Linking between artifacts in modules

You can link artifacts that are in the same module or artifacts that are in different modules.

Before you begin

You can link from an artifact in a module to another artifact in a module by using a bidirectional link type. Labels explain the directional relationship of the link. See Link direction. If you create links only between artifacts in the context of modules, the links exist only in those modules and in any copies you make of the module. To link two artifacts that are in different modules by using the drag-and-drop method, you must be working in a Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, or Google Chrome browser. In Microsoft Internet Explorer, the drag-and-drop method is supported only between modules that are open in different browser windows.

Note: You can link base artifacts with other base artifacts or with artifacts in the context of a module. Links to and from base artifacts are available in all modules in which those artifacts are used. A blue icon over the artifact type icon indicates linking with a base artifact .

For information about linking in base artifacts, see Base artifacts.

• To create a link between artifacts that are in the same module:
  1. Open a module.
  2. Hover the mouse over the left side of an artifact until the cursor becomes a four-sided arrow.
     
  3. Drag the artifact under the target artifact. When the link icon is shown to the right of the artifact, drop the artifact on the icon.
  4. Select the type of link to create, and then click OK.
     You can also paste the copied artifacts as links in the Link column. To paste as a link, right-click in the Links column and click Paste as Link.
     Tip: If a link column is shown on the page, you can create a link of that type by dragging an artifact to that column. You are not prompted to select a link type.
• Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Chrome browsers only: To link between two artifacts that are in different modules by using the drag-and-drop method:
  1. Click Modules > Browse Modules.
  2. Press Ctrl and click a module.
     The module opens in a browser tab.
  3. Press Ctrl and click the module to link to. If you are working in Internet Explorer, you must open the module in a separate window.
  4. In the module that you opened first, hover the mouse over the left side of an artifact until the cursor becomes a four-sided arrow.
  5. Drag the artifact to the browser tab that contains the target module; then continue to drag the artifact to the target artifact. When the link icon is shown to the right of the artifact, drop the artifact on the icon.
     Note: You cannot drag and drop artifacts to a module that has a sort column or at least one filter and receive a warning message if you attempt to.
  Tip: You can also link between artifacts in two different modules by opening each module in a separate window and dragging artifacts between the two modules. To open a module in a separate window, right-click the module name, and then click Open in new window.
• To create a link between two artifacts that are in different modules by using the copy-and-paste method:
  1. Select the artifact to link from and then click Copy Artifact.
  2. Select an artifact in another module and click Paste Special.
     The Paste Special window opens.
  3. Click Create a link to this artifact and then follow the prompts.
• To link to an artifact in a module by using the Create Link option:
  1. From the Link type list, select the link type.
  2. In the Where to link to field, select Project.
  3. From the Project list, select the project where you want to link the artifact. If configuration management is enabled for the project, from the Component list, select the required component. You can also view the project that is associated with each component.
     
     Tip: To search for projects or components, you can type the name of the project or component in the Project or Component field. Project or component names that match the search keywords are shown in the list.
  4. Optional: To link the artifact to a web link, select the The web option. You can define the link label and the URL link to link the artifact.
  5. Select the Folders or Modules option and select the destination artifact.
  6. Click OK.
  When you delete links from modules within a project or a component, the link is removed from the source module and the target module. For module links across projects or components, you can delete Outgoing links and the link is removed from the source module and the target module. However, if you delete an Incoming link, the link is deleted from the source module but not the target module. So, in the target module, the link appears as an Outgoing link with an inaccessible target.