Trying to modify deleted objects in 9.2 / canModify

I found a kind of bug in a DXL script of mine exporting also deleted objects and also trying to modify the object attributes. In DOORS 8.3 you can use this kind of code
  

Object o = current
if (canModify(o."Object Short Text"))
  {
    o."Object Short Text" = "Yes"
    print "Yes"
  }

 


Which has a bug relying only on "canModify" as it seems that even though you can not edit a deleted objects' attributes "canModify" nevertheless passes and there is no error message given in 8.3 for the o."Object Short Text" = "Yes" line.

In 9.2 the same code gives now an error message of "-R-W- DXL: <Line:5> cannot modify attribute on a deleted object". Of course the correct form for this should be

 

 

  

Object o = current
if ((!isDeleted o) && (canModify(o."Object Short Text")))
  {
    o."Object Short Text" = "Yes"
    print "Yes"
  }

 

 


SystemAdmin - Tue Oct 06 10:41:26 EDT 2009

Re: Trying to modify deleted objects in 9.2 / canModify
ostanescu - Thu Jan 20 13:01:08 EST 2011

Actually in 9.2.0.0 the bug is reversed:

my code of an attribute DXL like this:

if(!isDeleted obj and canModify obj) {

obj.attrDXLName = true

}

when the obj is deleted I still get the following error when Refresh Attributes DXL menu is pressed:

-R-W- DXL: <Line:44> cannot modify attribute on a deleted object

Re: Trying to modify deleted objects in 9.2 / canModify
llandale - Thu Jan 20 15:20:39 EST 2011

They mindfully added the restriction to not updating deleted objects I believe in v9.0. My arguments to the contrary failed.

For Attr-DXL, version 9.2.0.1 has the bug that it will fail, thus, very annoyingly, all my Attr-DXL code now has this at the top: 

// v9.2.0.1 bug, cannot set AttrDXL values of a deleted object.  Fixed in v9.2.0.2
if (    isDeleted(obj)                          and
        length(doorsInfo(infoVersion)) >=7   and 
        (doorsInfo(infoVersion))[0:6] == "9.2.0.1") halt

Edit 2013: v9200 and v9201 have this defect; yes fixed in v9202.


I know there are times we indeed want to modify the values of a deleted object, such as when importing from a spreadsheet, but alas they know better. I suggested making some sort of override available, perhaps a temporary DXL perm or a Database Property or some User Property, but to no avail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Louie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Re: Trying to modify deleted objects in 9.2 / canModify
BeastBoysDad - Wed Sep 18 18:03:17 EDT 2013

llandale - Thu Jan 20 15:20:39 EST 2011

They mindfully added the restriction to not updating deleted objects I believe in v9.0. My arguments to the contrary failed.

For Attr-DXL, version 9.2.0.1 has the bug that it will fail, thus, very annoyingly, all my Attr-DXL code now has this at the top: 

// v9.2.0.1 bug, cannot set AttrDXL values of a deleted object.  Fixed in v9.2.0.2
if (    isDeleted(obj)                          and
        length(doorsInfo(infoVersion)) >=7   and 
        (doorsInfo(infoVersion))[0:6] == "9.2.0.1") halt

Edit 2013: v9200 and v9201 have this defect; yes fixed in v9202.


I know there are times we indeed want to modify the values of a deleted object, such as when importing from a spreadsheet, but alas they know better. I suggested making some sort of override available, perhaps a temporary DXL perm or a Database Property or some User Property, but to no avail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Louie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerous IBM Technotes identify this as a bug in DOORS 9.2.0.1 which can be fixed by upgrading to DOORS 9.2.0.2.  See <http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21397052> and <http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21412273>.

However, if it was ever fixed in DOORS 9.2.0.2, it has now been reintroduced in DOORS 9.3.  In spite of the existence of IBM Technotes where IBM themselves clearly identify this as a DEFECT, IBM technical support and IBM developers now claim that it is not a defect, but is behaving as designed.  An RFE (request for enhancement) was even submitted by a user (instead of submitting a bug report) and IBM rejected the RFE.  See http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rfe/execute?use_case=viewRfe&SELECTED_SEARCH_TAB=TAB1&BRAND_ID=1&PROD_FAM_ID=244&PROD_ID=42&CREATED_BY=&KEYWORDS=deleted&CR_ID=8924&rfenumber=id&PAGE=1&ITEMS_PER_PAGE=20&SORT_BY=CREATE_DATE&SORT_ORDER=DESC&HIDE_DESCRIPTIONS=true&is_javascript_enabled=false>.

Re: Trying to modify deleted objects in 9.2 / canModify
llandale - Thu Sep 19 12:28:19 EDT 2013

BeastBoysDad - Wed Sep 18 18:03:17 EDT 2013

Numerous IBM Technotes identify this as a bug in DOORS 9.2.0.1 which can be fixed by upgrading to DOORS 9.2.0.2.  See <http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21397052> and <http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21412273>.

However, if it was ever fixed in DOORS 9.2.0.2, it has now been reintroduced in DOORS 9.3.  In spite of the existence of IBM Technotes where IBM themselves clearly identify this as a DEFECT, IBM technical support and IBM developers now claim that it is not a defect, but is behaving as designed.  An RFE (request for enhancement) was even submitted by a user (instead of submitting a bug report) and IBM rejected the RFE.  See http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rfe/execute?use_case=viewRfe&SELECTED_SEARCH_TAB=TAB1&BRAND_ID=1&PROD_FAM_ID=244&PROD_ID=42&CREATED_BY=&KEYWORDS=deleted&CR_ID=8924&rfenumber=id&PAGE=1&ITEMS_PER_PAGE=20&SORT_BY=CREATE_DATE&SORT_ORDER=DESC&HIDE_DESCRIPTIONS=true&is_javascript_enabled=false>.

