Creating Dependency reports to identify related objects

A Dependency report shows the interdependencies between workflow objects, and helps you determine which workflow objects are required by a specific workflow object. For example, Dependency reports determine what should be moved to a production (destination) machine to ensure that the application is migrated to the correct destination. 

The Dependency report is divided first into servers, then direct and indirect dependencies, then into object types. When creating a report using packing lists, the Dependency report goes outside a packing list and finds all dependent objects.

A AR System Dependency report shows upward or downward object dependencies:

  • Upward Dependencies—Displays a list of objects that require the specified object. For example, if you generate an upward dependency report for a form, the report lists the active links, filters, escalations, and other objects that use that form. If you generate an upward dependency report for groups or roles, the report lists the forms or other server objects that use those groups and roles.
  • Downward Dependencies—Displays a list of objects that the specified object requires. When a downward dependency report is created for a form, the objects for that form are not displayed in the report. When a downward dependency report is created for a form and related objects, the objects are displayed.

    Dependency report example (partial view)
    deprpt.gif

The report display lists direct and indirect dependencies for the selected objects:

  • Direct dependencies include those objects that are required by the object for which the report is generated. For example, the dependency report for the Administrator Preferences form lists the menus and groups that comprise the direct dependencies. For a packing list, direct dependencies would include all of the objects included in the packing list.
  • Indirect dependencies include those objects required by objects listed in the Direct Dependency list.

To create a Dependency report

  1. Click the object type under AR System Objects in the left pane of a server window.
  2. In the right pane, select the objects you want to review.
    To select more than one object, hold down the Ctrl or Shift key when making your selections.
  3. Right-click your selection to display a pop-up menu, or select the View menu.
  4. Select Downward Dependencies or Upward Dependencies to display the Dependency report in a window.
    The object dependencies are shown in the default colors or the colors you selected from the Dependency report options.

Working with Dependency reports

You can view object dependencies before and after a migration to make sure you migrate all dependent objects and to verify that the correct objects exist on the correct server. You can migrate from the report view, as well as save or print the report.

The following table outlines some techniques to use when working with Dependency reports:

Action

Procedure

View a report

Objects in the right pane are listed in the same order as they appear in the left pane. In the list view of the Dependency report, dependent objects are listed in alphabetical order within each server listing. For migrations, servers are also listed in alphabetical order.

Objects listed in the report as "Unable to locate object objectName on server" and "Object objectName lies on server. Unable to retrieve information." might be residing on a different server or might be missing. If there is more than one server referenced in the report, these servers are listed in alphabetical order.

Save a report

  1. Right-click the Dependency report you want to save.
  2. Select File > Save As to display the Save As dialog box.
  3. Select a destination path and type a file name, being sure to save the file as a .mgrtdep file.
  4. Click Save.

Resize a report

Select View > Zoom and enter a percentage to shrink or enlarge the report. This zoom percentage is also used when printing the report. If you need more viewing space, hide the migration status pane.

Select colors

  1. Select Tools > Options to open the Remedy Migrator Options dialog box.
  2. Under Category, select Dependencies > Colors.
  3. For each object dependency to be correlated (for example, all forms that are dependent on each other):
    1. Click the object type.
    2. From the color picker, click the box for the color you want.
    3. Click OK.
  4. Click OK to save your selections.

Create an HTML file from a report

  1. Select File > Export to HTML.
  2. Select a directory path where you want the file saved, and enter a file name.
  3. Click Save.
  4. Open the saved HTML file in any HTML editor to print, edit, or reformat the report.

Select migration and printing options

Right-click in the right pane of the Dependency report window to display the options menu.

Refresh dependency report information

Select the report window and press F5.

Display an object in a report in Remedy Migrator

Double-click a Migrator file to launch a report from its saved location.

Create an image of the report to view in another application

Select Edit > Copy. Open the other application and select Edit > Paste. You cannot edit this file.

Add new object to a report

Drag the object starting at the source view (the server window used to select the workflow objects).

Scroll to an object in the list view (right pane)

Select the object name in the tree view (left pane). You can also click an object in the list view to select the object in the tree view.

 

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