic conversion routines fail. (11423)
- Non-Japanese double-byte characters do not appear properly in a Microsoft Word document after an export of requirements from an Attribute Matrix. To correct the problem, open the Word document, select all text, and select a new font. (13808)
- On Korean and simplified Chinese systems, requirements in existing projects may be concatenated after cut, paste, and Rebuild Tags operations. This applies to all existing projects, including the Learning Project. (15540)
- The null character designating the end of a requirement may appear as a square in requirements created in Microsoft Word documents on double-byte language systems. (6799)
- If you have Windows 98 installed on a Swedish system, you may not be able to create requirements in documents. (11399)
- The Rational E-Mail Reader doesn't accept project names that use double-byte characters. Therefore, participation e-mail cannot be enabled for those projects. (11773)
- If you are using the Rational E-mail Reader, non-US-ASCII characters, such as the Euro character, are not handled properly. (8286)
- To avoid problems with double-byte characters when replying to RequisitePro discussions, delete any double-byte reply prefixes that Outlook automatically attaches to the subject of a reply message. (8286)
Using ClearCase UCM with RequisitePro
- A project created from a baseline does not maintain the cross-project traceability links, discussions information, and associations with Rational ClearQuest and Rational Rose of the original baselined project. (13476)
- When opening a RequisitePro document in a project that was created from a baseline, you are notified the document was modified outside of RequisitePro. You can accept this message and then save the document. (14604)
Using ClearCase LT to Archive RequisitePro Projects
When you create a snapshot view in ClearCase LT, initially there is no default activity for that view. An activity needs to be created before you archive a RequisitePro project. (18138)
Using Rose with RequisitePro (Integrated Use Case Management)
- If your project was upgraded from a version of RequisitePro prior to version 2000.02.10, you must enable the extended editing feature if you want to modify the text of requirements from a Rose use case using Integrated Use Case Management. Enable extended editing on the Documents tab of the Project Properties dialog box.
- When using Rose RealTime with RequisitePro, the RequisitePro browse feature for selecting use cases fails to find the Rose RealTime model files. Instead, type in the name of the item. Also, avoid moving RequisitePro documents that contain requirements linked to Rose RealTime items. This may cause errors in Rose RealTime. (17619, 17860)
Using ClearQuest with RequisitePro
For information on upgrading Rational Suite or the RequisitePro-ClearQuest
integration, refer to the manual Installing Rational Suite (also available
in an electronic version on the Rational Solutions for Windows Online Documentation
CD) and the Rational Suite Release Notes.
- If you are using non-English, special characters, when you start the ASCQISetup.bat file on some Windows platforms, the special characters are not sent correctly. Instead, launch each command directly from MS-DOS. Copy each command (excluding REM commands) from the ASCQISetup.bat, paste it into the MS-DOS Prompt window and run each command. On Windows 9X systems, you must use environment variables for commands longer than 127 characters. (11625)
- After you have changed associations in ClearQuest, or deleted requirements, manually refresh any open views in RequisitePro (click the Refresh button) to make sure updated information appears in the Associate Enhancement Requests dialog box. From within ClearQuest, if you remove an association to a requirement, then change the RA Project reference and add another requirement for the new project in the same session, errors will result. Instead, delete the requirement and commit the changes before changing the project reference and adding a new requirement. (10897) (10862)
- When you are setting a ClearQuest query in the Query field of the Associate Enhancement Requests dialog box, you must choose a query that contains a ClearQuest ID in order for the integration with RequisitePro to work correctly. (10853)
- Using the ClearQuest-RequisitePro integration when you have selected multiple records in ClearQuest will cause errors. Use the ClearQuest-RequisitePro integration with one ClearQuest record at a time. (18053)
Contacting Technical Support
Telephone: 1-800-433-5444 or 408-863-5000 (outside the U.S. and Canada)
Fax: 408-863-4300
E-mail: support@rational.com
Web site: http://www.rational.com
Visit our Web site for more information about us!
RequisitePro Users Mailing List
Join our user group! Rational maintains an open e-mail list "req_forum@rational.com" for customers to exchange ideas on using RequisitePro. This list is monitored to ensure that product questions are answered and problems are addressed.
To subscribe to the mailing list, go to the following Web site:
http://www.rational.com/support/usergroups/