Properly handling default values and locks in the IDE

Currently users use the lock functionality to set a default value for an attribute but this locks the value at instance level and at every template level in between the configured template and the instances. It means that users need to go back and unlock every one of these template levels separately - each time waiting for the full check-in of all derived templates and instances - this has a severe negative impact on productivity.

The proposal is to add a new lock type (an open lock with a down arrow - known as default)

• Open lock behaviour remains the same:

  • No value propagated to derived templates/objects on check-in.

  • The value can be changed in runtime.

• Closed lock behaviour remains the same:

  • The value is propagated to derived templates/objects on check-in.

  • The value cannot be changed in runtime.

• Default (Open lock with arrow)

  • This introduces a new behaviour

    • The value is propagated to derived templates/objects on check-in.

    • The value can be changed in runtime.

  • This behaviour is a one-time behaviour:

    • The Default (unlocked with arrow) becomes a standard unlocked value after the check-in is completed

    • Derived templates and instances become standard unlocked values

The folowing behaviou is introduced:

• Any open lock can be changed to Default (unlocked with arrow)

  • This propagates the value on check-in.

  • But the value can be changed in runtime.

• A top level lock can be changed to Default (unlocked with arrow)

  • This propagates the value on check-in.

  • It also propagates the lock state to unlocked for all derived tempaltes and instances

  • But the value can be changed in runtime.

• An inherrited lock cannot be changed

Note that the default setting only propagates once, when it is checked in. All the derived templates and instances have there values changed, and their locks set to standard unlocked. The Default setting is not stored with any templates. The next time a template with Defaults are opened the lock is a standard unlocked value.