Edit items

In the desktop client, you can edit item contents, update item attributes, and change item type, ID, and project file name.

Edit an item

In the desktop client, you can edit an item in a project without checking out the item first. When you use the Edit command, Dimensions CM automatically checks out the revision, opens it in the editor associated with the item format, and then checks it in when you exit the editor.

Guidelines and limitations:

  • Editing items without checking them out is not available for streams.

  • Use the Edit command to make a quick change to a revision. If you need to edit a revision over an extended period of time, check it out first.

  • Your process model may require you to associate an edited item with a request.

  • You cannot edit a folder item.

PRIVILEGES: Revise Item Content.

To edit an item:

  1. In an Items list, select the item.

  2. Select Item > Edit. The item is automatically checked out while you are editing it.

  3. Change the following details, as needed:

    New named branch Accept or select a named branch for the revision.
    New version

    Accept the revision ID, or enter a different one.

    Revision IDs are allocated according to your process model rules.
    Request ID Enter the name of one or more related requests, or browse to find requests.
    Status Select a status to associate with the edited item.
    Comment

    Enter a comment to describe the change.

    Your process model may require you to specify a comment.

  4. Click OK.

    The item revision opens in the editor associated with the item format.

  5. When you are finished making changes, save the file and exit the editor.

The revision is automatically checked in, and the revision ID is changed according to your process model rules.

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Edit item attributes

You can set or change the values of an item's system-defined or user-defined attributes.

PRIVILEGES: Update Item.

The attribute update rules defined in the Administration Console determine which attributes you can edit.

Note: When you edit a sensitive attribute, which requires an electronic signature, you need to authenticate with your Dimensions CM password.

To edit item attributes:

  1. In an Items list, select one or more items. You can select multiple items only if they belong to the same product and have the same item type.

    Note: When editing multi-valued attributes for multiple items, the behavior depends on the setting of the variable DM_DISABLE_MULTIPLE_EDIT_ATTRS. For details, see Administration.

  2. Select Item > Edit Attributes, and select the Attributes tab.

  3. (Optional) If you selected a single item, update the item description.

  4. (Optional) Select a Role Section from the list to view only the user-defined attributes for that role.

  5. Enter or select attribute values, as needed.

    Attributes in bold are required. Attributes in italics cannot be modified.

  6. Click OK.

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Change item type

You can change item type if you have created an item with the wrong type or if you want to recategorize it as a different type.

Item types are defined in the Administration Console.

PRIVILEGES: Update Item, Manage Object Type.

To change item type:

  1. In an Items list, select one or more items.

  2. Select Item > Change Type. The dialog box opens, displaying the specification of the selected items.

  3. From New Type, enter or select an item type.

  4. Click OK.

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Change an item ID

Changing the item ID is different from changing the item's project file name. For details, see Change an item's project file name.

This operation is not available for items in a stream.

Note: You cannot use the following characters in the item ID: . ; - @ ' ` :

PRIVILEGES: Rename Item.

To change an item ID:

  1. In an Items list, select the item.

  2. Select Item > Change ID.

  3. For New Item ID, enter the new item identifier.

  4. Click OK.

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Change an item's project file name

You can change the project file name of an item or the project folder.

This is a different procedure from changing the item ID. For details, see Change an item ID.

Note: This operation is not available for items in a stream.

PRIVILEGES: Rename Item.

To change the item's project file name:

  1. In an Items list, select one or more items.

  2. Select Item > Rename.

  3. In the Rename dialog box, enter the following details:

    Field Description
    New folder Enter the new project folder for the item.
    New file name If you selected a single item, enter the new name for the file.

    Track Changes With Request(s)

    Enter or select any requests to use for tracking the refactoring operation.

    Leave this field empty to use your project default request.

  4. Click OK.

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See also: