Performing Operations from Windows Explorer

Purpose

Perform Dimensions CM operations using the Windows Explorer Plug-in when you want to compare or update your work area in conjunction with the Dimensions CM repository without using the desktop client or web client.

PRIVILEGES To create or update items in the repository:
Update Item Content
Create Item

NOTE Some operations require access to the Dimensions database, in which case you will be presented with a login dialog box in order to continue. Once you gave logged in, Dimensions CM will remember your login credentials, and you will be logged in automatically. For details of the Login dialog box see Logging into Dimensions CM.

NOTE The Windows Explorer Plug-in uses client metadata in order to make comparisons between the work area and the repository. The files and folders in the work area that correspond to existing items and directories in the project need to have been created using Dimensions CM item file operations in order to create or maintain this metadata.

See the topics below for how to perform Dimensions CM operations:

To check out items:
To check in items:
To cancel item check-outs:
To view the Item properties of a file:
To view the item history of a file:
To view the item pedigree of a file:
To compare the contents of a modified file with an item revision in the repository:
To lock items in a stream:
To unlock a locked item in a stream:
To discard changes to files:
To synchronize both your work area and a project in the Dimensions repository:
To update your work area with changes from a project or stream:
To deliver changes from your work area to a project or stream in the repository:
To view the changes in the Dimensions repository compared with your work area:
To make files writable:
To make files read-only:
To touch files to update their timestamp:
To action a request:
To log out of Dimensions:
To merge files or folders:
To view file annotations:
To view a stream’s changesets:

To check out items:

NOTE In Windows, the maximum supported length of file path for a checked out file in the work area is 260 characters.

NOTE Projects only

Right-click the file(s) or a folder and select Dimensions | Check-Out.

To check in items:

NOTE Projects only

Right-click the file(s) or a folder and select Dimensions | Check-In.
If you have not entered any text for the Comment for check-in field for the related file or folder properties dialog box, and a comment is specified as mandatory for the item type, you will be prompted to enter a comment, in which case enter some text for the comment.

NOTE If a file is unchanged, the Explorer Plug-in does not check in the file, but performs an Undo Check Out instead. This is consistent with the Eclipse and Visual Studio integrations, but in contrast to the desktop client.

To cancel item check-outs:

NOTE Projects only

Right-click the file(s) or a folder and select Dimensions | Cancel Check-Out.

To view the Item properties of a file:

Right-click the file, select properties, and select the Dimensions tab. The Properties dialog box is displayed showing the Dimensions properties of the file.

To view the item history of a file:

Right-click the file and select Dimensions | History. The History dialog is displayed showing the history of the item associated with this file. For details of using this dialog box, see Viewing Item History.

To view the item pedigree of a file:

Right-click the file and select Dimensions | Pedigree. The Pedigree window is displayed showing the pedigree history of this file.

NOTE Revisions of an item that do not belong to the current stream/project are greyed out.

To compare the contents of a modified file with an item revision in the repository:

Right-click the file and select Dimensions | Pedigree.
In the Pedigree window, right-click the revision that you want to compare with the version in your work area, and select Compare.

By default, the default merge tool is launched for this purpose. For details of how to use this file merge tool, see Using the Serena Merge Tool, or use the online help in this tool. You can configure other merge tools to be used with Dimensions CM. See the System Administration Guide for details of how to do this.

To lock items in a stream:

Right-click the file(s) or a folder and select Dimensions | Lock. A small lock icon appears against the file icon.

To unlock a locked item in a stream:

Right-click the file(s) or a folder and select Dimensions | Unlock. The lock icon disappears.

To discard changes to files:

If you have modified a file, you have the option to discard it. Discarding a file performs a get of the original item revision from which the selected file was created, overwriting the file and setting its datestamp to the current system date and time.

Right-click the modified file(s) or a folder and select Dimensions | Discard.
Click OK in the resulting dialog to confirm the discard operation.

