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Topic Title: Doors database shared between 2 companies
Topic Summary: How to make sure that changes are maintained
Created On: 6-Nov-2007 11:35
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 6-Nov-2007 11:35
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Jo Chandler

Posts: 20
Joined: 25-Oct-2007

Hi,
I am relatively new to DOORS however recently went on the 3 day DXL course which was very useful.
Our project is shared between 2 companies who do not share a network. Basically, both companies need to work on the same module at the same time (although most likely we will be working on different sections of the module). The plan is that company_2 will send us (company_1) their updated version of the SRD and we somehow need to merge their changes into our SRD.
Now I've been on the DXL course, I am supposedly the "DOORS expert" in the company, but I'm sure everyone on this site will know that I am definately no expert!
So, if anyone knows of any (easy!) way that what we are trying to do is possible, please do let me know.
I'm presuming the database will hold 2 copies of the module company_1_copy and company_2_copy. Where company_1_copy is the master.
I'm currently working on a script that will check for changes between the objects in the modules, but I'll also need to check for changes in links etc. Changes in anything that can change basicaly!

If anyone has any idea what I'm on about (not sure I do!) and can provide any assistance. Thanks you lots in advance.
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 6-Nov-2007 18:11
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ron lewis

Posts: 650
Joined: 20-Sep-2004

Jo
I would suggest that you spend time at becoming an expert at using MSWord to compare the contents of two files. While have a dxl script might be useful for certain situation, MSWord is far superior at comparing documents.
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 6-Nov-2007 19:06
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Louie Landale

Posts: 2070
Joined: 12-Sep-2002

I've only played with Partitions a little, but this is my understanding...

Set up the module for Shared and decide which section(s) will be edited at each site. One of the databases contains the 'master' of the module. In that database, define a 'partition' that includes the sections that the other folks will edit. Send the partition to the Away database. Periodically, perhaps each week, they will return the partiion which the Home database will 'rejoin'. They re-partition and send them the new module.

With this method, you can only edit objects in the sections defined for your database.

I don't know what will happen should the Away database create an attribute in the Module, but I suspect it would be best if they made a request to the Home folks for the attribute, which the Home folks create in the module before making the partition and sending it Away.

I've never attempted to partition 'attributes'; which I suppose theretically will allow the different databases to edit the same objects, but only different attributes (e.g. Home may edit Object Text and Away may edit Rationale).

There is no getting around the notion of a Home database that has the real module and the Away database that has a good copy.

An alternate approach which I do not recommend, would be as follows:
Create a view in the module that has all the relevant attributes. Export the module with this View to MS-Word. Archive the module and send it Away. Periodically, they send it back. Export that view from their module to MS-Word. Run MS-Word comparison. Duplicate each found difference in the Home module. Export the view again and compare it to the one exported from Away and correct any differences. When the Home module is up-to-date, archive and send it Away. The Away folks should purge their old copy of the module.

- Louie
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 7-Nov-2007 08:43
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Pekka Mäkinen

Posts: 276
Joined: 18-Mar-2004

Are the modules copies of each other with the same Absolute Number? How about if you do a spreadsheet export of company_2 module and import that into company_1 module?

-------------------------
Pekka.Makinen@softqa.fi
SoftQA Oy -http://www.softqa.fi/
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 7-Nov-2007 09:43
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Jo Chandler

Posts: 20
Joined: 25-Oct-2007

Hi all. Thanks for the responses.
Pekka, I think that they will have the same absolute number. If I have a spreadsheet of company_2's updates and import that into my module, how will it know which parts to keep and which parts to overwrite?
Problem is, company_1 may have changed sections 1-3 and company_2 will have changed sections 5-6 say. So I don't want to overwrite sections 1-3 by importing company_2s version. Did that make sense?
I quite like the idea of learning of getting to grips with word instead however I'd still have the problems of company_2 adding links say.
I thought partitioning could only be done on a module, not on a per object basis. That's what the telelogic man told me. If I could partition say sections 5-6 to company_2 that would be really useful.
Presumably it must be possible to do all this with a giant DXL script, but I'm quite scared at the thought!
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 12-Nov-2007 18:44
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Gordon Woods

Posts: 35
Joined: 2-Mar-2007

Jo
The problem is more of a configuration control problem. Some questions to ask:

- There can only be only one master - but who in your case holds the master if both companies are editing at the same time?
- Partitions can be broken (even accidentally) - are they sufficiently robust for your needs? How critical to your business is it?
- Have you considered Shared Working Environments across the companies?
- Have you considered a possibility of one master module and each company has a proposal copy which then gets updated to the master copy only after approval from the other company?
- What about links ? an SRD on its own is not much use. What about links to parent and child requirements, links to other modules? You will be unable to control these.

Ron is correct. DOORs comparison is noddy - Word is more powerful as long as you do not use tables.

You could use dxl and regexp to compare objects in 2 modules but its really down to some sort of an approval/change proposal system if you want to effectively control updates.

Gordon

gordon.woods2@baesystems.com
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