Tool Mentor: Setting Up the Implementation Model Using Rational ClearCase

Tool Mentors > Rational ClearCase Tool Mentors > Setting Up the Implementation Model Using Rational ClearCase

Purpose

This tool mentor describes how to create a framework in the development environment for organizing and storing configuration item artifacts related to the implementation and delivery of the software product. The physical representation of subsystems in the development environment defines the "product directory structure" and is, in effect, the software Implementation Model. This tool mentor explains how to set up the Implementation Model directory.

Related Rational Unified Process™ (RUP) information:

Overview

Before beginning to use Rational ClearCase, it's important to know whether you'll use ClearCase UCM, an out-of-the-box usage model, or base ClearCase, which provides a set of tools that can be used to construct other usage models.

This tool mentor is applicable to both ClearCase UCM and base ClearCase tasks, whereas all of the other ClearCase tool mentors presented in the RUP® use the UCM model.

This tool mentor is applicable when running Windows.

Terminology

There are some differences between RUP terminology and that used by ClearCase. The following definitions of tool-specific terminology should help clarify the differences.

Activity: A ClearCase activity maps closely to a RUP Work Order. It is not to be confused with the RUP concept of an Activity.
Configuration Management: ClearCase's use of the term Configuration Management refers to Version Control and Build Management. RUP uses the IEEE and ISO definitions of Configuration Management (CM), which also includes Change Management as part of CM.
Configuration and Change Management: Both ClearCase and Rational ClearQuest refer to Configuration and Change Management, which is synonymous with the RUP definition of Configuration Management. RUP uses these terms synonymously.
Project: A ClearCase project maps to the RUP Project Repository.

Tool Steps

To set up the implementation model with Rational ClearCase:

Create the Configuration Management (CM) repositories (ClearCase VOBs) that represent the subsystems defined by your architecture
Import existing files and directories into the repositories to create an initial set of development configuration items (ClearCase elements)
(Optional) Create an administrative VOB to contain definitions of global type objects used in defining baselines in your subsystems

1. Create the Configuration Management (CM) repositories (ClearCase VOBs) that represent the subsystems defined by your architecture

Versioned Object Bases (VOBs) store versions of files, directories, and other objects. They serve as repositories for configuration management information.

To start the VOB Creation Wizard:

On the Windows task bar, click Start > Programs > Rational ClearCase Administration > Create VOB.
The VOB Creation Wizard prompts you for information. At a minimum, you need to know:

The name of the VOB (the VOB tag)

Where to place the VOB storage

The wizard has online help available to explain any unfamiliar terms and to help you make choices.

Use the VOB Creation Wizard to create a ClearCase versioned object base (VOB) for storing files and directories as ClearCase elements. If you are using the Unified Change Management (UCM) process, you can create the VOB as a component or a Project VOB (PVOB).

In the remaining steps in the Wizard, do the following:

Name the VOB and indicate whether it should be a UCM component or PVOB.

Specify a VOB storage location.

Choose Options.

For details about creating VOBs, see the online help for the ClearCase VOB Creation Wizard.

For an overview of setting up VOBs, see the chapter "Setting Up ClearCase VOBs" in the manual Administering ClearCase.

2. Import existing files and directories into the repositories to create an initial set of development configuration items (Rational ClearCase elements)

Working within a ClearCase view created for your project, create the desired directories within your VOBs and copy existing files into them.

From ClearCase Explorer, select the directories and files you wish to import.
Use the Add to Source Control ClearCase command (invoked by right-clicking) to create the corresponding ClearCase elements.

If you are importing large volumes of files, see the clearimport command in the ClearCase Reference Manual.

3. (Optional) Create an administrative VOB to contain definitions of global type objects used in defining baselines in your subsystems

Optionally, you may want to create an Administrative VOB to contain definitions of global type objects.

To create an administrative VOB, start the VOB Creation Wizard previously described in procedure 1 and follow the prompts.

For more information about working with administrative VOBs, see "Using Administrative VOBs and Global Types" in the manual titled Administering ClearCase.

Rational Unified Process