How can I delete a baseline without history record about it?

Hello:

Can I delete a baseline without history record about it?. I don't want to see that baseline X was deleted.

Thanks.
luisoran - Wed Jun 13 11:38:01 EDT 2012

Re: How can I delete a baseline without history record about it?
luisoran - Wed Jun 13 11:50:47 EDT 2012

I would like to delete any histoy record about creation and deletion about that baseline.

Re: How can I delete a baseline without history record about it?
llandale - Wed Jun 13 16:35:20 EDT 2012

I don't think so. But even if you could, someone could still deduce there is a baseline missing, either by missing versions but also missing History and/or Sessions (which are deleted when the baseline is deleted).

Re: How can I delete a baseline without history record about it?
SystemAdmin - Wed Jun 13 18:31:55 EDT 2012

luisoran - Wed Jun 13 11:50:47 EDT 2012
I would like to delete any histoy record about creation and deletion about that baseline.

There is a reason behind why this cannot be done in DOORS.

When DOORS first introduced the capability to delete baselines it raised a legal problem associated with the electronic destruction of potentially incriminating evidence in some countries - the USA as I recall was one of them - given that DOORS is used widely in the Defence & Aerospace industries that often come under close scrutiny by governments and the DoD, who also use DOORS, there was some sensitivity towards the lack of security and audit trails with this feature.

Consequently, the Delete Baselines feature was tightened up in a subsequent release so that only the Administrator user could enable\disable the feature globally, if enabled only users with the "Manage Database" powers could delete baselines (assumed that they also have written authority and accountability to do so), and that the baseline remains displayed in the Baseline dialogue with details about who and when it was deleted so that there is a full audit trail.

Paul Miller
Melbourne, Australia

Re: How can I delete a baseline without history record about it?
luisoran - Thu Jun 14 06:27:28 EDT 2012

Thank you very much.

Re: How can I delete a baseline without history record about it?
llandale - Thu Jun 14 15:51:36 EDT 2012

SystemAdmin - Wed Jun 13 18:31:55 EDT 2012
There is a reason behind why this cannot be done in DOORS.

When DOORS first introduced the capability to delete baselines it raised a legal problem associated with the electronic destruction of potentially incriminating evidence in some countries - the USA as I recall was one of them - given that DOORS is used widely in the Defence & Aerospace industries that often come under close scrutiny by governments and the DoD, who also use DOORS, there was some sensitivity towards the lack of security and audit trails with this feature.

Consequently, the Delete Baselines feature was tightened up in a subsequent release so that only the Administrator user could enable\disable the feature globally, if enabled only users with the "Manage Database" powers could delete baselines (assumed that they also have written authority and accountability to do so), and that the baseline remains displayed in the Baseline dialogue with details about who and when it was deleted so that there is a full audit trail.

Paul Miller
Melbourne, Australia

I'm sure that if a program realized it should delete a baseline in order to CYA it can find another way to remove the data without using the GUI to "Delete Baseline". Even if they did that, they'd have to go find all the backups, and backups of backups, and rogue archives, and remove the baselines from those as well. That's a rather daunting task.

Re: How can I delete a baseline without history record about it?
kbmurphy - Thu Jun 14 16:44:34 EDT 2012

llandale - Thu Jun 14 15:51:36 EDT 2012
I'm sure that if a program realized it should delete a baseline in order to CYA it can find another way to remove the data without using the GUI to "Delete Baseline". Even if they did that, they'd have to go find all the backups, and backups of backups, and rogue archives, and remove the baselines from those as well. That's a rather daunting task.

Louie assumes everyone uses backup. That's so cute.

And even if someone accurately performed the daunting task that Louie describes, an auditor with a good eye would likely spot the gap(s) in history and have questions. Better to leave the record there and at least say that the baseline was made in error. In these situations, though, there is little wrong with honesty. Honesty is much, much better than the alternative.

Re: How can I delete a baseline without history record about it?
SystemAdmin - Thu Jun 14 19:52:37 EDT 2012

"...can find another way to remove the data without using the GUI to "Delete Baseline"..."

Agree - it's a daunting task to uncover willful destruction of electronic data - but this is where Forensic Science comes in, Forensic Analysts have a level of patience and persistence as well as the tools to uncover the evidence, you might think it's deleted, but it ain't - it's an amazing science.

Paul Miller
Melbourne, Australia

Re: How can I delete a baseline without history record about it?
llandale - Fri Jun 15 12:35:41 EDT 2012

SystemAdmin - Thu Jun 14 19:52:37 EDT 2012
"...can find another way to remove the data without using the GUI to "Delete Baseline"..."

Agree - it's a daunting task to uncover willful destruction of electronic data - but this is where Forensic Science comes in, Forensic Analysts have a level of patience and persistence as well as the tools to uncover the evidence, you might think it's deleted, but it ain't - it's an amazing science.

Paul Miller
Melbourne, Australia

More specifically, you may think it's erased but it isn't. I put the donut in the bag, take it out of the bag, and they still know there was a donut in the bag. Nixon was a visionary: destroy the tapes best way to prevent them from being read.

-Louie