Increase ClearCase web-user capabilities and effiency...
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The Native ClearCase Web interface provides no per/user security in that all VOBs that are within the default region of the ClearCase Web Server are accessible for all users. In order to provide different VOB access for different users, multiple ClearCase Web Servers must be purchased.
ClearWeb allows for a user/VOB visibility matrix to be created so that the ClearWeb Administrator can limit the VOBs that their users have access to from the web
(this also extends to directories within the VOBs). VOB or directories are hidden from users that don't have permission to view them. So with ClearWeb, a single
ClearCase Web Server can securely serve many user/user groups with different VOB/directory access rights so there are less web servers to buy.
ClearWeb also allows for the creation of a user/time accessibility matrix so that you can also configure when a user is allowed to access the web interface. Now you can limit user access to the times when the support organization is available to support them or prohibit them from accessing during scheduled backups or server maintenance times. Set Allowed Access times for a user or any group of users.
ClearCase itself does not support interactive triggers for ClearCase web-users.
ClearCase defines interactive triggers as any that provide GUI notification (i.e.
use clearprompt) or write to stdout or stderr. Given that definition, many user
written triggers and many ClearTrigger features are interactive. ClearWeb seamlessly integrates
with the ClearCase Web interface
so that ClearCase web users see writes to stdout or
stderr and have access to interactive dialogs just like ClearCase non-web users do.
Furthermore, the web user has the same "wait-for-reply" abilities that local users have for dialogs.
The Native ClearCase Web interface only supports a limited set of cleartool commands (checkout, checkin,
uncheckout, update) ClearWeb extends this by allowing for over 120 more cleartool commands and
an unlimited number of non-ClearCase commands. ClearWeb also adds functionality and flexibility
to the native ClearCase Web
interface while improving communication between
geographically disjoint developers.
Use ClearWeb to help your organization and save money by:
reducing ClearCase Multisite license costs...
making better use of the ClearCase licenses already purchased...
allow distributed users to use your local Defect Tracking Database through your local defect tracking integration...
reducing cost through better developer communication...
Web-Enabled ClearCase Vtree Browsers (New in 7.0)
ClearWeb facilitates the creation and use of Web-enabled Vtree Browsers that are similar form and function to the
ClearCase Vtree Browser available locally in the native ClearCase client. To open the Vtree Browser Application on the
ClearWeb enhanced ClearCase Web interface users may select the Vtree Application Tab displayed on ClearCase Web
Browse pages that are associated with directory locations within VOBs.
The user may display many Vtree dialogs as they are independent of each other. Users will also find that the speed of display for ClearWeb Vtree
rivals that of the local ClearCase Native Vtrees. So user will notice that the display does not suffer from the display performance setbacks or display number
limitations of the Vtree Display in the CCRC (ClearCase Remote Client) all of this why more actual ClearCase metadata is displayed.
You can even directly apply/move and remove labels to and from ClearCase element version. All of this without haveing to install any software on the end user client.
Select the Vtree Console image below to see an actual "live" Vtree Console you can play with to see what it feels like to have this functionality in the ClearCase Web interface...
Code Search Capability (New in 7.0)
ClearWeb facilitates the reuse of already developed and tested code from trusted sources to save the
ClearWeb developer time and effort. ClearWeb is integrated with an Open Source Code Search Utility so your users
can take advantage of the source code search technology.
To open the Code Search Application on the
ClearWeb enhanced ClearCase Web interface users may select the Code Search Application Tab displayed on ClearCase Web
Browse pages.
Users can search for Open Source Code that already satisfies theri program requirements by search term/phrae, project, language or license type. All to help:
Lower software development time
Improve Software quality
Increase developer productivity
Incread best practice use
All of this without haveing to install any software on the end user client.
Select the Code Search Applicaion image below to see and perform serached with the , play with to see what it feels like to have this functionality in the ClearCase Web interface...
Simultaneous support of ClearCase Web Clients and ClearCase Remote Clients
In previous releases you could not get interactive triggers to work for both ClearCase Web Clients and ClearCase Remote Clients simultaneously (as they interfered with each other). ClearCase itself does not distinguish between the two. ClearWeb 6.1 now fully supports both ClearCase Web Clients and ClearCase Remote Clients, even both at the same time from a single server instance.
User/Vob/Directory Visibility Matrix
ClearWeb also allows for the creation of a User/Vob/Directory Visibility Matrix so that
the ClearWeb Administrator can prevent web users from viewing or navigating to select VOBs or Directories.
Only the VOBs or directories allowed by the administrator is accessible to the web user. The allowed VOBs are listed
in the Allowed VOBs List and any VOB directories are placed in the Allowed Directory Shortcut List.
Users can select from these list to navigate directly to a VOB or directory.
If the web user attempts to navigate a non-existent or prohibited location they are shown a dialog similar to the one below:
The Allowed VOB List displays any VOB that you are fully allowed to navigate into if any. The list is not displayed if there is not at least one VOB to list. Selecting a VOB from the list will navigate you directly to the top of that VOB.
The Allowed Directory Shortcut List displays any directory within a VOB that you are allowed to navigate into if any. The list is not displayed if there is not at least one directory to list. Selecting a VOB from the list will navigate you directly to that directory in that VOB.
User Time/Accessibility Matrix
ClearWeb also allows for the creation of a user/time accessibility matrix so that you can also configure when a user is allowed to access the web interface. Now you can limit user access to the times when the support organization is available to support them or prohibit them from accessing during scheduled backups or server maintenance times. Set Allowed Access times for a user or any group of users.
