Creating link types in the Global Configuration Management application

Link types enable users to create http or https links from a global configuration or component to another resource, such as a test plan, related global configuration or component in a different project area, or an article on a website.

You can specify one or more values for link types.

Before you begin

You must have the Configuration Lead role or higher, or Create and modify type definitions privilege for the project area.

You cannot modify system-defined link types.

Procedure

  1. Open the Manage Type Definitions page. Click Administration > Manage Type Definitions.
  2. Create a link type. Select the Link Types tab and click Add.

    By default, you can modify custom link types. If you prefer your custom link types to be read only on baselines, then for each custom link type, clear the Allow editing for baselines checkbox. Example: Your team has a link type, named Wiki, which links to a wiki page with more information about a configuration. Select the checkbox so that the link can be updated for baselines, such as when the link to the wiki page about a baseline changes.

  3. Enter the name and description for the link type.
  4. Enter a URI.

    If you do not provide a URI, the system provides a project-specific URI, which makes querying and reporting complicated. You might also end up with inconsistencies such as unintended duplication of type definitions. On the Manage Type Definitions page, Attributes tab, hover over URI to read details about it.

    See URIs for Custom Attributes, Types, and Values and W3C RDF Data Types.

  5. Optional: Enter a URI of the Target Resource Type.

    When you are linking to an OSLC resource, enter its RDF-type URI in this field. It determines the resource picker dialog box that is used for supported types (currently a Release type only).

    For example, for a picker dialog box of an IBM® Engineering Workflow Management release type, you can set the target resource type URI to http://jazz.net/xmlns/prod/jazz/rtc/cm/1.0/Deliverable. If you are not sure about the type of target resource, you can leave this field blank.
  6. Enter the Number of Values to display for this attribute.

    The number of values specifies how many links of this type a user can add to a global configuration.

    For example, for a child link type, you might select Multiple values allowed so that users can link a global configuration or component to multiple sources of information, such as specifications, blueprints, and white papers on an internal or external website or blog.

What to do next

To modify a custom link type, select it, and then edit the properties. To remove a custom link type, select it, and then click the delete icon. Learn about adopting changes made to link labels or values after they were added to a global configuration in Tags, attribute values, and links.

If you are ready to share the link type with your team, select the Artifact Types tab and then add the link type to the global configuration or global component type.