DOORS Foundation Training

Introduction

 

The DOORS® Foundation Training Course is intended to provide the training needed to interact with the IBM Rational® DOORS® 9 Requirements Management solution on a day-to-day basis. When you complete this training you will have skills that enable you to use DOORS® to achieve effective Requirements Management.

How many years did it take you to build your skill in word processing and spreadsheets? With this course, you can become proficient in DOORS® in days!

Unique Features: On-line access to Web-based Course Materials
Audio Recordings of Lectures, Video Recordings of Laboratory,
Download Laboratory data, Topic Quiz - On-line with instant scoring

The data presented in the main Training topics is provided for your local install.
The instructions in the Companion Lab Guide let you build the same results.

Compare what you create with what you see documented!

This course describes how to interact with the IBM Rational® DOORS® 9 client in a day in your life flow. Each topic builds upon the prior so that by the end of the course, you have internalized the skills through practice.

A Foundation DOORS® training experience typically covers these topics:

  1. Viewing DOORS® Artifacts
  2. Editing DOORS® Artifacts
  3. Creating Structured DOORS® Artifacts
  4. DOORS Object Attributes and Module Properties
  5. Importing Data Into DOORS
  6. Finding and Replacing Data in DOORS
  7. Filtering and Sorting in DOORS
  8. Working With DOORS Links
  9. Working With DOORS Traceability
  10. Inserting OLE and Pictures Into DOORS®
  11. Using the DOORS® Discussion Feature
  12. Configuring DOORS® User Options

 

Course Structure - Topics

The DOORS® Foundation Training experience is divided into Course Topics.

Each Course Topic presents the Topic Objectives early in the text and also summarizes the objectives following the main content for that Topic. Though the presentation in subsequent Course Topics builds upon prior discussions, in order to grow your contextual understanding and skills, an experienced user can inspect any topic in order to explore Course Topic details with minimal difficulty.

Instead of cluttering the start of each Course Topic with repeated procedural steps, a separate Course Topic offers the instructions on how to launch the DOORS® product to access the database. Where appropriate some architectural conversations describing the artifacts in the DOORS® repository and how they interact are reproduced in order to set the context for a given Course Topic.

Workshop Laboratory

Following the Summary section in the Course Topic, you will find a link to the Workshop Laboratory. The Lab allows you to work through steps that recreate the content presented in the main courseware. The source material for the laboratory is accessible via download from a link on this page. Unless your workshop computer has been pre-provisioned for you, you can install these materials in minutes in order to prep for the labs. In general, the laboratories do not rely on your accomplishing previous work, though the practice will make things easier for you. The results you achieve in the lab should be comparable to the captured images presented in the main courseware.

The workshop text is laid out so that instructions appear in the left-hand half of the window, with elaboration and explanation displayed in the right-hand half (approximately) of the display window. The web content is configured to allow you to use the TAB button to walk through the steps in order. So when you accomplish a step, you can press the TAB button to advance to the next instruction. In fact, the workshop steps are embedded in the additional elaboration provided along with the screen shots in the main courseware.

 

Recorded Lectures and Lab Workshops

Audio recordings have been captured for the Course Topics and Audio/Video recordings havebeen captured for the Course Topic Lab Workshops. These recordings have been separated into individual files and links have been inserted in the course text and Lab Workshop text to allow you to launch them.

Summaries of the recording times have been computed and placed under each Course Topic below.

Total have been summed for all lectures, all workshops and all recorded time for the entire DOORS® Foundation Training Course. Those totals break down as follows:

Lecture Time 10 hours 7 minutes
Workshop Time 5 hours 26 minutes
Total Course Time 15 hours 33 minutes
 

Topic Quiz

At the end of each Course Topic, there is a link that allows you to work through an on-line quiz . You can answer questions, submit the quiz and receive a scored result. You can change the contents of that score sheet and resubmit for a revised score. Note: Those scores are not recorded anywhere.

Course Window Layout

The main courseware layout retains a left-hand frame bearing the Table of Contents and Table of Figures which are both collapsed to start, but are expandable lists.

About DOORS®

The IBM Rational® DOORS® 9 product is implemented as a client/server, where the DOORS® Database Server may be present on the same computer, or may have been installed elsewhere in your enterprise.

In addition to managing the information placed in the repository, DOORS® will among other things, provide:

  1. Multi-user simultaneous access to that database
  2. Protection to prevent simultaneous update that loses data
  3. Built in audit capture, version information and preserved baselines
  4. Traceability information between those artifacts
  5. Reporting, import and export capabilities

This Requirements Management solution has a proven track record, supporting large and complex projects in Aerospace, Automotive, Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Insurance and Financial Management industries to name a few.

