Create baselines

This topic explains how to create different types of baselines in the desktop client.

Create baseline scoped by design part

To mark a milestone, you can create a snapshot of a project/stream based on a design part structure.

Caution: Avoid creating more than one baseline at a time. If you create multiple baselines simultaneously, you may corrupt the baselines and they may not contain the correct data.

PRIVILEGES: Create Baseline.

To create a baseline based on a design part:

  1. In the desktop client, select File > New > Baseline.

    Or right-click a top-level design part, and select New Baseline. For details, see Select a design part.

  2. In the New Baseline dialog box, on the General tab, specify the following details:

    Field Description
    Create baseline from design part

    Enter a part specification for the parent design part to scope of the baseline, or browse to find the part.

    If you are creating the baseline from a design part, this field is prepopulated.
    Product Select a product with which to associate the baseline. If you are creating the baseline from a design part, this field is prepopulated.
    Baseline ID Enter a name or label for the baseline. Use up to 128 characters. The name must be unique within the product.
    Type

    Select a baseline type.

    The available types are defined in the Administration Console.

    Template Release or archive baselines only: From the Template list, select a template.
    Part Levels

    To include items from all design parts below the parent, select All.

    To specify the number of levels in the design part hierarchy from which to include the items, select From Top to Level and enter an integer value.

    For example, enter "1" to include only items related directly to the selected design part. Enter "2" to include items related to the next immediate subordinate design part.
    Create Baseline from Project/Stream

    From the Product list, select the product whose items you want to include in the baseline. By default, the product of your current project/stream is selected.

    The product does not have to match the product ID for the baseline you are creating.

    From the ID list, select the project/stream. By default, your current project/stream is selected.

    To use the Global Project so that the baseline is not restricted to a specific project/stream, select Use Global.

  3. If any user-defined attributes exist for the selected baseline type, select the Attributes tab to view and change them. For details, see Attributes tab/page.

  4. Select the Relationships tab and specify the options for related objects:

    Field Description
    Requirements / Requests

    Select the appropriate option to include/exclude item revisions based on either related requirements or related requests.

    Then use the browse button to select one or more requirements or requests whose related items you want to include in the baseline.

    Note: The specified requirements or requests only affect the content of the baseline if you have selected a request baseline template. If you select an item baseline template, the requirements or requests are related to the baseline as In Response To, and have no effect on the items to be included in the baseline.
    Traverse Relationships

    Keep this option selected to include item revisions for all requests related to the listed Dimensions CM requests.

    Clear this option to exclude item revisions for other requests related to the selected Dimensions CM requests.
    Include closed requests Select this option to include items related to closed requests.
    Include item revisions related as 'Info' to requests Select this option to include item revisions related as Info.

    Note: All items related to a request as In Response To are included even if they are not in the project/stream specified in the Projects list.

  5. Click Create.

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Create tip baseline

A tip baseline enables you to create a snapshot of a project/stream to preserve its state of development.

PRIVILEGES: Create Baseline.

Note: Item revisions that are in an off-normal state are not included in the baseline.

To create a tip baseline:

  1. In the desktop client, select File > New > Tip Baseline. 

  2. In the New Baseline dialog box, on the General tab, specify the following details:

    Field Description
    Product Select the product associated with this baseline. By default, the product for the current project/stream is selected.
    New Baseline ID Enter a name or label for the baseline. Use up to 128 characters. The name must be unique within the product.
    Type

    Select a baseline type. By default, the first type in the list is selected.

    The available types are defined in the Administration Console.

    Related Requests (Optional) Enter any requests to relate to this baseline as In Response To. Or use the browse button to select requests.
    Project/Stream Selector

    From the Product list, select the product whose items you want to include in the baseline. By default, the product of your current project/stream is selected.

    The product does not have to match the product ID for the baseline you are creating.

    From the ID list, select the project/stream. By default, your current project/stream is selected.

    To use the Global Project so that the baseline is not restricted to a specific project/stream, select Use Global.
    Also baseline attached subprojects and baselines If a project has any subprojects/baselines attached, select this option if you want to baseline them as well.

