A Requirements workflow is a state transition model in which you define the state that
artifacts of a specified type can be in and the actions that users can select to move these
artifacts from one state to another. You can find topics that are in a specific state by creating a
filter.
You can use the default workflow that comes with
DOORS® Next or you can create
your own custom workflows.
Note: The default workflow is available only in new projects in new
installations of IBM® Engineering Requirements Management DOORS Next. Workflows are not currently available if you upgrade
the DOORS Next application from previous versions.
In the default workflow, an artifact begins its lifecycle in the
New
state, but users can select actions that move the artifact to
In Progress,
Under Review,
Approved,
Rejected, and
Complete. The following diagram shows
all the actions and states in the default workflow:
You can use the default workflow as is, or you can modify it for
your particular needs.
Associating a workflow with an artifact type
Before you can use the default workflow or a custom workflow, you must first associate the
workflow with an artifact type. To make this association, complete the following steps:
- Click .
- In the Artifact Type tab, click an artifact type.
- Select a workflow in the Workflow field.
After a workflow is associated with an artifact type, users with
the proper permission can
select actions that move artifacts through the states that are defined
in the workflow.
Creating or modifying workflows
You can create or modify a workflow in the workflow editor. To open the workflow editor, click
. The
Requirements - Workflows
window appears with on-screen instructions on how to create a workflow.
Tip: Keeping
actions and transitions separate provides flexibility for how you define permissions. For example,
you can set a permission to control every way to get into a particular state by using a single
action for every transition to that state. Then, you must define the permission only once. You can
also have different permissions for different ways to get to a given state by using different
actions for the different transitions into that state.
Using Workflows
After a workflow is created and is associated with an artifact type, users with the proper
permission can use workflows by changing the state of artifacts in the artifact editor and in the
Artifacts window.
To change an artifact state in the artifact editor, open the artifact in the artifact editor,
click
Edit, and in the Overview section of the sidebar, select a state in the
State field, as shown in this example:
To change the artifact state in the
Artifacts window, first configure the
Artifacts window to display the
State column, and then
select a state from the
State drop-down menu, as shown in this example:
Note: The states that appear for selection in the State field and in
the State drop-down menu are determined by the user's role and the permissions that have been
granted to that role.
Tip: You can create a filter that displays artifacts that
are in a specific state, as shown in this example:
Workflow Permissions
By setting permissions on workflow actions, you can control which
user roles can move or transition an artifact to a particular state.
To set permissions for workflow actions:
- From the Administration menu, click Manage
this project area.
- Click the project name.
- Click Permissions.
- Select a role.
- Expand and under the work flow name, click
either the Grant access button or the Revoke access
buttons for a particular action.
Note: You can also set permissions that define which roles can
modify artifact content, attributes, and tags in each state of a workflow.
