Part 3: How to Exchange Data from IBM Rational DOORS Classic to Siemens Polarion

By Felicitas Kreutzer

The Polarion^TM “Synchronizer-Function”

If you want to use Polarion^TM and DOORS^TM in a co-existing way, you can use the Polarion^TM Synchronizer (Connector) which is part of the Polarion^TM core product.
Polarion^TM offers the possibility to make data migration seamless. You decide at what point in time the work should be carried out exclusively in the target system. Not only completed projects also ongoing projects can be migrated this easily.

With the high customizable Polarion^TM Synchronizer it is possible to transfer data between both systems based on a user defined setting. Data can be transferred in one direction (one system is in the lead, while the other one has the role of the receiver) or bidirectional (in both ways). You can also decide, which data has to be transferred and when (e.g. every Friday at midnight etc.) which allows you to reduce data traffic.

Transfer only the information that you need and merge DOORS^TM <> Polarion^TM projects in an easy way.

An example for a possible setting is shown in “Import functionality (excerpt)” further down.

DOORS^TM Module – Representation

Import functionality (excerpt)

With this setting, as an example, DOORS^TM (Right Field) is mapped on a bidirectional way (with exception of links which are linked in one-way) to Polarion^TM (Left Field). Or a little bit more specific…

The DOORS^TM Attribute “Object Text” is mapped and synced to the Polarion^TM field “Description”.
The DOORS^TM Attachments (e.g. OLE-objects”) are mapped and synced to the Polarion^TM field “Attachments”.
The DOORS^TM Links (Relations) are mapped and synced (one-way) to the Polarion^TM field “Linked Work Items”.

Here, DOORS^TM is in the lead (Primary direction). A change which is made on DOORS^TM side, will be synchronized to Polarion^TM, a change which is made in Polarion^TM, will be synchronized to DOORS^TM. If changes are made and saved in both systems at the same time and within the same object/ attribute, then the data will be synchronized from DOORS^TM to Polarion^TM because (in this example), DOORS^TM is in the lead. Links are changed only when they are changed on DOORS^TM-side.

Result

The original module, which is only displayed as a table inside of IBM Rational DOORS^TM Classic, can be visualized in Polarion^TM in two different ways (textual-based or table based).

Choose the working method which fits best for you and use the text or table-based format for exchanges within a WORD^TM– or Excel^TM Roundtrip document.

The result corresponds to the import functionality (see part 2). But with the synchronizer both systems can be used in parallel. Data is transferred and synced after your needs and configured settings.