Configuration¶
All configurations take place in your project’s conf.py
file.
Activation¶
Add sphinxcontrib.needs to your extensions:
extensions = ["sphinxcontrib.needs",]
Incremental build support¶
Sphinx does not use its incremental build feature, if functions are assigned directly to Sphinx options. To avoid this, please use the Sphinx-Needs API to register functions directly.
This would allow Sphinx to perform incremental builds, which are much faster as full builds.
Example configuration
# conf.py
# Defining one or more functions in conf.py is fine
def my_custom_warning(need, log):
# some checks
return False
def my_dynamic_function(app, need, needs):
return "some text"
# This assignment will deactivate incremental build support inside Sphinx
needs_warnings = {
'my_warning_no_inc_build': my_custom_warning
}
# Better, register the function via Sphinx-Needs API
from sphinxcontrib.needs.api.configuration import add_warning, add_dynamic_function
def setup(app):
add_warning(app, 'my_warning', my_custom_warning)
add_dynamic_function(app, my_dynamic_function)
Hint
You are free to use e.g. needs_warnings
and add_warning()
together in a conf.py
file.
Sphinx-Needs creates internally a final list of elements defined by config-var and api-call.
However, you should not use the same id
in a config-var and the related api-call, as this would create
the related element twice.
Options¶
All options starts with the prefix needs_ for this extension.
needs_include_needs¶
Set this option on False, if no needs should be documented inside the generated documentation.
Default: True:
needs_include_needs = False
needs_id_length¶
This option defines the length of an automated generated ID (the length of the prefix does not count).
Default: 5:
needs_id_length = 3
needs_types¶
The option allows the setup of own need types like bugs, user_stories and more.
By default it is set to:
needs_types = [dict(directive="req", title="Requirement", prefix="R_", color="#BFD8D2", style="node"),
dict(directive="spec", title="Specification", prefix="S_", color="#FEDCD2", style="node"),
dict(directive="impl", title="Implementation", prefix="I_", color="#DF744A", style="node"),
dict(directive="test", title="Test Case", prefix="T_", color="#DCB239", style="node"),
# Kept for backwards compatibility
dict(directive="need", title="Need", prefix="N_", color="#9856a5", style="node")
]
needs_types must be a list of dictionaries, where each dictionary must contain the following items:
directive: Name of the directive. For instance “req”, which can be used via .. req:: in documents
title: Title, which is used as human readable name in lists
prefix: A prefix for generated IDs, to easily identify that an ID belongs to a specific type. Can also be “”
color: A color as hex value. Used in diagrams and some days maybe in other representations as well.
style: A plantuml node type, like node, artifact, frame, storage or database. See plantuml documentation for more.
color can also be an empty string. This makes sense, if the PlantUMl configuration is mostly provided by using needs_flow_configs and the used colors shall not get overwritten by type specific values.
Warning
If a need type shall contain need_part / np and later be printed via needflow,
the chosen PlantUML
node type must support nested elements for
this type.
Types who support nested elements are for instance: node
, package
, frame
.
Not supporting elements are for instance usecase
, actor
.
Please take a look into the PlantUML Manual for more details.
needs_extra_options¶
New in version 0.2.2.
The option allows the addition of extra options that can be specified on needs.
It can be specified as a list inside conf.py
as follows:
needs_extra_options = ['introduced', 'updated', 'impacts']
And use it like:
.. req:: My Requirement
:status: open
:introduced: Yes
:updated: 2018/03/26
:tags: important;complex;
:impacts: really everything
Default value = {'hidden': directives.unchanged}
The hidden
option is a globally available option, which is always hidden and
can be used to easily execute Dynamic functions.
Extra options automatically appear in needs, if a value is set. By using needs_hide_options the output of such options can be hidden.
Note
To filter on these options in needlist, needtable, etc. you must use the Filtering needs option.
Show example
conf.py
1from docutils.parsers.rst import directives
2
3needs_extra_options = {
4 "my_extra_option": directives.unchanged,
5 "another_option": directives.unchanged,
6 }
index.rst
.. req:: My requirement with custom options
:id: xyz_123
:status: open
:my_extra_option: A new option
:another_option: filter_me
Some content
.. needfilter::
:filter: "filter_me" in another_option
Result
Some content |
Before version 0.7.2 needs_extra_options
needs to be a dict and using directives.unchanged
as value.
But this has broken the Sphinx incremental build feature. Please read Incremental build support for details.