Rational® DOORS® was also designed to support rapid adoption and use by those who are familiar with Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office products. Leveraging that familiarity will allow you to navigate in and create documents using DOORS® as productively as possible.

IBM, Rational and DOORS are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation, Inc.

Microsoft Windows, MS/Windows, Microsoft Office, MS/Office and MS/WORD are trademarks of Microsoft , Inc.

This document was written by Dano Currie. It's a DanoDoc!

Sample the DOORS® Foundation Training Course

 

The data used to describe the features in this module are available for installation on a local DOORS® database for your use.

You may recreate the DOORS® Modules as seen in this course by following the instructions supplied in on-line laboratory web pages.

As a sample, you can experience the first Course Topic:

Try Out Viewing DOORS® artifacts
right now!

Simply supply your company name and e-mail address in the registraiton page and experience the DOORS® Foundation Training Course!

Take A Quiz About Viewing DOORS® Artifacts

 

Take a quiz on Viewing DOORS Artifacts
of the DOORS® Foundation Training course.

 

The format is a series of questions with either one correct answer or one set of (select multiple) correct answers.

The questions asking for one of the set of answers offers "radio buttons" which allow you to only:

Pick one of the choices
or another one of the choices

Those questions offering a set of check boxes next to answers is looking for:

All of
the correct choices
to be made.

Once you have selected all your answers, press the button at the bottom of the page to get instant feedback on your success. You can change your answers on this feedback page and re-submit if you wish.

Summary of Viewing DOORS® Artifacts

 

In this topic of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following skills were presented:

  1. Navigating within the DOORS® Database Explorer Window

    1. DOORS® Database Hierarchy Features
    2. DOORS Database Basic Artifacts and Relationships

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Launch the DOORS® Client
    • Recognize the main components of the DOORS® Database Explorer
    • Have an introductory understanding of DOORS® Projects, Modules and Objects
    • Navigate within the DOORS® Database to locate Projects, Folders and Modules

  2. Opening DOORS® Modules

    1. DOORS® Module Editor Toolbar Features
    2. DOORS® Objects Explained

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Open DOORS® Modules using the DOORS® Module Editor
    • Have more detailed knowledge of DOORS® Objects in a DOORS® Module

  3. Changing the View in the DOORS® Module Editor

    1. Adding and Removing Columns from Your Display
    2. Reposition Columns in a View - Drag and Drop
    3. Changing a DOORS® Module Column Title
    4. Saving A DOORS® Module View to Preserve Changes
    5. Manage Existing DOORS® Module Views

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Switch Views in the DOORS® Modules Editor
    • Add/Remove/Modify Columns in the DOORS® Modules Editor
    • Save/Delete/Modify Views in the DOORS® Modules Editor

  4. Additional Viewing Capabilities in DOORS®

    1. DOORS® Module View in Graphics Mode
    2. Outline and Level Views in DOORS® Modules
    3. Miscellaneous DOORS® Module Viewing Features
    4. Opening Multiple DOORS® Modules

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Toggle On/Off the Graphics and Outline Modes of the DOORS® Modules Editor
    • Select different Object Levels to display in the DOORS® Modules Editor
    • Save/Delete/Modify Views in the DOORS® Modules Editor
    • Locate Optional View Settings in the DOORS® Modules Editor

  5. DOORS® Database and Project Views

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Explain how DOORS® Identifies Artifacts
    • Articulate some constraints on naming Projects and Modules in the DOORS® Database
    • Switch between Database and Project Views in the DOORS® Database Explorer

Summary of Editing DOORS® Artifacts

 

In this topic of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following skills were presented:

  1. Edit DOORS® Text Objects In Module Editor Views

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Edit DOORS® Object Attributes in the DOORS® Module Editor Views

  2. Working with the DOORS® Object History Dialog

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Launch and understand the DOORS® History Dialog from the Change Bar

  3. Working with Rich Text Styles in Module Views

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Apply Rich Text styles (Bold, Italics, Underscore and Strike thru)

  4. Working with the DOORS® Object Property Dialog

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Launch and use the DOORS® Properties Dialog to perform edits

  5. Working with Additional Attributes In Module View

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Add DOORS® Object attributes to the current Module View
    • Edit those attributes in the current Module View

  6. Working with the DOORS® Spelling and Grammar Checker

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Launch and use the DOORS® Spelling and Grammar Checker Dialog to check DOORS® text attributes

Summary of Creating Structured DOORS® Artifacts

 

In this topic of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following skills were presented:

