Sending and receiving RIF files

Examples that show how you might use RIF to share data with another database. The first example shows how to use RIF to send out data, the second example shows what to do if you receive a RIF package.

Before you begin

When you export a RIF package, all the views that you can access in the modules in the RIF definition are included in the RIF package.

To make sure that the data that is include in the RIF package is manageable, set up a special RIF account that only has access to the views that you want to include in the RIF package.

Sending a RIF file

  1. Create a RIF definition, which defines the data to include in the package, and the access rights when it is imported. See Creating RIF definitions.
  2. Export the definition, which creates an xml file called a RIF package, and copies the data to the file. See Exporting RIF packages.

    If you have given edit access to any of the data in the package, Rational® DOORS® locks the copy in your database, making it read-only. Data in the RIF file is either read-only in your database or read-only in the package. See Understanding RIF locks on local data.

  3. You send the package, in the same way as you would any other file.
  4. The person who receives your package imports it into their database. They work on the data within the constraints of the access rights that you have given.
  5. When users in the remote database are finished updating the data, they return the RIF package to you and you import it into your database. See Importing RIF packages. Rational DOORS recognizes the data in the package and associates it with the original RIF definition. The data is imported into a new folder in the project.
    Note: Your data is not updated until you merge the imported RIF package.
  6. You merge the returned data with the original data. See Merging RIF packages. If the third-party has finished the updates and has returned the locks to you, the locks are removed. If the file was an update, and the third-party plans to send you more edits, they might keep the locks.

Receiving a RIF file

  1. You receive the RIF package in an xml file, which you need to import. See Importing RIF packages.

    When you import the package, you must create a RIF definition, which you use when you return the data.

    The data is imported into a folder in your project. The first time you import the data, a folder is created for you. On subsequent imports, you must create a folder for the data. It is probable that some of the data in the modules will be editable, and some will be read-only.

  2. Update the data as required.
  3. When you have finished updating the data, you export the RIF definition. See Exporting RIF packages.

    You can return the edit locks, so that you cannot make any further updates to the data. The data is exported to an xml file, which you can return to the original Rational DOORS database.


Feedback