To synchronize both your work area and a project in the Dimensions repository:

NOTE Projects only

Right-click the work area root folder or a subfolder and select Dimensions | Synchronize. The first page of the Synchronize Wizard appears.
To select another project:

a Click the browse button.

b In the Select Project dialog box select a Product and Project.

c Click OK.

Follow the steps described in Using the Synchronize Wizard with a Project.

To update your work area with changes from a project or stream:

Right-click the work area root folder or a subfolder and select Dimensions | Update.

Project: the first page of the Synchronize Wizard appears.

Streams: the Update dialog box appears.

(Projects only) To select another project to update from:

a Click the browse button.

b In the Select Project dialog box select a Product and Project.

c Click OK.

Projects: follow the steps described in Using the Synchronize Wizard with a Project.

Streams: follow the steps described in To update a work area from a stream and resolve conflicts:.

To deliver changes from your work area to a project or stream in the repository:

Right-click the work area root folder or a subfolder and select Dimensions | Deliver. The first page of the Synchronize Wizard appears.
(Projects only) To select another project to update from:

a Click the browse button.

b In the Select Project dialog box select a Product and Project.

c Click OK.

Projects: follow the steps described in Using the Synchronize Wizard with a Project.

Streams: follow the steps described in To deliver changes from your work area to a stream:.

To view the changes in the Dimensions repository compared with your work area:

Right-click a file or folder and select Dimensions | Repository changes. The first page of the Synchronize Wizard appears with the Repository Changes option selected.
Follow the steps described in Using the Synchronize Wizard with a Project.

To view the changes in your work area compared with the Dimensions repository:

Right-click a file or folder and select Dimensions | Work Area changes. The first page of the Synchronize Wizard appears with the Local Changes option selected.

You will not be required to log in to Dimensions unless you choose to review repository changes, or select the Compare option for a file. If the Log in to Dimensions dialog box appears, complete the details and click OK.

Follow the steps described in Using the Synchronize Wizard with a Project.

To make files writable:

Right-click file(s) or a folder and select Dimensions | Make writable.

To make files read-only:

Right-click file(s) or a folder and select Dimensions | Make read-only.

To touch files to update their timestamp:

Right-click the file(s) or a folder and select Dimensions | Touch.

This is useful because, when working with build systems, you may want to update the timestamp of unchanged files in your work area, so that they are included in a build, but not delivered to Dimensions source control.

To action a request:

Right-click a file or a folder that is associated with a Dimensions CM project or stream and select Dimensions | Action Request.
The Request Selection Wizard displays a list of your pending requests.

In the initial list or requests, any request set in the Request under work field in the Explorer Properties dialog gets listed at the top. The other requests in the list are restricted to the requests for the product that are in the user's inbox.

If you want to change the selection:

a Click Search.

b Use the fields on the first page of the wizard to enter selection criteria for the request(s) you are looking for. Optionally:

• Select a product from the list.

• Select a request type from the Type list

• Enter a filter string in any of the text fields:

• Title

• Request ID

• Originator

• Status

You can use wildcards in these fields. Use an underscore (_) to match exactly one character. Use a percent sign (%) to match any number of characters.

c If you want to filter the list of requests to contain only those in your inbox, select Pending.

d If you are using Eclipse or an IDE and you want to select only requests from your working list, select In My Working List.

e Click Next.

Select the request(s) and click Action.
To action the request(s) follow the instructions in To action a request:.

To merge files or folders:

NOTE Streams only

Right-click file(s) or folder(s) and select Dimensions | Merge. The Merge Streams wizard appears. Follow the instructions in About Merging Streams.

To view file annotations:

The annotation view enhances parallel development by adding annotations to blocks of code that have been modified. Right-click a file and select Dimensions | Annotation. The Annotation window appears.

For more details see Viewing File Annotations.

To view a stream’s changesets:

A changeset is a logical grouping of changes that is created automatically every time that you deliver changes to a stream or project in a repository. Right-click a folder and select Dimensions | Changesets. The Changesets window appears.

For more details see Working with Changesets.

To log out of Dimensions:

Right-click a file or folder and select Dimensions | Log Out.