  1. Creating and Deleting DOORS® Objects in the Module Editor

    1. Inserting Objects into DOORS® Modules
    2. Deleting Objects in DOORS® Modules

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Create new objects in DOORS® modules in proper hierarchical positions
    • Delete and purge objects from DOORS® modules

  2. Creating an Object Hierarchy

    1. Adding Objects to an Empty DOORS® Module
    2. Adding the First Header Object
    3. Adding the First Text Objects
    4. Adding Additional Heading Objects
    5. Buiding More Outline in the Module
    6. Adding Leaf Objects To Hierarchy
    7. Reveal Hierachy With Auto-Indent

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Create Outline ("Heading") Objects in a DOORS® Module
    • Create leaf ("Text") Objects in a DOORS® Module
    • Reveal parent/child relationships in a DOORS® Module

  3. Working With Hierarchical DOORS® Objects

    1. Promoting Objects in the Hierarchy
    2. Cutting and Pasting in DOORS® Modules
    3. Drag And Drop Capabilities in DOORS®
    4. Demoting Objects in the Hierarchy
    5. Inserting an Outline from the Template Library

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Promote a DOORS® Object to a higher level in the hierarchy
    • Cut and Paste parts of the DOORS® Module hierarchy
    • Drag and Drop parts of the DOORS® Module hierarchy
    • Demote a DOORS® Object to a lower level in the hierarchy
    • Select and insert an Outline from the DOORS® Template Library

  4. Introducing Best Practices for Structuring DOORS® Data

    1. Example of Heading and Text in One Object
    2. Example of a Text Object Not a Child of Prior Header
    3. Heading Object as Child of Text Object
    4. Implied Hierarchy Not the Actual Hierarchy

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Explain a best practice for object header and object text content
    • Explain a best practice for Text Objects not placed as a child
    • Explain a best practice for Heading Objects placed inappropriately as a child
    • Explain a best practice for harmonizing implied and actual module hierarchy

Summary of DOORS Object Attributes and Module Properties

 

In this topic of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following skills were presented:

  1. Introducing DOORS® Object Attributes

    1. DOORS Database Module Object Attribute and Type Relationships

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Possess an Overview of the relationships between DOORS® Modules, Objects, Attributes and Types

  2. Work with Existing DOORS® Object Attributes

    1. Explore DOORS® Object Attributes
    2. Explore DOORS® Object Attributes Types
    3. Managing DOORS® Object Attribute Types
    4. Create New DOORS® Object Attributes
    5. Edit DOORS® Object Attribute Values

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Explain the System-supplied DOORS® Objects
    • Create New DOORS® Object Attributes
    • Edit DOORS® Object Attribute valuess

  3. Working with DOORS® Attribute Types

    1. Base Attribute Types Defined in DOORS®
    2. Create New DOORS® Attribute Types
    3. Use New DOORS® Attribute Types to Create Attributes
    4. Editing Attributes in Module Views
    5. Editing Attributes Via Property Sheet

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Create New DOORS® Attribute Types
    • Use New Types to Create New DOORS® Attributes
    • Edit DOORS® Attributes in Module Views
    • Edit DOORS® Attributes in Object Property Sheets
    • Change DOORS® Module View Column Properties

  4. Working With Column Properties

    1. Control Main Column Text Color Via Attribute
    2. Change Column Title
    3. Control Column Background Color Via Attribute

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Alter the Title of a column in a DOORS® Module Editor view
    • Change the font and background color of a column based on an Attribute value

  5. Save Module Views for Future Use

    1. Managing Module Views

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Save DOORS® Module Views
    • Access the DOORS® Manage Views Dialog

  6. Contrast DOORS® Object Attributes and Module Properties

    1. Work with Module Properties

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Contrast DOORS® Object Attributes versus Module Properties
    • Access DOORS® Module Properties
    • Edit DOORS® Module Property Values

Summary of Importing Data Into DOORS

 

In this topic of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following skills were presented:

  1. Importing Data Into DOORS® Modules

    2. Introducing the topic.

  2. Microsoft WORD Export to DOORS®

    1. Review the WORD Document
    2. Review DOORS® Table Content

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Prepare of WORD Content for Export to DOORS®
    • Export a WORD document to DOORS®
    • Create and Populate DOORS® Module Properties
    • Convert a DOORS® Table to Object Attributes
    • Create a WORD-like View in a DOORS® Module

  3. Storing Document Title In a Module Property

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Understand an application for a DOORS® Module Property

  4. Converting DOORS® Tables

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Use a DOORS® utility to break out DOORS® tables to Objects

  5. Creating a WORD-like View

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Manipulate the DOORS® Module Editor view to resemble a WORD document

  6. Importing Plain Text into DOORS®

    1. Importing Spreadsheets into DOORS®
    2. Save Module Views for Future Use

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Importing Plain Text into DOORS®
    • Importing Spreadsheets into DOORS®
    • Save Module Views for Future Use

  7. Accessing Microsoft WORD 2013 Content Control

    These figures and instructions are OPTIONAL text placed here to help with your use of Microsoft/WORD 2013.

