User`s guide

9 Custom Types of Requirements Documents
9-2
Why Create a Custom Link Type?
In addition to linking to built-in types of requirements documents, you can register
custom requirements document types with the Requirements Management Interface
(RMI). Then you can create requirement links from your model to these types of
documents.
With custom link types, you can:
• Link to requirement items in commercial requirement tracking software
• Link to in-house database systems
• Link to document types that the RMI does not support
The custom link type API allows you to define MATLAB functions that enable linking
between your Simulink model and your custom requirements document type. These
functions also enable new link creation and navigation between the model and
documents.
For example, navigation involves opening a requirements document and finding the
specific requirement record. When you click your custom link in the content menu of a
linked object in the model, Simulink uses your custom link type navigation function to
open the document and highlight the target requirement based on the implementation
provided. The navigation function you implement uses the available API to communicate
with your requirements storage application.
Typically, MATLAB runs an operating system shell command or uses ActiveX
communication for sending navigation requests to external applications.
Alternatively, if your requirements are stored as custom variants of text or HTML files,
you can use the built-in editor or Web browser to open the requirements document.