Access Rights Required for StarTeam View Compare/Merge Users

This topic explains the minimum access rights needed by View Compare/Merge users. It is recommended that project administrators manage these rights for View Compare/Merge users since they usually do more with StarTeam than create View Compare/Merge sessions.

It is assumed that your company uses all item types, which may not be the case. For example, if you do not use or do not have the Requirements component, there is no need for requirement access rights for View Compare/Merge.

Note: Before you can create access rights for View Compare/Merge Users, your server administrator needs to set up a View Compare/Merge Users group. Give your server administrator the list of users to add to this group. Once the View Compare/Merge Users group is set up on the server, you can open the Project Access Rights dialog box (Project > Access Rights) and set the following access rights for the View Compare/Merge Users group.

Project Access Rights

The user must be able to see the project that contains the views to be compared and/or merged.

Generic object rights

See object and its properties.

View Access Rights

The user must be able to see the view. Also, since there are options in the View Compare/Merge that allow the user to create view and/or revision labels, the user should have the rights to create both types of labels.

Generic item rights	See object and its properties.
View specific rights	Create view and revision labels.

Change Package Access Rights

Since the View Compare/Merge session creates a change package object , the user must be given appropriate access rights to change packages.

Generic item rights	Create, see, and modify properties of change packages.
Label rights	No label rights access are needed.
Link rights	Create, see, modify, and delete links.

Promotion State Access Rights

No Promotion State access rights are needed.

Child Folders Access Rights

The user must be able to see folders and modify their properties because their properties may be merged during the View Compare/Merge session. For example, a folder’s name may have changed.

Generic item rights	See item and its properties. Modify properties. Delete from folder. Perform maintenance. Set and break exclusive locks.
Label rights	Attach/Adjust view and revision labels.
Link rights	See and create links.
Generic item container rights	Share/move folder from its parent folder. Modify folder behavior or configuration.

Additional Information About Child Folders Access Rights

View Compare/Merge users need the Delete from folder access right. View Compare/Merge or the user may select the Delete and Delete and reverse share options. Since View Compare/Merge does not create folders (it only shares and reverse-shares to create new items), the Create folders access right is not necessary. However, users of View Compare/Merge would be very likely to need this right for their everyday work.

There are options in the View Compare/Merge wizard that require the rights to set and break locks. These options are Lock target for difference, Lock source for difference, and Break locks automatically. Anytime a View Compare/Merge session results in a reverse share, the user needs the access rights to lock items in both the source and target views. A reverse share can occur during Promote or Rebase operations. A reverse share causes item locking in both views because the item is moved from the source to the target and shared back to the source. So, even if no locking options are chosen when using the View Compare/Merge wizard, the user needs the right to lock items in both views any time a reverse share occurs. A reverse share can also result in other changes to the newly shared item in the target. The item’s configuration and behavior may have to be reset, and the labels that the item previously had (in the source before the move) are reapplied.

Notice that the user needs the right to adjust both revision and view labels. Creating a revision label is not the same as attaching that label to an item. When created, a revision label is attached to nothing. View Compare/Merge performs attachments as part of the session. While view labels are attached to every item in a view as part of the label’s creation process, users need to be able to adjust those labels. For example, View Compare/Merge may need to restore the labels to the child folder that the folder had before it was reverse shared.

Reverse shares happen during promote sessions and perhaps some replicate sessions. For reverse shares, users need the rights to Share/Move folder from its parent folder and Modify folder behavior or configuration.

The Modify folder behavior or configuration access right is also required when the Fix floating child shares option is used in the View Compare/Merge wizard, and when a re-pin action is selected either by View Compare/Merge or the user.

File Access Rights

Users need the same access rights for files as for child folders. In addition, they need the rights to check files in and out. Files are checked in as part of the commit portion of a View Compare/Merge session. Checking in a file requires the user have the ability to see items and properties, modify properties, see item history, and set exclusive locks. Files are checked out by users who use the View Compare/Merge session Test Perspective.

Generic item rights	See item and its properties. Modify properties. Delete from folder. See history. Set and break exclusive locks.
Label rights	Attach/Adjust view and revision labels.
Link rights	See and create links.
File specific rights	Check in and check out file.
Generic item container rights	Share/move folder from its parent folder. Modify folder behavior or configuration.

Change Request Access Rights

The access rights for change requests are the same as for child folders, and for the same reasons.

Generic item rights	See item and its properties. Modify properties. Delete from folder. Set and break exclusive locks.
Label rights	Attach/Adjust view and revision labels.
Link rights	See and create links.
Generic item container rights	Share/move folder from its parent folder. Modify folder behavior or configuration.

Requirement Access Rights

The access rights for requirements are the same as for child folders, and for the same reasons.

Generic item rights	See item and its properties Modify properties Delete from folder. Set exclusive locks. Break exclusive locks
Label rights	Attach/Adjust view and revision labels.
Link rights	See and create links.
Generic item container rights	Share/move folder from its parent folder. Modify folder behavior or configuration.

Task Access Rights

The access rights for tasks are the same as for child folders and they are needed for the same reasons.

Generic item rights	See item and its properties Modify properties Delete from folder. Set exclusive locks. Break exclusive locks
Label rights	Attach/Adjust view and revision labels.
Link rights	See and create links.
Generic item container rights	Share/move folder from its parent folder. Modify folder behavior or configuration.

Topic Access Rights

The access rights for topics are the same as for child folders and for the same reasons.

Generic item rights	See item and its properties Modify properties Delete from folder. Set exclusive locks. Break exclusive locks
Label rights	Attach/Adjust view and revision labels.
Link rights	See and create links.
Generic item container rights	Share/move folder from its parent folder. Modify folder behavior or configuration.