    Unlike DOORS® functionality, this is not the mainstream thrust of this course. It is offered "as-is".

    After reviewing this information you should be able to:

    • Access the Microsoft WORD 2013 File > Options Dialog
    • Understand how to load the doors.dot template into WORD

Summary of Finding and Replacing Data in DOORS

 

In this topic of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following skills were presented:

  1. Finding Projects, Folders and Modules in the DOORS® Database

    1. Finding DOORS® Projects and Folders in the Database
    2. Artifact Name Search in DOORS® Database
    3. Finding Modules By Name
    4. Opening Modules Found By DB Explorer Search
    5. Artifact Description Search of DOORS® Database
    6. Contained Text Search of DOORS® Database

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Use the DOORS® Database Editor Find Tool
    • Locate Projects, Folders and Modules in a DOORS® Database
    • Gain an Introductory Knowledge of DOORS® Pattern Matching

  2. Finding and Replacing Objects in DOORS® Modules

    1. Using Find in DOORS® Modules
    2. Using Replace in DOORS® Modules
    3. Using Regular Expressions For Search
    4. Using Go To in DOORS® Modules
    5. Find Using Enumerated List Type Attributes

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Find Artifacts Via the DOORS® Module Editor Find Tool
    • Replace text in Artifacts Via the DOORS® Module Editor Replace Tool
    • Use the DOORS® Module Editor Go To Tool
    • Gain more familiarity with DOORS® Pattern Matching

Summary of Filtering and Sorting in DOORS

 

In this topic of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following skills were presented:

  1. Filtering and Sorting in DOORS® Modules

    1. Hide and Sort using Microsoft EXCEL
    2. Hiding and Showing Data in DOORS®

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Understand how to insert and remove columns from DOORS® Module Views
    • Differentiate between in a DOORS® Module View Columns and DOORS® Object Attributes
    • Understand the value of hiding and revealing data for analysis

  2. Filtering Data in DOORS® Modules

    1. Defining Basic Filters in DOORS®
    2. Including Ancestors in Filter
    3. Advanced Filtering Features

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Understand how to define and use filters in DOORS® Module Views
    • Differentiate between in a DOORS® Module View Columns and DOORS® Object Attributes
    • Understand how DOORS® Object Hierarchy and Module Filters interact

  3. Sorting Data in DOORS® Modules

    1. Review Enumerated List Attribute Type
    2. Defining a Sort for a Module View
    3. Revert to Original Sort

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Understand how Enumerated Lists work with DOORS® Module View Sorting
    • Understand how define DOORS® Module View Sorting

  4. Save Module Views for Future Use

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Understand how to dave a DOORS® Module View to preserve Filtering and Sorting
    • Understand how to toggle on and off DOORS® Module View Filtering and Sorting

  5. Brief Introduction of More Filtering

    1. Filter on Any Text Attribute
    2. Filter with Alternatives on Any Text Attribute
    3. Introducing the Other Filtering Tabs
    4. Apply Filter To Module Explorer
    5. Reapply Filter To Module

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Have an introductory knowledge of advanced DOORS® Module View Filtering
    • Have an awareness of all the DOORS® Module View Filtering dialog content

Summary of Working With DOORS Links

 

In this topic of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following skills were presented:

  1. Introducing Links

    1. Reviewing Familiar Links
    2. Introduction to DOORS® Links

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Contrast Common-place links with DOORS® Links

  2. Drag And Drop Links in DOORS®

    1. Drag and Drop One DOORS® Object
    2. Using DOORS® Link Decorators

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Create DOORS® Links using Drag and Drop in the DOORS® Module Editor
    • Navigate DOORS® Links to access related DOORS® Objects

  3. Deleting DOORS® Links

    1. No Deleting Objects With Existing In-Links
    2. Managing Links Using Property Dialog
    3. Delete DOORS® Objects With Out-links

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Understand procedures for deleting DOORS® Objects bearing DOORS® Links
    • Manage DOORS® Links using DOORS® Property Dialogs

  4. Creating Multiple DOORS® Links Simultaneously

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Create Multiple DOORS® Links using a single DOORS® procedure

