Freezing attribute columns

Good day,

I'm an RM coordinator who supports an Engineering team. Our modules contain a large number of attributes, and I'm looking for an effective way to although them to see the Object Text and relevant attributes on the same screen.

Is there a way to freeze the attribute columns so as you scroll further right, the Object Text column remains in view? Most of the engineers already dislike DOORS clunky GUI, and I'm trying to help them (and myself).

Thanks,

Dave


dave.lenton - Mon Mar 31 12:55:09 EDT 2014

Re: Freezing attribute columns
wernerK - Tue Apr 01 00:39:25 EDT 2014

G'day John -

we circumnavigated this exact issue by creating an "Object Editor" - this displays all attributes you wish and the dialog box stays  "active" and "always on top" -
i.e.,  it displays an object at a time, but all attributes of your choice, in addition we made it so the user can edit any attribute, save the changes (or not), and then navigate to the next or previous object. Unfortunately I am not able to share this utility though, sorry.
does not help much, not to show of either, but to may inspire

Re: Freezing attribute columns
kensarai - Tue Apr 01 00:51:30 EDT 2014

Generally speaking, creating more view definitions will be the answer, as there are too many attributes in one view. Or perhaps you can display multiple attributes in a single column (cell) by using DXL. One example is in columns generated by traceability analysis. You can customize the DXL code based on this sample.

Re: Freezing attribute columns
dave.lenton - Tue Apr 01 13:13:16 EDT 2014

kensarai - Tue Apr 01 00:51:30 EDT 2014

Generally speaking, creating more view definitions will be the answer, as there are too many attributes in one view. Or perhaps you can display multiple attributes in a single column (cell) by using DXL. One example is in columns generated by traceability analysis. You can customize the DXL code based on this sample.

kensarai,

I've explored Views as an option, but want to avoid having too many. The width of the Object Text and some other 'mandatory' fields only leaves a small space for additional attributes before we have to scroll the Object Text out of view.

Your DXL idea is sound, provided I'm dealing with attributes I don't want edited.

Thanks.

Re: Freezing attribute columns
Chris Annal - Mon Apr 14 12:17:26 EDT 2014

OK, this is by no means an "elegant" solution, but a workaround until something better comes along. You might try logging into DOORS twice. You can open the module and select the object whose text you want to view, then open that module again and select that same object in the 2nd DOORS window. Scroll to the right to your heart's content in the 2nd window while the 1st window remains open with just the Object Text of that same object displayed.

Like I said, this isn't elegant, but I've used this approach on occasion and it works pretty well in a pinch.

The other approach is to simply export to Excel, where you can freeze the "Object Text" column. The Enhanced Export To Excel tool (free) from Galactic Solutions does a nice job on the exporting, if you haven't used it before.

Re: Freezing attribute columns
Chris Annal - Mon Apr 14 12:17:32 EDT 2014

OK, this is by no means an "elegant" solution, but a workaround until something better comes along. You might try logging into DOORS twice. You can open the module and select the object whose text you want to view, then open that module again and select that same object in the 2nd DOORS window. Scroll to the right to your heart's content in the 2nd window while the 1st window remains open with just the Object Text of that same object displayed.

Like I said, this isn't elegant, but I've used this approach on occasion and it works pretty well in a pinch.

The other approach is to simply export to Excel, where you can freeze the "Object Text" column. The Enhanced Export To Excel tool (free) from Galactic Solutions does a nice job on the exporting, if you haven't used it before.

Re: Freezing attribute columns
llandale - Mon Apr 14 15:57:20 EDT 2014

dave.lenton - Tue Apr 01 13:13:16 EDT 2014

kensarai,

I've explored Views as an option, but want to avoid having too many. The width of the Object Text and some other 'mandatory' fields only leaves a small space for additional attributes before we have to scroll the Object Text out of view.

Your DXL idea is sound, provided I'm dealing with attributes I don't want edited.

Thanks.

Actually, attributes you don't want edited in that column.  No reason those attrs could not also exist as their own column in the view.  Perhaps this column could include:

  • Requirement ID
  • Object ID
  • Is a Requirement? Has an OLE?
  • Copy of main column; text truncated to 300 characters.

Add that identical column a few times in the othewise wide view.

-Louie