Using the Specification Manager

Ribbon

Design > Package > Specification View

Context Menu

Right-click on Package | Specification Manager

Keyboard Shortcuts

Ctrl+0

Specify the type of element to work on

Either:

• Work with the default (all element types) or
• Select a specific type of element

You specify the element type first because when you come to browse for or select the Specification Package, if you have specified a particular element type the system automatically filters the Package selection to only those that contain elements of that type.

Select the Package to work in

Either:

• Work with the default Package
• Select another existing Package in the model, or
• Create a new Package in the model

Set up List Header and Filter bars

Use the 'Field Chooser' dialog to organize the columns that contain the type of information you want to work with. You can use the Filter bar to select for information that includes specific values, or hide the Filter bar altogether.

Some of the columns contain indicators that represent records and documents associated with an element. You can access the item represented by an indicator by clicking on it.

Configure the display

As you begin, or at any other time in your use of the Specification Manager, you can change the appearance of the display to, for example, use smaller or larger text font, partially or totally hide Notes text, or show the element names in bold.

You can further configure the display and the element definition by including level numbering and automatic naming, and by applying customized properties such as additional Requirement Types, Glossary entries and Tagged Value Types.

Add new elements

Create new elements in the model as direct members of the Package or as child elements of those members.

Delete elements

You can filter out elements from the display by type or according to the value of various properties. However, if an element does not belong in the Package and model, you can delete it completely.

Reorganize elements

The Specification Manager reflects the sequence of elements in the Package as shown in the Browser window.

To put the elements in the Specification Manager in a different order, either:

• Move them in the Browser window, then right-click on the Specification Manager and select the 'Reload View' menu option, or
• Right-click on the element to move and select the 'Move Up' or 'Move Down' option
• Click on the element to move and on the 'Specification-Specify > Element > Move Up' or 'Move Down' ribbon options, or
• Click on the element and press Ctrl+Shift+Up arrow or Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow

Create and Review Relationships

You can examine existing relationships and create new ones using the Relationship Matrix, creating and using specific Matrix Profiles.

You can also review existing relationships by opening the Traceability window, either from the Toolbar or by double-clicking on the blue arrow displayed in the 'Relationship' and 'All Indicators' columns. If the element has no relationships, the blue arrow is not shown.

Discuss and review elements amongst project members

It is possible to create review documents and have recorded text message discussions on the development of your elements, using the Review, Discussion, and Model Mail facilities.

If an element has an existing Discussion or Review, this is represented by a 'speech bubble' icon in the 'Discussion' and 'All Indicators' columns. You can open the discussion by double-clicking on that icon.

Make, Review and Manage Changes

You can easily view and edit elements directly in the Specification Manager or by displaying the appropriate window such as the Properties window.

You can also monitor changes to the selected Package or element made anywhere in the system, using the Baselines and Auditing Facilities.

Further, you can manage changes made by other users, opening the Project Tools window to quickly assign resources and risks to the work on the element. You can review work on the elements in the Package by displaying the Specification Manager in another tab in the form of the Project Gantt chart.

Maintenance and Testing are integrated and easily available to help improve software quality from the beginning of your project.

Existing records of these items are indicated by icons in the corresponding column, and can be quickly opened by double-clicking on the icon.

Print the list of entries

A print-out of the Specification Manager element list is a document containing a simplified version of the screen display:

• All elements are included, both parent and child elements
• The columns are narrowed to fit the page width (if necessary)
• The indicator icons are not printed
• The font size and type face are uniform across the report

To generate the print-out:

1. Click on the 'Specification - Specify > Element > Documentation > Generate Documentation (RTF/PDF/DOCX)' ribbon option.
   On the 'Generate Documentation' dialog, the 'Template' field defaults to 'Specification Manager List'.
2. If necessary, specify the output file location and extension, then click on the Generate button.
3. Display and print the output file.

Generate reports

If you should need to extract and/or publish more of the information in the Specification Manager, you can do so in a range of forms such as:

• Using other templates and generation options to produce standard or customized document reports in RTF, DOCX or PDF format
• Publishing on the web in HTML or Joomla!, or
• Exporting to a spreadsheet tool in CSV format