  5. Drag and Drop to Copy and Create Links

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Use DOORS® Drag and Drop to Copy and Link DOORS® Objects

Summary of Working With DOORS Traceability

 

In this topic of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following skills were presented:

  1. Introducing DOORS Traceability Features

    1. The System Engineering V
    2. Manually Maintaining Traceability
    3. Navigating Using DOORS® Links
    4. DOORS® Traceability Explorer

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Understand the power of DOORS® Links for end-to-end Traceability
    • Use the DOORS® Traceability Explorer to display Traceability

  2. Using the DOORS® Analysis Wizard

    1. Creating the Full Traceability Chain
    2. Saving the Module Editor View
    3. Creating Traceability from One Specific Module
    4. Saving the Module Editor Specific Analysis View

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Create full-depth Traceability columns in a DOORS® Module View
    • Create Traceability columns with details from one module in a DOORS® Module View
    • Explain end-to-end Traceability reporting in a DOORS® Module View
    • Save DOORS® Module View containing Traceability columns

  3. Impact Analysis - Before You Change Things

    After reviewing this topic you should be able to:

    • Understand how to use DOORS® Impact Analysis

  4. Using Suspect Link Notification

    1. Suspect Link Indicator Procedure
    2. Using Suspect Links Indicators
    3. Display All Changes in Suspect Link Column

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Understand how to configure DOORS® Suspect Link Indicator features
    • Understand how to inspect DOORS® Suspect Link Indicators
    • Understand how to clear DOORS® Suspect Link Indicators

Summary of Inserting OLE and Pictures Into DOORS®

 

In this Course Module of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following topics are presented:

  1. Working with Graphic Objects in DOORS®

    1. Working With Static Pictures in DOORS®
    2. Inserting Pictures into DOORS® Objects
    3. Deleting Pictures from DOORS® Objects

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Insert static pictures into DOORS® Modules
    • Delete static pictures into DOORS® Modules

  2. Working With OLE Objects in DOORS®

    1. Embedding an OLE Object In DOORS®
    2. Other Object Attributes Contain OLE
    3. Inspect OLE Via Object Properties
    4. OLE-related Support Tools
    5. Deleting OLE Objects from DOORS®

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Embed Object Linking and Embedding objects into DOORS® Objects using Insert OLE
    • Work with properties of OLE objects embedded into DOORS® Objects using Insert Copy/Paste
    • Delete OLE objects embedded into DOORS® Objects

Summary of Using the DOORS® Discussion Feature

 

In this topic of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following skills were presented:

  1. Activating Discussions for a DOORS® Module

    1. Setting DOORS Database Properties
    2. Restarting the DOORS® Database Server
    3. Setting Module Properties

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Provision a DOORS® Database to activate the DOORS® Discussion feature
    • Provision a DOORS® Module to allow specific users to use the DOORS® Discussion feature

  2. Module Discussion Features

    1. Create a New Module Discussion
    2. View Module Discussions
    3. Add to Module Discussion
    4. Close a Module Discussion
    5. Reopen a Module Discussion
    6. Close and Delete a Module Discussion

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Understand How to create a discussion for a DOORS® Module
    • Understand How to view discussions for a DOORS® Module
    • Understand How to add a comment to a DOORS® Module discussion
    • Understand How to close a DOORS® Module discussion
    • Understand How to reopen a DOORS® Module discussion
    • Understand How to delete a DOORS® Module discussion

  3. Object Discussion Features

    1. Create a New Object Discussion
    2. View Object Discussions
    3. Add to Object Discussion
    4. Second User Comments
    5. Viewing All User Comments
    6. Close an Object Discussion
    7. Reopen an Object Discussion
    8. Delete an Object Discussion

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Understand How to create a discussion for a DOORS® Object
    • Understand How to view discussions for a DOORS® Object
    • Understand How to add a comment to a DOORS® Object discussion
    • Understand How to close a DOORS® Object discussion
    • Understand How to reopen a DOORS® Object discussion
    • Understand How to delete a DOORS® Object discussion

Summary of Configuring DOORS® User Options

 

In this topic of the DOORS Fundamentals Class the following skills were presented:

  1. Accessing and Changing User Options in DOORS®

    1. User Options - General Tab
    2. User Options - Security Tab
    3. User Options - Display Tab
    4. User Options - Settings Tab
    5. User Options - Spelling Tab

    After reviewing these topics you should be able to:

    • Understand how to change your password in the DOORS® database
    • Understand how to update user details
    • Understand how to specify your preferred Web Browser
    • Understand how to specify your preferred Display settings
    • Understand how to specify your preferred Spelling Tool settings