Promoting and Demoting an Object

If the Auto Promote feature is enabled in the object's policy, the system promotes the object automatically when all requirements are met. Otherwise, people with promote access can manually promote the object from its current state to the next. If the policy has signature requirements, they must be met before promoting.

People with demote access can demote an object from its current state to the previous state. For example, a major redesign in a product might cause it to be demoted from its current state back to its previous state.

To promote or demote an object

1. From the category list for the object you want to promote or demote, click Lifecycle.

The Lifecycles page opens and shows the object's lifecycle. The current state is indicated with a dark blue box.

2. To promote the object to the next state in its lifecycle:
1. If the promotion arrow pointing to the next state has a , make sure all signature requirements are met. See Applying a Signature.

If the promotion arrow pointing to the next state has a , there is a route that must be completed before you can promote the object.

If the lifecycle branches to more than one state, the promotion will be to the state whose signature requirements are satisfied.

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Some applications may handle branched lifecycles differently and not allow promotions to be made using the Lifecycle page. For example, to cancel an ECO in Engineering Central, you click Cancel ECO on the ECO Properties page. For instructions on promoting or demoting to a branched state for a particular type of object, see the online help or user guide for the application you are using.

2. When all signature requirements are met and all blocking routes are complete, click Promote from the page Actions menu or toolbar.

If the promotion is successful, the next state's box turns to a darker blue, indicating that the object has been promoted to that state.

If a promotion requires a signature and the signature has not been given, an error message displays, listing the unfulfilled signature requirements.

The promotion may also fail for other reasons. For example, a promotion could fail if items have not been connected, if connected items have not been promoted to the expected state, or if the object is in a route that has not yet been completed. If the promotion fails, the system displays a message explaining the reason.

3. To demote the object to the previous state in its lifecycle, click Demote from the page Actions menu or toolbar.

The previous state's box turns to a darker blue, indicating the object has been demoted to that state.