If the web user attempts to navigate at a time prohibited by the ClearWeb Administrator for that user then they are shown a dialog similar to the one to the right.
The user can display the times that the administrator has allowed them to navigate by selecting the
icon on the ClearWeb Toolbars to see the Allowed Times Dialog depicted below:
Supplemental Command Support
Now you can make new label types and apply those labels along with hundreds of other options. Over 90% of the
cleartool subcommands are supported. Now the Web interface is almost like working at the office.
All of the cleartool sub commands in this
list
are supported.
Non-ClearCase commands are supported as well. System commands or home-grown scripts
like those in this list
can also be executed from the ClearCase Web interface.
The administrator can even designate who can perform what commands or cleartool sub-commands; the adminstrator can designate which
commands allow arguments or limit the arguments. Stdout and stderr are
automatically redirected to the web interface and you can place interactive dialogs in your scripts.
Administrator Alerts
The administrator can leave highly visible ClearCase relevant messages for their web users on the other side of the world, even
if they don't know their names or email addresses. All web users can read them when they use ClearCase Web.
The messages can have embedded html so they can invoke email or redirect to other pages. The administrator can define:
Virtual Business Cards
MOTD (Message-of-the-Day)
WOTD (Warning-of-the-Day)
That are visible in the tool-bar at the bottom of the ClearCase Web interface like below:
Peer-to-Peer ClearWeb Mail
ClearWeb facilitates communication between geographically disjoint
development groups by providing a common communications platform between these groups
(the ClearCase Web Interface). ClearWeb users can communicate with their ClearWeb
peers (within the company) to ask or answer questions (ClearWeb related or not) right
from the ClearCase Web interface. The user received the answer where they will most
likely need it most (when they are using ClearCase Web).
ClearCase/ClearQuest Integration over the Web
In the past you had to turn off the ClearCase/ClearQuest integration for ClearCase web users or look
for an expensive (in money or time) solution. Now your ClearCase Web users have access to the same
ClearCase/ClearQuest integration as your local ClearCase users. No more back doors to policy through the web, no more having to have two policy models.
Users now see the same dialogs and access the same local ClearQuest DB so you don't have to keep/synchronize multiple defect databases.
Interactive Dialog Support
Dialogs that were only available for local native ClearCase users are now also available
for ClearCase web users. The button selected or the user data selected/input is also
available to the trigger just as with local ClearCase access. Several examples are shown with the
dialog displayed to the local user on the left while the web-user dialogs is displayed on the right.
Local Question Dialog...
Web Question Dialog...
Local Prompt Dialog...
Web Prompt Dialog...
Local Single-Selection Dialog...
Web Single-Selection Dialog...
Local Multi-Selection Dialog...
Web Multi-Selection Dialog...
Additionally, modeless dialogs are also implemented and do not stop and wait for processing. Where a
local user would see...
... a web-user would see...
STDOUT/STDERR Support
Finally, stdout and stderr writes are also redirected to the web-client and are displayed on the ClearCase web interface like below:
End-User Custom Buttons
You can place icons on the ClearWeb desktop that open other web pages or applications
for your web developers. ClearWeb provides a pool of icon images that can be used,
but you may create and use your own. The ClearWeb administrator can add up to
2 custom buttons to the ClearWeb Menu bars and can have those icons link to or open
any web location or web-enabled application.
The ClearWeb Network
Users can connect to the ClearWeb Network at any time by selecting the
tab within the ClearWeb interface. This links you to the ClearWeb network
where users can join forums, exchange information, receive support on ClearWeb
or other ABS products, sign up for product patch/upgrade notification, share your
ideas, take advantage of the ideas of others or request a company-specific forum
that can only be accessed by your company personnel. Consider the network your
first resource for ClearWeb support. Registration is easy and free.
Virtual Help Application
Users can receive help from "Virtual Amy" at any time by selecting the
icon within ClearWeb Toolbars.
Users can get help on ClearWeb by navigating active links or images or even type a question and then select the "Ask Amy" button to ask
questions that Amy will try to answer.
Amy will take the user to the best help page for the answer, speak on the answer or both. If Amy cannot
answer the question, she will give the user the option to send it to ABS support, where they will answer it
and also teach Sara how to answer that question in the future. Amy is updated with new ClearWeb questions/answers daily as needed.
User Configurable Dialog Defaults
Users can set the default size of certain dialog types to their own preference from this dialog or directly from most dialogs that display at runtime....
ClearWeb Administration Console
The ClearWeb Administrator use the ClearWeb Administration Console GUI to make changes to the ClearWeb Configuration File... This not only makes local administration easier, but also allows for "remote" administration.
You can select a toolbar Icon below to see a screen shapshot of that feature in the ClearWeb Administration Console...
If the web user attempts to navigate at a time prohibited by the ClearWeb Administrator for that user then they are shown a dialog similar to the one to the right.
icon on the ClearWeb Toolbars to see the Allowed Times Dialog depicted below:
tab within the ClearWeb interface. This links you to the ClearWeb network
where users can join forums, exchange information, receive support on ClearWeb
or other ABS products, sign up for product patch/upgrade notification, share your
ideas, take advantage of the ideas of others or request a company-specific forum
that can only be accessed by your company personnel. Consider the network your
first resource for ClearWeb support. Registration is easy and free. 
icon within ClearWeb Toolbars. 
