Creating a New Item

Purpose

Create a new item by adding an existing file to Dimensions CM.

You can also add an existing folder as a directory item. The contents of a folder, including its subdirectories and files, are compressed and stored in Dimensions CM.

NOTE
This will add the folder as a single item. If you want to add multiple files as separate items, see Creating Multiple Items.

Dimensions CM does not maintain metadata for directory items. Operations that rely on metadata, such as deliver, update, and synchronize may not work as expected for directory items.

Your process model may require you to relate a new item to a request.

This operation is not available for items in streams

PRIVILEGES Create Item

NOTE When you first create a new item, it will only appear in your own inbox and not in the inbox of any other user.

NOTE If you specify a lifecycle state that has been set to 'sensitive' in your process model, the sensitive state is ignored and the item is created at the initial state of the lifecycle. For example, assume that you have three states, A, B, and C, and B has been set to sensitive. If you try to create a new item at status B, it is created instead at the initial state, A.

NOTE You cannot use the following characters in the item ID:

To create a new item from a file or folder:

Do one of the following:

In a Design Part tree, select a design part.
In a Project tree, select a project folder.

Select File | New | Item, or click the Create Object button and select New Item.
Do one of the following:

If you want to create a virtual item (an item with no content), select Create a virtual item. Virtual items are primarily used for controlling hardware configuration items, rather than software.
If you want to create an item from a file or folder in your work area, select Create item using specified workfile/ folder.

In the field below, type the pathname of the file or folder you want to add, or click the browse arrow to find it. If you choose a directory, the item will be a directory item. This means that the folder and all its files and subdirectories will be stored in Dimensions CM as a single item.

If required, for Owning Design Part, type the name of the design part, or click the browse button and use the Find dialog box.
For Item Type, accept or select an item type.
If required, in the Related Request(s) field, type the name of the related request, or click the browse button and use the Find dialog box.
If you want to change any of the default values for the item, select the Advanced tab and change the values.

NOTE If you change the values for the Filename or Folder fields Dimensions CM may automatically update the values of Item Type, Item Format or Owning Design Part based on what you have changed. It is advisable to select the General tab again to check these fields.

If you are creating a virtual item, in the Filename field, type a project filename for the new item, including a file extension.

To set attributes, click the Attributes tab, and type or select values.

Attributes in bold are required. Attributes in italics cannot be modified.

Click the Create button.

After creation, the item appears in your Inbox. It will not appear in any other user's Inbox until it has been actioned to them.