Handling Embedded OLE Objects and Visio Diagrams in ReqIF Exports

Overview

This article discusses how embedded OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) objects, such as Visio diagrams, behave in ReqIF exports from DOORS and how they are handled when imported into Jama Connect using Data Exchange (DX).

1. Issue Description

• Users migrating ReqIF files from DOORS containing embedded OLE objects (e.g., Word, Excel, Visio diagrams) notice that:

  • The text data is imported into Jama Connect.

  • The embedded object itself is missing from the Jama Item.

• Possible causes:

  • DX may not recognize OLE objects as standard image formats.

  • DOORS may output only a file reference instead of the actual object.

2. Root Cause Analysis

• DX does not inherently support OLE objects. The way attachments are stored in DOORS affects how they appear in the exported ReqIF file:

  • Copy-pasted images (e.g., Visio diagrams pasted into a DOORS field) may not export unless explicitly inserted via an attachment feature.

  • Embedded OLE objects typically do not export with full fidelity.

• Types of attachment imports in DX:

  1. If the attachment is an image file (e.g., PNG, JPEG), it is imported into an <img> tag and is rendered inline in Jama.

  2. If the attachment is a non-image file (e.g., DOCX, XLSX, Visio diagram), it imports as a hyperlink to the attachment file, allowing users to download the file when clicked.

3. Workarounds & Best Practices

✅ Temporary Workarounds

• Convert Visio diagrams to an image format (PNG, JPG) before embedding them in DOORS. This ensures compatibility with Jama Connect.

• Ensure OLE objects are inserted using DOORS’ Insert Picture feature rather than copy-pasting.

• If an OLE object does not display properly in Jama, check if a preview image is available in the ReqIF file.

🚧 Permanent Fix

• Jama Connect does not support OLE previews natively.

• Users may need to use a conversion script to detect and replace OLE references with rendered images.

4. Additional Considerations

✅ Platform dependency: OLE files are generally only usable on Windows machines with the corresponding application installed (e.g., Visio, Excel).
✅ SVG files are not supported: If the embedded file is an SVG, the attachment may fail to upload and will not be rendered in Jama.
✅ Testing exports: Users should validate exported ReqIF files to confirm whether OLE attachments are properly referenced.

5. Conclusion

• OLE objects do not fully export in ReqIF files and may not be properly displayed in Jama.

• Best practice: Convert embedded OLE objects (e.g., Visio diagrams) to PNG/JPG before importing.

• Future DX improvements may address preview image handling for OLE objects.

• Users should test sample ReqIF exports and confirm attachment behavior before full-scale migration.