CM-Consult offers special terms for buying license packs

. CM-Consult offers special terms for buying license packs. The offer is valid till April 1, 2013.

Starter license pack – 20% discount
Advanced license pack – 25% discount
Professional license pack – 30% discount
Ultimate License pack - 35% discount

Purchase of a license pack allows users to get CM-Consult popular solutions with the significant discount. You can select a license pack that suits your needs and get a discount on it. The discount will be applied automatically when you purchase a license pack.
If you have any questions related to getting discounts or special purchase conditions, please contact us using the Contacts form or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

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CM-Consult is pleased to announce the release of special license pack "Ultimate"

CM-Consult Company is pleased to announce the release of special license pack "Ultimate" that include licenses for the most popular CM-Consult products (GanttChart for ClearQuest, ProjectTracker, UML2ClearQuest).  Besides, the license pack include one year of advanced technical support that allows you to get consultations of CM-Consult specialists and help in configuring ClearQuest Schema for effective use of GanttChart for ClearQuest and ProjectTracker. License pack also include high-priority modifications for our products made according to your requirements.  

We often face a situation when our clients use non-standard ClearQuest schemas that require adapting GanttChart for ClearQuest and ProjectTracker. License pack allow our clients to get special versions of GanttChart for ClearQuest and ProjectTrackeradapted according to their requirements.
License pack also allow significantly save money since they include the most popular products at a big discount. 

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Site news. May'10: new article and technical information
Besides, we have published testimonialsof our customers and IBM specialist on GanttChart. 

In Articles and Media section, the new articleImplementing IBM RSA and IBM ClearQuest integration: UML to State-Machine with RSA plug-in. Original sources are attached to the article. In the Technical information, release notes etc. section, the following materials have been published:

• GanttChart for ClearQuest. User Guide. Ver 1.3
• UML2ClearQuest. User Guide. Ver 3.0
• GanttChart for ClearQuest. User Guide. Ver 1.2
• GanttChart for ClearQuest. Installation Guide. Ver 1.2

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GanttChart for ClearQuest. User Guide. Ver 1.2

Contents

1. List of Abbreviations and Terms 

2. Glossary 

3. Introduction 

3.1 Field of Application of This Document 

3.2 Purpose of This Document 

3.3 System Requirements 

4. General Description 

5. Configuration 

5.1 Setting up parameters 

5.2 Export and import of settings 

6. Using the plug-in 

6.1 Building a Gantt chart 

6.2 Opening forms 

6.3 Modifying planned dates 

6.4 Reassigning owners 

6.5 Saving changes 

6.6 Export information 

6.7 Visualization of states 

7. Appendix A 

 

 

 

List of Abbreviations and Terms

 

 

 

Glossary

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

 

Field of Application of This Document

 

This Guide is intended for users of ClearQuest.

 

 

Purpose of This Document

 

The document provides users with information on functionality of the GanttChart for ClearQuest application that allows effectively use ClearQuest when planning works and tracking their statuses.

The document covers the following topics:

• Configuring the application
• Using the application

 

 

System Requirements

 

To be able to use the GanttChart for ClearQuest plug-in you must have

• IBM Rational ClearQuest Eclipse Client 7.0.0 or later version.

 

 

General Description

 

GanttChart for ClearQuest is the plug-in for the Eclipse client for ClearQuest that provides the following opportunities:

• Building a Gantt chart on basis of executed queries. It allows building a chart of any necessary view.
• Visualizing change request hierarchy and relations between the requests in the form of a Gantt chart.
• Visualizing task completion rate.
• Visualizing ratio of planned to actual dates.
• Visualizing change requests using different colour schemes depending on the completion rate and ratio of planned to actual dates.
• Splitting a Gantt chart on sections for visualization of composite requests for more convenient analysis and work planning.
• Changing and saving results of updating planned dates of change requests.
• Assigning owners for change requests.
• Opening forms of change requests from a Gantt chart;
• Printing;
• Visualizing State Chart Diagram;
• Exporting to MS Project XML file.

 

 

Configuration

 

 

Setting up parameters

 

Configuration includes setting up the parameters of record types for which the Gantt chart will be build. First, you should set up the connection to the DB (see Figure 1. Setting up the connection to the ClearQuest database).

 

Figure 1. Setting up the connection to the ClearQuest database

 

To adjust the module settings, in the Window menu, select Preferences. (see Figure 2. Opening the dialog box for adjusting the module settings).

Figure 2. Opening the dialog box for adjusting the module settings

 

In the Preferences dialog box, on the left, select CMC Plug-ins/GanttChart for ClearQuest. The Preferences dialog box will open. (see Figure 3. Configuring the module (the ALMRequest entity is taken as an example). This dialog box contains the following tabs:

1. Record types - on this tab, you can configure all necessary record types, for which the Gantt chart will be built.
2. Record types hierarchy - on this tab, you can set up all necessary relations between change requests:
   1. Hierarchical relations
   2. Sequential relations
3. Advanced - on this tab, you can adjust additional settings.
4. Custom - on this tab, you can adjust some custom settings to make your work with GanttChart for ClearQuest more convenient.

Figure 3. Configuring the module (the ALMRequest entity is taken as an example)

 

The Record types tab contains the following settings:

1. Connection - the list of active ClearQuest connections. In this list, you should select the connection to the user's ClearQuest database.
2. Record types - the list of record types that are used in the user's ClearQuest DB. In this list, select the record types that should be used for building the Gantt chart. For every record type, you can set up a number of parameters displayed on the right of the record types list:
   1. Modify action - the action performed by ClearQuest to modify the change request. It is used for saving planned values for the change requests. This is an optional parameter. You need not set it up unless you need to save changes in the Gantt chart.
   2. Assign action - the action performed by ClearQuest to transfer a change request into the Assigned state. It is used if it is necessary to automatically transfer a change request into the Assigned state when an owner is assigned to the request. This is an optional parameter. You need not set it up unless you need to automatically transfer a change request into the Assigned state.
   3. Headline - this field contains a brief description. This is a mandatory parameter.
   4. Owner - this field contains a name of an owner assigned to a change request. This parameter is optional.
   5. Plan start date - this field contains a planned date of starting work in the ClearQuest request. This field is not mandatory for change requests with child requests.
   6. Plan end date - this field contains a planned date of finishing work in the ClearQuest request. This field is not mandatory for change requests with child requests.
   7. Actual start date - this field contains an actual date of starting work in the ClearQuest request. This field is not mandatory for change requests with child requests.
   8. Actual end date - this field contains an actual date of finishing work in the ClearQuest request. This field is not mandatory for change requests with child requests.
   9. Completing percent - this field contains the task completion rate. Its value should fall into the range between 0 and 100. This parameter is optional.

 

Figure 4. Configuring the hierarchy for the ALMActivity entity

 

For setting up relations between change requests, you should open the Record types hierarchy tab (see Figure 4. Configuring the hierarchy for the ALMActivity entity). This tab contains the Record types list containing the list of record types that were configured on the Record types tab. For every record type, you can set up a number of relationship parameters:

1. Parameters for hierarchical relations, that are displayed in a Gantt chart as aggregated tasks:
   1. Parent record - a parent change request for the request that is currently being configured.
   2. Child record - a child change request for the request that is currently being configured.
2. Parameters for the sequential relations:
   1. Predecessor record - a change request that goes before the request that is currently being configured.
   2. Successor record - a change request that goes after the request that is currently being configured.

 

Figure 5. Additional settings

 

The Advanced tab contains the following settings:

1. Color theme - the color scheme that will be applied to a Gantt chart.
2. Use color events - if this option is selected, all tasks will be highlighted by different colors depending on their states:
   1. Grey - the task has not been planned.
   2. Blue - the task has been planned and the plan end date has not come yet.
   3. Yellow - the task has been planned and is in progress.
   4. Crimson - the task has been planned, but the planned start date is past due.
   5. Red - the task has been planned and the planned finish date is past due.
   6. Green - the task is completed.
3. Split chart by section - if this option is selected, the Gantt chart is divided into sections concerning records of the first level of hierarchy.
4. Use AMWorkActivitySchedule package - if this option is selected, you can use the AMWorkActivitySchedule package.
5. Use users - allows creating lists of owners for using them in the Gantt chart:
   1. Use the record choice list - creates the list of owners that corresponds to the selected record and its Owner field;
   2. Use users record type - creates the list of owners on basis of the Users record type;
   3. Use specified record type - creates the list of owners on basis of the specified type of record Record type and its main field User name, which contains the owner name.
6. Enable change preferences by administrators only - if this option is selected, the settings can be edited only by users with Super user and Security admin privileges.

 

Figure 6. Custom settings

 

The Custom tab contains the following elements:

• Auto build queries - allows defining the list of queries. As a result of execution of these queries, a Gantt chart will be automatically built.

 

To finish the configuration, click Apply.

 

 

Export and import of settings

 

 

GanttChart for ClearQuest allows exporting and importing settings. You can do it in the Preferences window using the corresponding buttons (see Figure 7. Buttons for exporting and importing settings

).

 

Figure 7. Buttons for exporting and importing settings

 

To export settings, perform the following steps:

1. In the Preferences window, click Export.
2. In the dialog box, select the directory and specify the name of the file that will store the imported settings.

 

To import settings, perform the following steps:

1. In the Preferences window, click Import.
2. In the dialog box, select the file with the settings.
3. To apply the new settings, click Apply.

 

 

Using the plug-in

 

 

Building a Gantt chart

 

Since GanttChart for ClearQuest uses requests selected from the ClearQuest, to build a Gantt chart it is necessary to execute a query that will return the list of records (see Figure 8. Configuring the filter of displayed records).

Figure 8. Configuring the filter of displayed records

In the CMC Plug-ins menu, select GanttCart for ClearQuest (see Figure 9. Launching the plug-in). The new tab GanttCart for ClearQuest will open (see Figure 10. Plug-in's tab displayed in ClearQuest).

Figure 9. Launching the plug-in

On the GanttCart for ClearQuest tab, in the Executed queries list, select the executed query and, to build a Gantt chart, click Fill from result (see Figure 10. Plug-in's tab displayed in ClearQuest, Figure 11. Running a query).

Figure 10. Plug-in's tab displayed in ClearQuest

 

Figure 11. Running a query

As a result of the plug-in installation and configuration, you will get the Gantt chart (see Figure 12. Displaying the Gantt chart).

Figure 12. Displaying the Gantt chart

 

 

Opening forms

 

GanttChart for ClearQuest allows opening forms of change requests directly from a Gantt chart. To open a change request form, click the necessary task in the Gantt chart. The ClearQuest form will open where you can perform all regular operations with the request, i.e. view, modify, change its state, etc.

 

Figure 13. ClearQuest Form Opened from a Gantt Chart

 

 

Modifying planned dates

 

 

GanttChart for ClearQuest supports changing planned dates directly from a Gantt chart. To be able to modify planned dates for tasks, you should specify the following parameters:

1. Fields containing planned dates.
2. Modify action for a record.

 

To modify planned dates for a task on a Gantt chart, you should pull one of the tasks ends by the cursor.

GanttChart for ClearQuest also supports grouped operations for tasks of a Gantt chart.

1. Selecting a group of tasks. You can select multiple tasks by clicking Shift or Ctrl and selecting the necessary tasks. Also, you can select a group of tasks by clicking Ctrl and then, using the right mouse button, selecting an area on a Gantt chart where the necessary tasks are displayed (see Figure 14. Selecting a group of tasks
2. )

Figure 14. Selecting a group of tasks

 

1. Modifying a group of tasks. To modify a group of tasks, you should modify one of the selected tasks holding the Ctrl button.
2. Modifying connected tasks. To modify connected tasks, you should modify one of the selected tasks holding the Shift button.
3. Aggregated tasks. When you move an aggregated task, its child tasks are also moved, including the aggregated ones.

 

The plug-in allows evaluating how the new planned dates differ from the previous ones. To do it, right-click a Gantt chart and select Show Planned Dates (see Figure 15. Displaying the shift between old and new planned dates

). In the chart, additional green and red lines appear indicating the shift between old and new planned start dates and planned finish dates correspondingly. If a task has actual dates, these lines will indicate the shift between actual and planned dates of the task.

Figure 15. Displaying the shift between old and new planned dates

 

 

Reassigning owners

 

 

GanttChart for ClearQuest allows assigning owners for change requests directly from a Gantt chart. To make it possible, it is necessary to apply the following settings for the record type:

1. Owner field.
2. Modify or Assign action.

 

To assign a new owner or reassign an existing owner, do the following:

1. On a Gantt chart, right-click a task and select Assign owner.
2. The dialog appears (see Figure 16. Selecting an owner
3. ) with the list of available owners. To find a necessary owner in a large list, use the filter field.

Figure 16. Selecting an owner

 

1. Click OK to save changes, or Cancel to quit without saving.
2. Before you have saved the new settings, you can restore the previous owner by clicking Restore.

 

 

Saving changes

 

To save the results of planning in the Gantt chart, you can use two methods (see Figure 17. Saving changes.):

1. Complete saving of all changes Click (Apply changes). All changes made in the Gantt chart are saved into the ClearQuest change requests.
2. Selective saving. Click (Analyse changes). The dialog box with the list of change requests to be saved and changed fields will open (see Figure 18. Selecting tasks for saving
3. ). In this dialog box, you can select the change requests to be saved. Besides, you can select the following options:
   1. Save plan dates if actual dates exist - if this option is selected, the list of change requests to be saved will be supplemented with the change requests with the actual dates, for which the planned dates were modified;
   2. Update plan dates for summary tasks - if this option is selected, the list of change requests to be saved will be supplemented with the change requests that correspond to the aggregated tasks of the Gantt chart and for which the planned dates and the Modify action are specified in the settings of GanttChart for ClearQuest.

 

Figure 17. Saving changes.

Figure 18. Selecting tasks for saving

 

The process of updating the planned dates is logged into the console window of the Eclipse client for ClearQuest (see Figure 19. Log of the planned dates saving process):

Figure 19. Log of the planned dates saving process

 

 

Export information

 

GanttChart for ClearQuest allows you to export the displayed information to the file in MS Project XML. For export, follow these steps:

1. Click "Export";

Figure 20. Exporting data

1. Set the file name that you want to export the information;

Figure 21. Selecting file name

1. Launch MS Project and select "FileaOpen";
2. Choose a file export;

Figure 22. Opening file

1. Select "Append the data to active project"

Figure 23. Import Wizard

1. The new plan to add a display field "Text1" and "Text2", which contain CQID information and the type of record ClearQuest;

Figure 24. Inserting text fields

1. Information on the planned dates stored in the baseline, so to display it on the MS Project Gantt chart to choose the type of View "Tracking Gantt"

Figure 25. View "Tracking Gantt"

 

 

Visualization of states

 

GanttChart for ClearQuest allows you to view a state chart diagram for the selected change request. To do this, follow these steps:

1. At the required change request, right-click and choose "Show state chart"

Figure 26. Openning state chart

1. On the resulting graph displays the states and transitions between states. In parentheses at the transitions is also reflected in the number of transitions executed during the entire lifecycle of the change request.

Figure 27. StateChart Vizualizer

 

 

Appendix A

 

Example of ALM-schema configuration

 

The following configuration is given for guidance only.

 

This appendix contains detailed description of configuration and step-by-step instructions for adjusting the ALM-schema:

1. Changes in the schema. Since the ALM-schema does not have all necessary fields for setting planned and actual dates, you should add them using ClearQuest Designer. For the ALMActivity record type it is necessary to add the following fields:
   1. Plan_start - planned start date, type DATE_TIME;
   2. Plan_start - planned end date, type DATE_TIME;
   3. Fact_start - actual start date, type DATE_TIME;
   4. Fact_end - actual end date, type DATE_TIME;
   5. Percent_complete - completion rate, type INT;
   6. PredecessorActivity - predecessor for a task, type REFERENCE_LIST for the record type ALMActivity;
2. Configuring the application
   1. Configuring fields for ALMRequest:

