Is there any other version controller software other than Central Repo for BODI objects?
chiamala (BOB member since 2008-12-26)
IBM’s Rational ClearCase is there…
gssharma 
(BOB member since 2006-10-30)
thanks Sudheer.
Have you used this tool for maintaining BODI objects? If yes, would it be possible for you to share with me the pros and cons as compared to the Central Repo?
Thanks in advance.
chiamala (BOB member since 2008-12-26)
Rational ClearCase (Optional)
ClearCase is an IBM’s SCM solution which includes version control, workspace mgmt
and some other auditing kind of processes.
I talk more about VOB & Workspace mgmt as i’m not aware of remaining things much.
ClearCase supports two different views
Dynamic views: Objects are stored in VOB’s (a repository) on a networked file system in an integration stream (multi-user support)
Snapshot views: Objects are stored on your local system (a copy of VOB on network). These views can be used when you’re out of network. Once, network connection is available then all your local views will be in synch with network dynamic views.
VOB (version object base) it’s a kind of repository which stores different versions of code, Project files (such as DML scripts, Batch scripts, doc’s), directories and these objects/elements can be grouped into a unique activity.
Based on this activity (name/number) we can track out our previous versions of objects/code from an integration stream.
You can check-in check-out the objects (we used to do complete project level code (which includes all objects), not a single object like (Job/WF/DF/DS/Table etc))
ClearCase comes with ClearQuest (Defect tracking tool).
Pros
Best when your organization has huge IT division (and they want to use common version tracking tool for all their projects)
Can maintain versions with labels
Better visibility options to view previous versions of history tree
It’s a lightweight application
Cons
Comparing local objects (which sits on DI repo) and central objects (which sits on VOB repo) in detailed level is a cumbersome task.
Can’t add detailed level objects (such as WF/DF/Tables etc.) in terms of Data Integrator.
It needs extra space on your local system to create snapshot views.
Needs a separate team to monitor/trouble-shoot things
This tool costs about around $4000 and odd bucks.
Central Repository (The best one)
A central repository is an optional repository that can be used to support multiuser environment.
It allows developers to check objects in the repository.
DI supports two kinds of Central repo’s.
One is normal Central repo and the other one is Secure Central repo.
Secure central repo has an extra feature; it provides a secured way to access central repo other than this almost all in common.
Nothing much to differentiate normal central repo and a secure central repo
Pros
Central repo integrates in DI Designer, hece no special installation work required
Easiest way to compare local repo objects with central objects in detailed level.
Can add objects to central repo at any level (Project/Job/WF/DF/DS/Table).
Can do check-in & check-out objects at any level (Project/Job/WF/DF/DS/Table).
Can provide privileges to defined groups and associated users at object level
Can login into central repo as a local repo and execute jobs from there
Central repo doesn’t require local system space
This is a DI repository component, hence it comes at no added cost.
Cons
Central repo requires space in Database
Few common things in DI Central repo and Rational ClearCase VOB’s
- Versioning
- Checking Objects
- Security
these are few snippets that I noticed. If anyone has added/extra information, please share your knowledge.
gssharma (BOB member since 2006-10-30)