Branch Lesson 6 – Incremental Branching

In this lesson, we will branch several modules incrementally, i.e. not all at once. The top-level module will be branched first, followed by the bottom-level modules that are out-linked to the top-level module. Afterwards we will review the results of the operation to see that the branch target bottom-level modules were properly linked to the branch target top-level module despite the branching operations being done separately.

Before branching, you need a project to branch into. For the purpose of this lesson, create a new project in the Branch Lessons folder as shown: right-click in an empty space of the list view on the right side of the database explorer, choose New > Project... Enter a name for the new project, e.g. "2-6 Branch [username]", and press OK.

The new project will appear in the Branch Lessons folder. Now start the "Branch Modules" script.
Now start the "Branch Modules" script as shown in Lesson 1 and select the new project you just created for the target project. Then press the Select Modules button.
Select the Level 1 folder of this lesson’s project and press the Insert all from Folder button.
Then select the Baselines tab and press the Load Most Recent Baselines button.
With the Level 1 modules’ baselines chosen, press the Use selected Modules button.
Now press the Start Branch Copy button and the process will begin.
After the branch operation completes, we see that the target project has a Level 1 folder (and no link module).
In the Level 1 folder we see the branched Module X.
If we open the branched Module X, we see that there are no in-links to it.
Now start the "Branch Modules" script again and select the new project you just created for the target project. Then press the Select Modules button.
Select the Level 2 folder of this lesson’s project and press the Insert all from Folder button.
Then select the Baselines tab and press the Load Most Recent Baselines button.
With the Level 2 modules’ baselines chosen, press the Use selected Modules button.
Now press the Start Branch Copy button and the process will begin.
After the branch operation completes, we see that the target project has a new Level 2 folder, plus a new link module.
In the Level 2 folder we see the branched Module A and Module B.
If we open the branched Module A, we see that it has out-links to the previously branched Module X.
When we follow the link and open the branched Module X, we see that the branched Module X has in-links from the newly branched Module A and Module B.