1. Configuring fields for ALMTask:

1. Configuring fields for ALMAcivity:

1. Configuring relations for ALMTask:

1. Configuring relations for ALMRequest:

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GanttChart v 1.0 for ClearQuest video (with audio)

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Visualization of the Change Request Hierarchy in IBM Rational Using the GanttChart

We (http://www.cmcons.com) constantly implement IBM Rational tools, i.e. we face both features of the tools and their limitations in practice.
Here I will speak about probably the most important tool when it comes to support of change processes - IBM Rational ClearQuest. I will not tell you about the tool itself since there are special materials on this topic. I want only to point out that it controls all changes in a project, or rather all change requests (CR).
In ClearQuest, change requests can be of the following types:

    * Enhancement request – New requirements from a client.
    * Defect – Documented defect.
    * Task – Planned task, task for defect correction or task for enhancement request implementation.

See youtube video

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GanttChart for ClearQuest. Ad hoc planning and operational management

Ad hoc planning and operational management. The module of the visualization of the ClearQuest tasks hierarchy as Gantt diagram

The module is made in the form of Plug-in for IBM Rational ClearQuest 7.0 and upper. This module is intended for every person who uses IBM Rational ClearQuest and is short of project management capabilities. The module does not substitute for existing project management tools but adds the operational sections into IBM Rational. For the most experienced users the functions of this module will be absolutely enough for ad hoc planning and operational management of their projects. The module has no analogues in the world!
CM-Consult GanttChart is featured in the IBM Global Solutions Directory ID 41151
GanttChart for ClearQuest 1.4 is fully compatible with IBM Rational ClearQuest v. 8.0

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ProjectTracker video
  

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Project Tracker 2.5.1 New Version
CM-Consult has released a new version of the solution for extended integration of IBM Rational ClearQuestand Microsoft Project (or Microsoft Project Server) 2003/2007 – Project Tracker 2.5.1.
CM-Consult ProjectTracker is featured in the IBM Global Solutions Directory  ID 38167

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Rational-Tools project - the new era of international tool development
CM-Consult, LLC and the Rational-Tools.com project are pleased to announce the following solutions:

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CQSD ClearQuest & HP Service Desk integration
'CQSD' - ClearQuest & HP Service Desk integration. The module is designed for synchronization of IBM Rational ClearQuest and Service call queries in HP Service desk. The decision help to combine processes for maintenance and development of software and automate the access for designers/analysts from 3-line of support to the process of request handling, that was performed manually.

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'ProjectTracker' for MSP Server 2003 & 2007
'ProjectTracker for MSP Server 2003 & 2007' MS Project and MSP Server and ClearQuest integration module. This tool is registered as the V.A.P-solution in IBM. State-of-art MS Project (Project Server 2003 & 2007) and ClearQuest integration module which allows bidirectional collaboration keeping the full hierarchy, total resources information and all dependencies as well. During planning in MS Project the module allows to import all resources available from the CQ base. It’s irreplaceable tool for excellent project management.
CM-Consult ProjectTracker is featured in the IBM Global Solutions Directory  ID 38167

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'cmc_RBCBR' Role-based change request access rights regulation package for ClearQuest
Solution type: ClearQuest package
Limitations:  Requires slight modifications of ClearQuest's schema.
Distributed as: ClearQuest package
Compatibility: Compatible with any ClearQuest version (including ClearQuest 7.1). Supports any schema. 

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'cmc_hvis' ClearQuest's change request hierarchy visualisation package
Solution type: ClearQuest package
Limitations: Doesn't work through the WEB. Requires slight modifications of ClearQuest's schema.
Distributed as: ClearQuest package
Compatibility: Compatible with any ClearQuest version (including ClearQuest 7.1). Supports any schema.

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Developing Packages for IBM Rational ClearQuest
Remote development of ClearQuest packages (add-ons) complies with the declared requirements. Packages can be of any complexity. Additionally, CM-Consult provides support if necessary.

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