Configuration before 0.7.2 (do not use for newer versions!):
from docutils.parsers.rst import directives
needs_extra_options = {
"introduced": directives.unchanged,
"updated": directives.unchanged,
"impacts": directives.unchanged
}
needs_global_options¶
New in version 0.3.0.
Global options are set on global level for all needs, so that all needs get the same value for the configured option.
needs_global_options = {
'global_option': 'Fix value'
}
Default value = {}
Combined with Dynamic functions this can be a powerful method to automate data handling:
needs_global_options = {
'global_option': '[[copy("id")]]'
}
Filter based global options¶
New in version 0.4.3.
The value of a global_option can be also set only, if a given Filter string is passed. If it is not passed, the option is not set or a given default value is set.
To use filters for global_options, the given value must be a tuple, containing the following elements:
value to set (required)
filter string, which must be passed (required)
default value, if filter string is not passed (optional)
needs_global_options = {
# Without default value
'status': ('closed', 'status.lower() in ["done", "resolved", "closed"]')
# Set Marco as author if security tag is used. In all other cases set Daniel as author.
'author': ('Marco', '"security" in tags', 'Daniel)
# Dynamic functions are allowed as well
'req_id': ('[[copy("id")]]', 'id.startswith("REQ_")')
}
There are use cases, for which an option needs to get different values based on different filter. In this cases you can provide a list of tuples:
needs_global_options = {
# Without default value
'status': [
('fulfilled', 'status.lower() in ["done", "resolved", "closed"]', 'type=="req"'),
('done', 'status.lower() in ["done", "resolved", "closed"]', 'type=="task"'),
('implemented', 'status.lower() in ["done", "resolved", "closed"]', 'type=="spec"')
]
}
Warning
The filter string gets executed against the current need only and has no access to other needs. That’s because the global_options get set during initialisation of the document and during this phase not every document has been already read by Sphinx.
So avoid any references to other needs in the filter string.
If you need access to other needs for complex filtering, you maybe should provide your own Dynamic functions and perform the filtering there.
needs_extra_links¶
New in version 0.3.11.
Allows the definition of additional link types.
Each configured link should define:
option: The name of the option. Example “blocks”.
incoming: Incoming text, which shall be used for incoming links. E.g. “is blocked by”.
outgoing: Outgoing text, which shall be used for outgoing links. E.g. “blocks”.
copy (optional): True/False. If True, the links will be copied also to the common link-list (link type
links
). Default: Trueallow_dead_links (optional): True/False. If True, dead links are allowed and do not throw a warning. See allow_dead_links for details. Default: False.
style (optional): A plantuml style description, e.g. “#FFCC00”. Used for needflow. See style / style_part.
style_part (optional): Same as style, but get used if link is connected to a need_part / np. See style / style_part.
Configuration example:
needs_extra_links = [
{
"option": "checks",
"incoming": "is checked by",
"outgoing": "checks"
},
{
"option": "triggers",
"incoming": "is triggered by",
"outgoing": "triggers",
"copy": False,
"allow_dead_links": True,
"style": "#00AA00"
"style_part": "#00AA00"
"style_start": "-",
"style_end": "--o",
}
]
The above example configuration allows the following usage:
.. req:: My requirement
:id: EXTRA_REQ_001
.. test:: Test of requirements
:id: EXTRA_TEST_001
:checks: EXTRA_REQ_001, DEAD_LINK_NOT_ALLOWED
:triggers: DEAD_LINK
Result
Attention: The used option name can not be reused in the configuration of needs_global_options.
Link types with option-name links and parent_needs are added by default. You are free to overwrite the default config by defining your own type with option name links or parent_needs. This type will be used as default configuration for all links.
allow_dead_links¶
New in version 0.6.3.
By setting allow_dead_links
to True
, referenced, but not found needs do not throw a warning.
Instead the same text gets printed as log message on level INFO
.
Filtering¶
Need objects have the two attributes has_dead_links
and has_forbidden_dead_links
.
has_dead_links
gets set to True
, if any dead link was found in the need.
And has_forbidden_dead_links
is set to True
only, if dead links were not allowed
(so allow_dead_links
was set to False
for at least one link type with dead links).
HTML style¶
Also dead links get specific css attributes on the HTML output:
needs_dead_link
for all found dead links and an additional forbidden
for link_types
with allow_dead_links
not set or set to False
.
By default not allowed dead links will be shown in red , allowed ones in gray (see above example).
style / style_part¶
The style string can contain following, comma separated information:
color: #ffcc00 or red
line style: dotted, dashed, bold
Valid configuration examples are:
#ffcc00
dashed
dotted,#red
An empty string uses the default plantuml settings.
style_start / style_end¶
These two options can define the arrow type, line type and line length.
See Plantuml documentation page for details about supported formats.
Here are some examples:
description |
style_start |
style_end |
---|---|---|
default |
|
|
reverse |
|
|
Both sides, dotted line |
|
|
Deeper level / longer line |
|
|
Use style_start
and style_end
like this:
needs_extra_links = [
{
"option": "tests",
"incoming": "is tested by",
"outgoing": "tests",
"copy": False,
"style_start": "<-",
"style_end": "-->",
}
]
needs_filter_data¶
This option allows to use custom data inside a Filter string.
Configuration example:
def custom_defined_func():
return "my_tag"
needs_filter_data = {
"current_variant": "project_x",
"sphinx_tag": custom_defined_func(),
}
The defined needs_filter_data
must be a dictionary. Its values can be a string variable or a custom defined
function. The function get execued during config loading and must return a string.
The value of needs_filter_data
will be available as data inside Filter string and can be very poweful together with
internal needs info to filter needs.
The defined extra filter data can be used like this:
.. needextend:: type == "req" and sphinx_tag in tags
:+tags: my_external_tag
or if project has needs_extra_options defined like:
needs_extra_options = {
"variant": directives.unchanged,
}
the defined extra filter data can also be used like:
.. needlist::
:filter: variant != current_variant
.. needextract::
:filter: type == "story" and variant == current_variant
:layout: clean
:style: green_border
needs_flow_show_links¶
New in version 0.3.11.
Used to de/activate the output of link type names beside the connection in the needflow directive:
needs_flow_show_links = True
Default value: False
Can be configured also for each needflow directive via show_link_names.
needs_flow_link_types¶
New in version 0.3.11.
Defines the link_types to show in a needflow diagram:
needs_flow_link_types = ['links', 'blocks', 'tests']
This can be also defined on each specific needflow by using the needflow option link_types. So also link_types for more details.
Default value: ['links']
needs_flow_configs¶
New in version 0.5.2.
needs_flow_configs
must be a dictionary, which can store multiple PlantUML configurations.
These configs can then be selected when using needflow.
needs_flow_configs = {
'my_config': """
skinparam monochrome true
skinparam componentStyle uml2
""",
'another_config': """
skinparam class {
BackgroundColor PaleGreen
ArrowColor SeaGreen
BorderColor SpringGreen
}
"""
}
This configurations can then be used like this:
.. needflow::
:tags: flow_example
:types: spec
:config: my_config
See also needflow config option for more details and already available configurations.
needs_diagram_template¶
This option allows to control the content of diagram elements, which get automatically generated by using .. needflow:: / needflow.
This function is based on plantuml, so that each supported style can be used.
The rendered template is used inside the following plantuml syntax and must care about leaving the final string valid:
'node "YOUR_TEMPLATE" as need_id [[need_link]]'
By default the following template is used:
{%- if is_need -%}
<size:12>{{type_name}}</size>\\n**{{title|wordwrap(15, wrapstring='**\\\\n**')}}**\\n<size:10>{{id}}</size>
{%- else -%}
<size:12>{{type_name}} (part)</size>\\n**{{content|wordwrap(15, wrapstring='**\\\\n**')}}**\\n<size:10>{{id_parent}}.**{{id}}**</size>
{%- endif -%}
needs_id_required¶
New in version 0.1.19.
Forces the user to set an ID for each need, which gets defined.
So no ID is autogenerated anymore, if this option is set to True:
needs_id_required = True
By default this option is set to False.
If an ID is missing sphinx throws the exception “NeedsNoIdException” and stops the build.
Example:
# With needs_id_required = True
.. req:: Working Requirement
:id: R_001
.. req:: *Not* working, because :id: is not set.
# With needs_id_required = False
.. req:: This works now!
needs_title_optional¶
New in version 0.2.3.
Normally a title is required to follow the need directive as follows:
.. req:: This is the required title
:id: R_9999
By default this option is set to False.
When this option is set to True, a title does not need to be provided, but either some content or an :id: element will be required. If a title is not provided and no ID is provided, then an ID will be generated based on the content of the requirement.
It is important to note in these scenarios that titles will not be available in other directives such as needtable, needlist, needflow.
A title can be auto-generated for a requirement by either setting needs_title_from_content to True or providing the flag :title_from_content: as follows:
.. req::
:title_from_content:
This will be my title. Anything after the first sentence will not be
part of the title.
The resulting requirement would have the title derived from the first sentence of the requirement.
This will be my title. Anything after the first sentence will not be part of the title. |
needs_title_from_content¶
New in version 0.2.3.
This setting defaults to False. When set to True and a need does not provide a title, then a title will be generated using the first sentence of the requirement. The length of the title will adhere to the needs_max_title_length setting (which is not limited by default).
When using this setting be sure to exercise caution that special formatting that you would not want in the title (bulleted lists, nested directives, etc.) do not appear in the first sentence.
If a title is specified for an individual requirement, then that title will be used over the generated title.
Example:
.. req::
The tool must have error logging. All critical errors must be
written to the console.
This will be rendered the first sentence as the title
Requirement: R_34265
|
The tool must have error logging. All critical errors must be written to the console. |
needs_max_title_length¶
This option is used in conjunction with auto-generated titles as controlled by needs_title_from_content and title_from_content. By default there is no limit to the length of a title.
If a maximum length is provided and the generated title would exceed that limit, then an elided version of the title will be used.
When generating a requirement ID from the title, the full generated title will still be used.
Example:
This is a requirement with a very long title that will need to be shortened to prevent our titles from being too long. Additional content can be provided in the requirement and not be part of the title. |
needs_show_link_type¶
New in version 0.1.27.
This option mostly effects the roles need_outgoing and need_incoming by showing the type beside the ID the linked need.
Can be combined with needs_show_link_title.
Activate it by setting it on True in your conf.py:
needs_show_link_type = True
needs_show_link_title¶
New in version 0.1.27.
This option mostly effects the roles need_outgoing and need_incoming by showing the title beside the ID the linked need.
Can be combined with needs_show_link_type.
Activate it by setting it on True in your conf.py:
needs_show_link_title = True
needs_file¶
New in version 0.1.30.
Defines the location of a json file, which is used by the builder needs as input source. Default value: needs.json.
needs_statuses¶
New in version 0.1.41.
Defines a set of valid statuses, which are allowed to be used inside documentation. If a not defined status is detected, an error is thrown and the build stops. The checks are case sensitive.
Activate it by setting it like this:
needs_statuses = [
dict(name="open", description="Nothing done yet"),
dict(name="in progress", description="Someone is working on it"),
dict(name="implemented", description="Work is done and implemented"),
]
If parameter is not set or set to False, no checks will be performed.
Default value: [].
needs_css¶
New in version 0.1.42.
Defines the location of a css file, which will be added during documentation build.
If path is relative, sphinx-needs will search for related file in its own css-folder only! Currently supported css files:
blank.css : css file with empty styles
modern.css: modern styles for a need (default)
dark.css: styles for dark page backgrounds
Use it like this:
needs_css = "blank.css"
To provide your own css file, the path must be absolute. Example:
import os
conf_py_folder = os.path.dirname(__file__)
needs_css = os.path.join(conf_py_folder, "my_styles.css")
See Sphinx-needs CSS option for available css selectors and more.
needs_role_need_template¶
New in version 0.1.48.
Provides a way of changing the text representation of a referenced need.
If the role need is used, sphinx-needs will create a text representation of the referenced need. By default a referenced need is described by the following string:
{title} ({id})
By using needs_role_need_template
this representation can be easily adjusted to own requirements.
Here are some ideas, how it could be used inside the conf.py file:
needs_role_need_template = "[{id}]: {title}"
needs_role_need_template = "-{id}-"
needs_role_need_template = "{type}: {title} ({status})"
needs_role_need_template = "{title} ({tags})"
needs_role_need_template = "{title:*^20s} - {content:.30}"
needs_role_need_template = "[{id}] {title} ({status}) {type_name}/{type} - {tags} - {links} - {links_back} - {content}"
needs_role_need_template
must be a string, which supports the following placeholders:
id
type (short version)
type_name (long, human readable version)
title
status
tags, joined by “;”
links, joined by “;”
links_back, joined by “;”
content
All options of Python’s .format() function are supported. Please see https://pyformat.info/ for more information.
RST-attributes like **bold**
are not supported.
needs_role_need_max_title_length¶
New in version 0.3.14.
Defines the maximum length of need title that is shown in need references.
By default need titles that are longer than 30 characters are shortened when
shown in need text representation and “…” is added at end. By
using needs_role_need_max_title_length
, it is possible to change this
maximum length.
If set to -1 the title will never be shortened.
# conf.py
needs_role_need_max_title_length = 45
needs_table_style¶
New in version 0.2.0.
