Handling Soft-Deleted Items from DOORS in Jama via Data Exchange (DX)

Overview

This guide outlines the best practices for importing soft-deleted (not purged) items from DOORS into Jama Connect using Data Exchange (DX). It explains how DX handles deleted items, how to configure imports properly, and what to expect when working with soft deletions.

1. Understanding Soft Deletions in DOORS

✔ Soft-Deleted Items:

• In DOORS, objects marked as "Deleted" are not immediately purged.

• These objects remain in the database and can be restored.

• Deleted items are filtered out by default views, but they still exist in the ReqIF export.

✔ Purge (Hard Delete):

• When a deleted item is purged, it is permanently removed from DOORS.

• Purged items will not appear in the ReqIF export.

2. How DX Handles Soft-Deleted Items

✔ DX does not delete items in Jama.
✔ DX can import soft-deleted items from DOORS, but they need to be mapped properly.
✔ Soft-deleted items in ReqIF have a boolean attribute like ReqIF.IsDeleted or ReqIF.ForeignDeleted.
✔ DX can capture this attribute and map it to a text field in Jama Connect (e.g., "Deleted Status").

🚨 Important:

• If the "Skip Importing Deleted Items" setting is enabled, DX will ignore deleted items only if they have not been imported before.

• If an item already exists in Jama and is later deleted in DOORS, DX does not update its status in Jama—manual intervention is required.

3. Steps to Import Soft-Deleted Items into Jama

Step 1: Configure DOORS Export Settings

✅ Ensure that deleted items are included in the ReqIF export from DOORS.
✅ Verify that the "ReqIF.ForeignDeleted" or equivalent field is present in the exported ReqIF file.

Step 2: Configure DX Import Settings

✅ Disable "Skip Importing Deleted Items" in DX settings to ensure deleted objects are imported.
✅ Map the ReqIF deletion attribute (ReqIF.IsDeleted or ReqIF.ForeignDeleted) to a text field in Jama to track deletions.
✅ Verify that items are imported into Jama Connect, even if they are marked as deleted in DOORS.

Step 3: Post-Import Handling in Jama

✅ Filter out deleted items in Jama using the mapped "Deleted Status" field.
✅ If required, manually delete items in Jama to align with DOORS.

4. Best Practices for Managing Soft-Deleted Items in DX

✅ Use a Boolean Field in Jama to store the "deleted" status for better tracking.
✅ Verify Configuration in DOORS to ensure deleted items are not unintentionally excluded from exports.
✅ Communicate with Stakeholders before deleting items in DOORS if traceability is required.
✅ Use Filtering in Jama Views to hide soft-deleted items rather than removing them manually.

5. Conclusion

✔ Soft-deleted items in DOORS can be imported into Jama if properly configured in DX.
✔ DX does not delete items in Jama, even if they are deleted in DOORS.
✔ Using a "Deleted Status" field in Jama ensures visibility of deleted items without affecting active records.
✔ For full alignment, deleted items may need manual cleanup in Jama post-import.