Creating an incremental baseline

About this task

If it is not possible or practical for you to make a copy of a project in the baseline for build management, you can use the incremental baseline approach.

For example, if you have projects proj1 through proj100, and you want to create a new baseline with just proj1-int and proj2-int (for example, because proj3 through proj100 haven't changed), then you can create your new baseline from your most recent baseline, plus these two projects.

Procedure

  1. Select the two projects you want to include in the incremental baseline, right-click over one, and select Create Baseline.

    You can create a baseline from a build management project grouping or from a project that is static or is a build management project.

    The Create Baseline dialog box appears.

  2. Modify the properties of the baseline, as required.
    1. Type a name in the Name field.

      This is the name of the baseline. It uniquely identifies this baseline within this database. By default, Rational Synergy names baselines with the creation date; for example, 20070309 stands for March 9 2007. However, you can modify it. The following are restricted characters and should not be used in the name: / \ ' " : ? * [ ] @ - #

      Note that if you are creating baselines in more than one database and you are using Rational Change to generate reports on these builds, use the same baseline name in each of the databases. This allows you to generate a build report that has a related baseline in more than one database.

    2. Confirm that your release is correct.

      A release is a property that identifies a baseline that is specific to a particular release.

    3. Confirm that your purpose is correct.

      A project purpose defines what it is used for, for example, Integration Testing. When you change your baseline purpose, Rational Synergy uses different selection criteria when you update the project or project grouping.

    4. Optionally, you can set the build identifier by typing it in the Build field.

      The build property shows the build identifier (letters, numbers, or combination) associated with a baseline. The build identifier can contain a maximum of 64 characters.

      Note that if you are creating baselines in more than one database and you are using Rational Change to generate reports on these builds, use the same baseline build identifier in each of the databases. This allows you to generate a build report that has a related baseline in more than one database.

    5. Type a description in the Description field to describe the baseline you are creating.
  3. Change the projects included in the baseline.

    Add the most recent baseline by clicking the Add Baseline button.

    You do not have to remove the older versions of the build management projects you just added, but doing so will give you a more accurate representation of the members of your baseline.

    The Select Baseline dialog box appears, which works the same as the Query dialog box. By default, projects display in the Included Projects field based on the release and purpose for a project, for example, toolkit/2.0 and System Testing. Additionally, you can define a query to find the project that you want to add to the baseline.

  4. Publish the baseline to developers upon creation.

    This option is cleared by default, but you will need to set it. As soon as you create the baseline, developers will be able to update their projects to bring in the most recent changes that have passed integration testing.

  5. Create the baseline by clicking OK.

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