DOORS Next Baseline Comparison and Report Generator

Introduction

Report Generator is an extension developed by Softacus that is able to start the generation of a document from a DOORS Next mini dashboard including the section with configuration comparison, which gives us possibilities to enhance any of the Publishing Engine Templates and make the generating more user-friendly.

User Interface

As you can see in the picture on the left, the widget is looking simple – containing only a dropdown selection of Baseline to be compared with current configuration (configuration in which user currently is) and “Generate Report” button to start generating.

Simple UI - You can compare with baseline and choose with which one to compare

1.) Simple UI

Selection of the UI - choose between different artifact types and attributes, value and name as bold, hide name or value, print as table

2.) Selection of attributes UI

Explanation and features

The extension was developed especially for printing documents, including a comparison section of the same document (module) in two different configurations (stream to baseline, baseline to baseline), which corresponds to the appearance of the user interface.

Cooperation with RPE MPT and Future Possibilities

As mentioned, the purpose of this extension is to make generating documents more flexible and easier for all of the users. In cooperation with Rational Publishing Engine Multiple-Purpose Template it can provide the following possibilities:

  • select different DNG attributes to print for different artifact types based on the view

  • choose if attribute shall be printed with or without Attribute Name

  • choose the formatting of attribute Name (bold or not bold)

  • choose the formatting of attribute Value (bold or not bold)

  • printing attributes in the table

  • define the table properties (columns width, names of the attributes – can be different than in DNG)

  • filter artifacts

All of the mentioned possibilities (except the last one) are already implemented in Rational Publishing Engine Multiple-Purpose Template, but they must be defined via RPE MPT Command described here.

Comparison Section

The Widget has a checkbox selection in which you can select if you want to print the comparison section in the document. Currently, you can compare Stream with Baseline or Baseline with baseline and it will be printed at the end of the document under the heading which content can be adapted for you.

In the picture below, please see an example of compare section in the generated document:

Report Generator Compare Section - see the change in artifacts, the section printed at the end of the document...

3.) Report Generator compare section

Preconditions and Restrictions

The widget is currently designed to work only while a DNG module is opened. If the user does not meet this requirement, the widget will show an error message.

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