Branch Lesson 7 – Redirection during Link Branching

In this lesson, we will use incremental branching to setup a scenario where a link target object is missing, then branch a module that expects the missing object. Afterwards we will review the results of the operation to see that – provided the correct option was chosen – the out-link to the missing object was redirected to the original target object.

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. "2-7 Branch [username]", and press OK.

The new project will appear in the Branch Lessons folder.
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), and a branched Module X.
If we open the branched Module X in exclusive edit mode, we see that there are no in-links to it. Now delete object MOD_3 in the module.
Then save and close the module.
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.
When the branching operation completes, an error dialog appears. It informs us that the links to deleted objects had been skipped. Press the Close button.
Another error dialog informs us "serious issues" happened, and that we should check the results carefully.
Open the branched Module A. We see that object MOD_3 has no out-link. This is one of the skipped links. The other is in the branched Module B.
Now we want to see a redirected link. So delete the Level 2 folder and link module in the branch project you created. You will twice have to click OK through warnings (since links are being deleted).
Then purge the folder and link module in the branch project you created.
Then open the branched Module X in exclusive edit show the deleted objects.
Right-click the deleted object and purge it.

After saving and closing the module, branch the Level 2 folder again (as shown above).

After the branch operation completes, you will notice that no error dialogs appeared.
When we open the newly branched Module A or Module B, you see that the link from object MOD_2 goes to the branched Module X, as expected.
But the link from object MOD_3 goes to the original Module X created during setup.