This documentation supports the 23.3 version of BMC Helix Change Management.To view an earlier version, select the version from the Product version menu.

Creating a release request by copying an existing release request

Use the Copy Release feature to copy the existing release request into a new release request. If you have an existing release request that is similar to the release request you are planning to create, you can use the Copy Release feature to copy the sections of the original request that you want to use in the new request, edit the copied information in draft mode, and save the changes to create a new release request. By using this feature, you can save time by creating a new request in fewer steps instead of creating the entire release request from scratch. Users with only Release Viewer permission can not see the copy release option.


When you copy a release request, some fields are automatically filled with information from the original request. The following table shows which fields are automatically copied from the original request and which ones are not:

Fields copied

Fields not copied

  • Summary
  • Notes
  • Location
  • Assignment
  • Service
  • Business Justification
  • Impact
  • Urgency
  • Priority
  • Risk Level
  • Categorization
  • Target Date
  • Status Reason
  • Status - Draft
  • Date System
  • Vendor Ticket
  • Vendor Group


To create a release request by copying information from an existing release request

  1. Open an existing release request.
  2. Click image2023-1-9_14-10-5.png.
    The Copy release screen displays the field information that you can copy.

    image-2024-7-11_10-38-31.png

  3. Select the information you want to copy.
    Depending on the options that you select, the following information is copied to the new release request. 

    Option

    Copied information

    Select All

    All the available options - Documents, Related, and Release Plan.

    Documents

    All Documents including the attachments.

    The documents related to original release request are copied with the attachments.

    Related

    All related changes, CIs, and releases in the original release request.

    Relationships are created between the change requests, CIs, and release requests related in the original release request and the new release request. For example, if a CI was related in the original request, when you copy, the same CI is related to the new release request.

    Release Plan

    All items on the Release plan tab.

    Change requests and activities are copied from the original release request and added to the new release request. For example, if a change request was added to the release plan in the original request, a new change request is created and added to the release plan under the same milestone as the original request. The documents attached, and the CIs related to the change requests in the release plan of the original release request, are attached and related to the new change request that is created and added to the release plan of the new release request.

  4. Click Next.
    Based on your selection, the information is copied and populated in a new release request in draft mode. 
  5. (Optional) Click Cancel to discard the changes and go back to the original release request.
  6. Make the necessary changes to the release request, and click Save.
    A new release request is created with the copied information.


Instructions for classic interfaces

View instructions for Mid Tier

The Copy Release function is available on the Release form only in the Modify mode. Use this function to copy an existing release request into a new release request. With this function, you have options to include different sections of the original release request, for example, CI/Component Relationships, Related Changes, and Work Info with attachments.

The following fields are automatically populated with information from the release request from which you are copying:

  • Summary
  • Notes
  • Location
  • Assignment
  • Service
  • Business Justification
  • Impact
  • Urgency
  • Priority
  • Risk Level
  • Categorization

However, you can edit the information in these fields. You are also presented with different sections of the release request that you can copy.

To copy a release request

  1. From the left navigation pane on the Release form, select Functions > Copy Release.
  2. In the Copy Release dialog box, click the sections to include in the new release request.

  3. Modify the details of the fields as needed for the new release request. For example, modify the Summary, Notes, and Priority fields.

    image-2024-7-11_14-54-52.png

  4. Select the sections that you want to copy.
    Depending on the options that you select, the following information is copied to the new release request.

    Option

    Copied information

    Copy Related Releases

    All related release requests. Related Release Requests with a Dependent relationship type are converted to Related To relationships.

    To keep the dependent relationship, in the Relationships tab, search for the dependent release request, make a new dependent relationship and delete the Related To relationship that were copied.

    Copy CI/Component Relationships

    All CIs or Components from the Relationships tab. 

    Copy Related Changes

    All related change requests. Related Infrastructure Change Requests with a Dependent relationship type are converted to Related To relationships.

    To keep the dependent relationship, on the Relationships tab, search for the dependent change request, create a new dependent relationship and delete the Related To relationship that were copied.

    Copy Work Logs (with Attachments)

    All Work Info, including attachments.

    Manually refresh the Work Info on the copied release request to view the copied information.

    Copy Manifest Changes

    • Copy CI/Component Relationships (Manifest)
    • Copy Work Info (Manifest)

    All related CIs, change requests, and work info including the attachments on the Manifest tab.

    Change requests and activities are copied from the original release request and added to the new release request. For example, if a change request was added to the manifest in the original request, a new change request is created and added to the manifest under the same milestone as the original request. The work info from the change requests in the manifest of the original release request, are copied and added to the new change request that is created and added to the manifest of the new release request.

    Copy Manifest Activity

    All related activities in the Manifest tab.

    Activities are copied and added to the Manifest tab of the new release request.

  5. On the Copy Release dialog box, click Start Copy.
    The copy function can take several minutes to process. After the release is copied, the Release form opens in the New mode with the newly copied release information in Draft status.
  6. Click Save to submit the release request.
    You must save the new copy of the request as a copied release request is not automatically submitted.

 

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