With DXL:   I see no such error in v9306; you CAN modify the attr-DXL values of deleted objects.  Yes, you cannot modify normal attr-values of deleted objects, but that is a feature not a defect.  I'm pretty sure I would have noticed if it broke (again) and was fixed (again) thereabouts v9300-v9305.

With the GUI: I notice you may not modify the attr-DXL value of a deleted object (In Place Editing a column); but that is no doubt an extra check performed by the GUI.

-Louie

Re: Trying to modify deleted objects in 9.2 / canModify
BeastBoysDad - Mon Oct 28 20:15:54 EDT 2013

 

I have confirmed that DXL could modify the attributes of deleted objects in DOORS 7 and DOORS 8, dating back to the DOORS 7.1 release on May 17, 2004. I verified such by writing DXL code and having it successfully modify attributes of deleted objects on DOORS 7 and DOORS 8 platforms. It is unknown if this feature worked in DOORS 6 and earlier because I couldn't locate any users still using these versions. However, there is no reason to suspect that this feature did not exist in DOORS dating all the way back to its original deployment by Telelogic (originators of DOORS) in 1999.

However, the exact same DXL that worked perfectly fine on DOORS 7 and DOORS 8 platforms does not work in DOORS 9.  IBM says that it was a "bug" that allowed it to work in earlier versions of DOORS before IBM bought the product from Telelogic.

IBM had a TechNote 1412273 that clearly stated that the inability of DXL to modify attributes of deleted objects is a bug that would be fixed in DOORS 9.2.0.2.  When I contacted IBM Technical Support to say that the bug wasn't fixed in DOORS 9.3, they said that the TechNote was in error, it wasn't a bug, and then promptly deleted the TechNote from their web site.

I have submitted a request for enhancement (RFE) to restore this feature.  Members of the developer community who would like to see this extremely useful feature restored are asked to please vote on the RFE at http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rfe/execute?use_case=viewRfe&CR_ID=40939.

 

Re: Trying to modify deleted objects in 9.2 / canModify
llandale - Tue Oct 29 14:38:33 EDT 2013

BeastBoysDad - Mon Oct 28 20:15:54 EDT 2013

 

I have confirmed that DXL could modify the attributes of deleted objects in DOORS 7 and DOORS 8, dating back to the DOORS 7.1 release on May 17, 2004. I verified such by writing DXL code and having it successfully modify attributes of deleted objects on DOORS 7 and DOORS 8 platforms. It is unknown if this feature worked in DOORS 6 and earlier because I couldn't locate any users still using these versions. However, there is no reason to suspect that this feature did not exist in DOORS dating all the way back to its original deployment by Telelogic (originators of DOORS) in 1999.

However, the exact same DXL that worked perfectly fine on DOORS 7 and DOORS 8 platforms does not work in DOORS 9.  IBM says that it was a "bug" that allowed it to work in earlier versions of DOORS before IBM bought the product from Telelogic.

IBM had a TechNote 1412273 that clearly stated that the inability of DXL to modify attributes of deleted objects is a bug that would be fixed in DOORS 9.2.0.2.  When I contacted IBM Technical Support to say that the bug wasn't fixed in DOORS 9.3, they said that the TechNote was in error, it wasn't a bug, and then promptly deleted the TechNote from their web site.

I have submitted a request for enhancement (RFE) to restore this feature.  Members of the developer community who would like to see this extremely useful feature restored are asked to please vote on the RFE at http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rfe/execute?use_case=viewRfe&CR_ID=40939.

 

DOORS 4 through 8 allowed modification of deleted objects via DXL.  DOORS v9200 disallowed this feature, but by doing so introduced a bug disallowing Attr-DXL from displaying info of deleted objects; blowing up Attr-DXL.  THAT "bug" was fixed in v9202.

Yes, I found it somewhat offensive they removed that feature ..err.. declared it a bug and fixed it, without input from the community.

Seems strange to check, undelete the object, make the change, then re-soft-delete it.

-Louie

Re: Trying to modify deleted objects in 9.2 / canModify
BeastBoysDad - Tue Oct 29 14:46:26 EDT 2013

llandale - Tue Oct 29 14:38:33 EDT 2013

DOORS 4 through 8 allowed modification of deleted objects via DXL.  DOORS v9200 disallowed this feature, but by doing so introduced a bug disallowing Attr-DXL from displaying info of deleted objects; blowing up Attr-DXL.  THAT "bug" was fixed in v9202.

Yes, I found it somewhat offensive they removed that feature ..err.. declared it a bug and fixed it, without input from the community.

Seems strange to check, undelete the object, make the change, then re-soft-delete it.

-Louie

Would you be willing to vote on the RFE in an effort to get IBM to restore this feature?  Please see http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rfe/execute?use_case=viewRfe&CR_ID=40939 to cast your vote.  Please ask your colleagues to vote on this as well.  When you vote on the RFE, I would also appreciate it if you could please copy and paste your above comment into the comment of the RFE.  It would have more impact if a user other than myself (the RFE author) added the comment.  Thank you!

--Rich