Base type | Description |
---|---|
Text | Can include paragraphs, or newline characters. No restriction exists on the number of characters that can be entered. |
String | Cannot include paragraphs, or newline characters. An upper limit of 968 exists on the number of characters that can be entered, which includes hidden characters. For example, rich text contains hidden characters, and these characters are included as part of the 968 characters. Unicode and upper ASCII characters use more internal storage space than plain ASCII characters. If you try to enter a value that contains more than 968 characters, an error is reported, and the value is truncated. If you must enter many characters, use a Text attribute. |
Integer | Stores whole numbers. Numbers can be positive or negative. |
Real | Stores decimal numbers. Numbers can be positive or negative. |
Date | Stores dates. |
Enumeration | A list of values. You must define the list of
values for an enumerated attribute. For example, you might define an attribute type that is called Priority, and that uses Enumeration as its base type and the values High, Medium, and Low. |
Username | A Rational DOORS user name. This attribute type is linked to the current users in the Rational DOORS database. Rational DOORS attributes that use this type can be updated when users are removed from the Rational DOORS database. |
You can construct types from these base types. For example, you create a type that is called Percentage, which uses Integer as its base type and can have values in the range 0-100. You then create various attributes of the Percentage type. You know that users can assign only integer values 0 - 100 to those attributes. Rational DOORS rejects any other values as invalid.
You can use types to indicate which units of measurement are used for an attribute. For example, you create a type that is called Kg, which uses Integer as its base type. Then, you create an attribute that is called Weight and that is of the Kg type. If users are viewing the values in the Weight attribute and are not sure what units the weight is measured in, they can check the attribute type and see that the units are Kg.
If you are integrating with Rational Insight, you must assign a supported, predefined URI to the attribute type. For information about predefined URIs, see Predefined URIs for attributes in modules.