Locks in the Requirements Management (RM) application

Edit online

Locks prevent multiple people from editing the same artifact at the same time. When you edit an artifact, it is automatically locked.

In the web client, a lock icon (

) is displayed in the editor toolbar while you edit. If you click Save, the artifact remains locked because it is still in editing mode. However, when you click Done, the artifact is unlocked and saved. Then, the unlocked icon (

) is displayed on the artifact editor toolbar. When an artifact is locked, a lock icon is displayed next to the artifact on the Artifacts page. If an artifact is locked by another user, you can hover over the icon to see who locked the artifact.

Note: Users can add tags, comments, and links when an artifact is locked for editing, or manually locked.

Manual locks

If you have certain permissions, you can manually lock and unlock artifacts, including modules and collections. When you manually lock an artifact, it remains locked until you unlock it, even if you are not actively editing it. Manual locks can be useful for preventing other users from editing an artifact for an extended time. For more information about permissions, see Permissions for Requirements Management (RM) projects.

Locks in configuration management

You can work for enabled project in configuration management. If you lock an artifact either manually or automatically, the artifact is locked in the current stream.

Overriding locks

You need certain permissions to manually lock artifacts and to override someone else's lock. You might override a lock when you must edit a locked artifact or when artifacts are locked by users who can no longer unlock them.

Warning: If you override a lock, you might cause save conflicts or prevent users from saving their work. The ability to override locks is primarily used to unlock an artifact when the user who locked the artifact cannot unlock it. If you are an administrator, grant permission to override locks sparingly.

Locked modules and collections

In a locked module or collection, you cannot add or remove artifacts unless you have permission to override locks. In addition, you cannot restructure the artifacts in a locked module. However, you might still be able to modify the artifacts that are in the module or collection. The ability to modify the artifacts is governed by the locks on the artifacts themselves.

Sorting and filtering artifacts by lock status

In the web client, you can create a filter or change the column settings to display lock information. For example, to create a filter that displays locked artifacts, on the Artifacts page, filter the artifacts by attribute, and then select the Locked by attribute.

For more information about creating filters, see Filters and views for artifacts in requirements projects.

In addition, you can change the columns in a view to display who locked an artifact or module and when it was locked.

Screen capture of artifacts with lock columns