My employer is adopting Serena Dimensions ChangeMan throughout the IT Department. We in the Notes/Domino group are not sure if/how it can be utilized with Notes/Domino.
Basically, ChangeMan expects a series of files (they call them items) to be built by developers and then compiled into an application. Each of these files would have a version history maintained along with comments, documentation, CheckInCheckOut, etc.
In the demo/training session, we were told these items would be analogous to our forms/views/agents. However, of course all Domino design objects are stored in a single NSF.
I was curious about some sort of XML export/import routine. Can a Domino design object be exported as XML and then, if necessary, be imported into a Domino database in the event of a need to ‘fallback’ to a previous design version? That is, can a database design be created via an XML import?
<I know, I know, templates are used for this - ChangeMan is being pushed from above so I am trying to find a way to make it work if possible>
Subject: Serena Dimensions Change Man - anyone using it with Domino?
hmm - interesting
while designs are easily updated using XML, due to Notes extensive use of tags, they don’t display well without a notes client or java applet - although they do retain their overall structure (heirarchy)
it would be of great value to determine exactly how the changeman items determine new versions, ie - via tags, or some type of formatting, this might indicate exactly what data you need to include
I know this isn’t an answer - I saw the post and was intrigued by it - just thinking out loud here…
Subject: RE: Serena Dimensions Change Man - anyone using it with Domino?
I dont think ChangeMan is smart enough to determine the versions. My suspicion is that it is simply a repository of files maybe not a whole lot different than versioning in Notes forms - prior version becomes response.
Of course ChangeMan must have more logic built-in, but I think it comes down to the CIO saying ‘respect the authority of the ChangeMan’ because I doubt it can really prevent two people from working on local copies and certainly could not prevent Domino people from refreshing design outside of ChangeMan.
It sounded interesting, but I just am not sure how Domino benefits from it …
Subject: RE: Serena Dimensions Change Man - anyone using it with Domino?
Hello Marc,
You are correct that DCM will not prevent N/D developers from refreshing design element changes outside of the change management system. DCM is a good change management product, but it does not directly support N/D database design changes to proactively enforce check in/out of design elements.
For N/D specific change management you will need a N/D specific tool like Teamstudo CIAO! or the upcoming and updated Jagre X-Station. These N/D specific tools proactively monitor changes made within N/D databases to enforce check in/out.
Both N/D tools support individual developers and entire development teams spanning N/D 4.5 thru 7. You can contact Teamstudio about CIAO! and me X-Station.