# Module To Base Links

> Converts links created inside a module into links between the base artifacts, so traceability travels with the requirement into every module that reuses it.

Source: https://widgets.doorsnext.com/widgets/module-to-base-links/

- Area: Links and traceability
- Works in: IBM DOORS Next module
- Supported products: RM (IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS Next (Requirements Management))
- Changes data
- Keywords: module context links, base artifact links, convert links, traceability, link reuse, module links to base, requirements reuse
- Version: 3.23 (Released 2026-10-06)
- Vendor: SmarterProcess (https://doorsnext.com, info@smarterprocess.pl)

## What it is and why it exists
In DOORS Next a link can be created in the context of a module or between the base artifacts. Links created in a module are visible only there. When requirements are reused in other modules, or when a team decides that traceability belongs to the base artifacts, the existing module links have to be converted: create the same link between the base artifacts, then delete the module link.

Done by hand, this is a long and risky process. Module To Base Links was created to convert links for whole modules in a controlled way, without losing a single link.

## Problems it solves
- Traceability that is visible in one module but missing in other modules that reuse the same requirements.
- An inconsistent link strategy after imports or after several teams worked in different ways.
- Manual conversion: finding the base artifacts of both ends, creating the new link and deleting the old one, for each link.
- The risk of losing links when the conversion is done in the wrong order.

## Benefits
- **Consistent traceability** across every module that reuses a requirement.
- **No lost links:** the base link is created first and the module link is deleted only after that succeeds.
- **Choose what to convert:** only the link types you select.
- **Preview and Excel export** of every module link before and after the conversion.
- **Change report** with the result of every link.

## How to use
1. Tick the **link types** to convert.
2. Open a module and click **Find module links**, or select artifacts in the module. The widget shows the links that will be converted.
3. Click **Convert links (N)** and confirm.
4. Review the result in Execution Status. The download icon at the Module heading saves every link and its result to Excel.

## Good to know
- By default both ends of a link become base artifacts; a setting keeps the target end as it was.
- Links that already exist between the base artifacts are recognized and not duplicated.
- Links to other ELM applications (test cases, work items) are never changed.