Modify attribute type

Hello,

How can I modify the attribute type? I had created an attributes of type "text" but I need to change it to "Enum" type. Other than creating a new attributes of enum type and copying the data to it, is there any trick to change it.

Thanks a lot.

Regards,

Pana

Re: Modify attribute type
Wolfgang Uhr - Thu Aug 11 07:13:15 EDT 2016

No that is impossible. You have to create a new attribute and then to copy the data.
 

Re: Modify attribute type
JayashreePana - Thu Aug 11 07:17:38 EDT 2016

Hello Wolfgang,

May I know the reason? What is the technical problem?

Rgs,

Pana

Re: Modify attribute type
DOORSHAM - Thu Aug 11 10:51:03 EDT 2016

Technical problem is that DOORS can't do what you ask -- if you want to dig deeper; suggest you contact IBM with your issue.

Re: Modify attribute type
Antonio__Norkus - Thu Aug 11 11:44:48 EDT 2016

The technical problem is a matter of the migration of attribute Values due to a change in attribute Type.
Example:
Attribute A is of type String.

Attribute A of Object 1 has the value "A string of info"
If we change attribute A to type Integer, what do we do with the value "A string of info"?

I believe that DOORS prevents the change of type of an attribute to avoid this "value migration problem". Instead, they leave it as an exercise for the User.

Re: Modify attribute type
thsturm - Fri Aug 12 02:51:04 EDT 2016

- create a temp attribute [enum]

- copy the value of the existing attribute [string] to the temp attribute [enum] (what to do, if the existing value is not an enum value?)

- delete the existing attribute [string]

- rename the temp attribute to the name of the (deleted) existing attribute name

See attached file for an example.

Re: Modify attribute type
JayashreePana - Fri Aug 12 03:44:06 EDT 2016

Hi,

I was thinking we are automating so many things and how come such a small modification is "impossible". If the datatype does not just leave it blank!.

However I have starting problem I mean not getting how start with.

Thanks a lot for your valuable time.

Regards,

Pana.

Re: Modify attribute type
Mike.Scharnow - Fri Aug 12 04:54:56 EDT 2016

just a remark: such a "small" modification is not possible for many database-like programs. Even in Oracle it is not possible to convert data type from string to integer so easily, and enums are stored as integer.

Re: Modify attribute type
Wolfgang Uhr - Fri Aug 12 09:01:50 EDT 2016

There is no technical problem. Doors does not have a technical solution for this.

Re: Modify attribute type
DOORSHAM - Fri Aug 12 18:55:35 EDT 2016

good answer -- you worded it much better than I did.

Re: Modify attribute type
JayashreePana - Thu Aug 18 09:03:15 EDT 2016

Hi,

I found a very good DXL script from DXL library which does the fantastic job. With this you can modify the attribute type. Check the attached screen shot.

Regards,

Pana.