  3. If any user-defined attributes exist for the selected baseline type, select the Attributes tab to view and change them. For details, see Attributes tab/page.

  4. Click Create.

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Create revised baseline

You can create a new baseline by revising an existing baseline. The revised baseline can include or exclude the changes made to items in response to a set of requests or requirements.

Caution: Avoid creating more than one baseline at a time. If you create multiple baselines simultaneously, you may corrupt the baselines, and they may not contain the correct data.

PRIVILEGES: Create Baseline.

Limitations:

  • When multiple revisions of the same item are related to one or more requests or requirements as In Response To, the latest revision by pedigree is selected. If two or more item revisions are on different branches, creating a revised baseline causes Dimensions CM to issue a warning and continue processing without changing the revision of that item in the baseline.

  • You can specify a maximum of 496 requests/requirements for a revised baseline.

To create a revised baseline:

  1. In the desktop client, select the baseline you want to revise.

  2. Select Baseline > New > Revised Baseline. The Revise Baseline dialog box opens.

  3. Verify that the baseline specification is correct. The new baseline inherits the product ID.

  4. Specify the following details:

    Field Description
    New Baseline ID Enter a name for the revised baseline. Use up to 128 characters. This name must be unique within the product.
    Type

    Select a baseline type. The default is the type of the selected baseline.

    Baseline types are defined in the Administration Console.

    Requirements Select this option to include/exclude item revisions based on related requirements.
    Requests Select this option to include/exclude item revisions based on related requests.

    Update Baseline using

    Enter or browse for the requirements or requests whose related items you want to include in the baseline. The item revisions must have an In Response To relationship to the requests.

    Specify one or more IDs separated by commas.

    For details about how the requests are processed, see Revise and merge baselines.

    Remove From Baseline

    Enter or browse for the requests or requirements whose related items you want to remove from the baseline. The item revisions must have an Affected relationship to the requests/requirements.

    Specify one or more IDs separated by commas.

    Note: You must specify at least one request or requirement in either the Update baseline using field or the Remove from baseline field.
    Traverse Request Relationships Select this option to include item revisions in all requests related to the specified Dimensions CM requests.
    Project/Stream Selector

    From the Product list, select the product whose items you want to include in the baseline. By default, the product of your current project/stream is selected.

    The product does not have to match the product ID for the baseline you are creating.

    From the ID list, select the project/stream. By default, your current project/stream is selected.

    To use the Global Project so that the baseline is not restricted to a specific project/stream, select Use Global.

  5. If any user-defined attributes exist for the selected baseline type, select the Attributes tab to view or change them. For details, see Attributes tab/page.

  6. Click OK.

  7. Check your Dimensions CM server email for any errors. Dimensions CM reports an error and does not create the revised baseline in the following cases:

    • If the requests in the Requests to Update Baseline With list include more than one item revision.

    • If any revision to be deleted is the same as one that is to be added or substituted.

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Create merged baseline

You can merge two or more baselines into a new baseline.

PRIVILEGES: Create Baseline.

To merge baselines:

  1. In the desktop client, select two or more baselines you want to merge.

  2. Select Baseline > New > Based on Merged.

  3. In the Merge Baseline dialog box, on the General tab, specify the following details:

    Field Description

    Baselines

    Verify that the baseline specification is correct.

    To change the baselines you want to merge, enter their specification or click the browse button to find them.

    Use commas to separate baseline IDs. Specify baseline IDs in the following format:

    <productID>:<baselineID>

    Product

    Select the product associated with this baseline. By default, the product of your current project/stream is selected.

    Baseline ID

    Enter a unique name or label for the baseline.
    Type

    Select a baseline type. The default is the type of the selected baseline.

    The available types are defined in the Administration Console.

    Parent design part specification

    Enter the top-level design part to include in the new baseline, or click the browse button to find it.

    Specify parent part ID in the following format:

    <productID>:<partID>.<variant>;<pcs>

    The new baseline includes items from all design parts that are owned or used by the design part.

  4. If any user-defined attributes exist for the selected baseline type, select the Attributes tab to view or change them. For details, see Attributes tab/page.

  5. Click OK.

  6. Check your Dimensions CM server email for any errors.

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See also: