Locking and unlocking decision artifacts and folders

When you edit a project element, Decision Center automatically locks it so that others cannot edit it at the same time. You can also manually lock and unlock elements.

When people work concurrently on the same project, it is important to make sure that only one person at a time edits a given project element. When an element is locked, other users can open the element and view it, but they cannot edit it until you have saved your changes. A locked element displays the lock icon.

Tip: Hover your cursor over the lock icon to see who has locked the element.

You can also manually lock most types of project elements. For example, if you want to work on all the rules that are contained in a folder, you can lock the folder manually. When you lock a folder, you also lock all the project elements inside the folder so that only you can edit them. A manually locked element displays the lock icon.

When you lock an element manually, you can specify the following options for subfolders and sessions:

Table 1. Lock options
Element Option
Subfolders When you edit a folder, it locks automatically, along with all the project elements inside the folder. However, other users can still edit any subfolders. To also lock the subfolders, select Apply on subfolders when you lock the folder. With this option, when you unlock the folder, all the subfolders are unlocked as well.
Session By default, any lock (automatic or manual) is released when you end your work session. To retain a lock, select Keep lock after the session closes when locking. With this option, the element remains locked until you unlock it regardless of how you locked the element.

Any user can unlock an element locked by the user. An administrator can release any lock set by a user. You cannot manually unlock a locked activity. If you create a change activity before an existing one is completed and merged, the artifacts in the activities might be subject to change in both activities. To avoid this problem, an artifact that is being edited in a change activity is locked until the activity is completed and merged.

Procedures for locking and unlocking artifacts

Locking artifacts

Follow these steps to lock one or more artifacts in a branch:

  1. In the Business console, open a folder in the branch and select the artifacts. You can select several artifacts to lock them at the same time.
  2. Click the Lock button "" to lock the artifacts.

    A message asks whether you want to lock the artifacts, and shows the option to keep the artifacts locked after the session closes.

  3. Click Yes. The artifacts are locked.

The bulk lock operation is available when only unlocked artifacts are selected.

Tip: You can also lock artifacts individually. The lock button is displayed when you hover over an artifact. You can use the button to lock the artifact.
Unlocking artifacts

Follow these steps to unlock one or more artifacts in a branch.

  1. In the Business console, open a folder in the branch and select the locked artifacts.
  2. Click the Unlock button ""to unlock the artifacts.

    A message asks whether you want to unlock the artifacts.

  3. Click Yes. The artifacts are unlocked.

The bulk unlock operation is available when only locked artifacts are selected.

Tip: You can also unlock artifacts individually. An unlock button is displayed when you hover over an artifact. You can use the button to unlock the artifact.

Procedures for locking and unlocking folders

Locking folders

Follow these steps to lock a folder in a branch:

  1. In the Business console, select the folder in the branch.
  2. Open the drop-down menu for the folder and select Lock.

    A message asks whether you want to lock the folder. It also shows the options to keep the folder locked after the session, and to apply the lock to subfolders.

  3. Click Yes. The folder is locked.

All the artifacts in the folder are now locked. To unlock them, you must unlock the folder.

Unlocking folders

Follow these steps to unlock a folder in a branch.

  1. In the Business console, select the folder in the branch.
  2. Open the drop-down menu for the folder and select Unlock.

    A message asks whether you want to unlock the folder

  3. Click Unlock. The folder is unlocked.

All the artifacts in the folder are now unlocked.