Defines the default style for each table. Can be overridden for specific tables by setting parameter style of directive needtable.
# conf.py
needs_table_style = "datatables"
Default value: datatables
Supported values:
table: Default sphinx table
datatables: Table with activated DataTables functions (Sort, search, export, …).
needs_table_columns¶
New in version 0.2.0.
Defines the default columns for each table. Can be overridden for specific tables by setting parameter columns of directive needtable.
# conf.py
needs_table_columns = "title;status;tags"
Default value: id;title;status;type;outgoing;tags
Supported values:
id
title
status
type
tags
incoming
outgoing
needs_id_regex¶
New in version 0.2.0.
Defines a regular expression, which is used to validate all manual set IDs and to generate valid IDs for needs without a given ID.
Default value: ^[A-Z0-9_]{3,}
By default an ID is allowed to contain upper characters, numbers and underscore only. The ID length must be at least 3 characters.
Warning
An automatically generated ID of needs without an manually given ID does match the default value of needs_id_regex only.
If you change the regular expression you should also set needs_id_required so that authors are forced to set an valid ID.
needs_functions¶
New in version 0.3.0.
Used to register own dynamic functions.
Must be a list of python functions.
Default value: []
Inside your conf.py
file use it like this:
needs_functions == [my_own_function]
def my_own_function(app, need, needs):
return "Awesome"
See Dynamic functions for more information.
Warning
Assigning a function to a Sphinx option will deactivate the incremental build feature of Sphinx. Please use the Sphinx-Needs API and read Incremental build support for details.
Better use the following way in our conf.py
file:
from sphinxcontrib.needs.api import add_dynamic_function
def my_function(app, need, needs, *args, **kwargs):
# Do magic here
return "some data"
def setup(app):
add_dynamic_function(app, my_function)
needs_part_prefix¶
New in version 0.3.6.
String used as prefix for need_part / np output in tables.
Default value: u'\u2192\u00a0'
The default value contains an arrow right and a non breaking space.
needs_part_prefix = u'\u2192\u00a0'
See show_parts for an example output.
needs_warnings¶
New in version 0.5.0.
needs_warnings
allows the definition of warnings, which all needs must avoid during a sphinx build.
A raised warning will print a sphinx-warning during build time.
Use -W
in your sphinx build command to stop the whole build, if a warning is raised.
This will handle all warnings as exceptions.
def my_custom_warning_check(need, log):
if need["status"] == "open":
log.info(f"{need['id']} status must not be 'open'.")
return True
return False
needs_warnings = {
# req need must not have an empty status field
'req_with_no_status': "type == 'req' and not status",
# status must be open or closed
'invalid_status' : "status not in ['open', 'closed']",
# user defined filter code function
'type_match': my_custom_warning_check,
}
needs_warnings
must be a dictionary.
The dictionary key is used as identifier and gets printed in log outputs.
The value must be a valid filter string or a custom defined filter code function and defines a not allowed behavior.
So use the filter string or filter code function to define how needs are not allowed to be configured/used. The defined filter
code function must return True
or False
.
Warning
Assigning a function to a Sphinx option will deactivate the incremental build feature of Sphinx. Please use the Sphinx-Needs API and read Incremental build support for details.
Example output:
...
looking for now-outdated files... none found
pickling environment... done
checking consistency... WARNING: Sphinx-Needs warnings were raised. See console / log output for details.
Checking sphinx-needs warnings
type_check: passed
invalid_status: failed
failed needs: 11 (STYLE_005, EX_ROW_1, EX_ROW_3, copy_2, clv_1, clv_2, clv_3, clv_4, clv_5, T_C3893, R_AD4A0)
used filter: status not in ["open", "in progress", "closed", "done"] and status is not None
type_match: failed
failed needs: 1 (TC_001)
used filter: <function my_custom_warning_check at 0x7faf3fbcd1f0>
done
...
Due to the nature of sphinx logging, a sphinx-warning may be printed wherever in the log.
needs_warnings_always_warn¶
This option if set to True
, will allow to log not passed needs_warnings into a given file if using your sphinx build
command with -w
.
Default: False
.
For example, set this option to True:
needs_warnings_always_warn = True
Using sphinx build command sphinx-build -M html {srcdir} {outdir} -w error.log
, all the not passed needs_warnings will be
logged into file error.log as you specified.
If use sphinx-build -M html {srcdir} {outdir} -W -w error.log
, the first not passed needs_warnings will stop the build and
be logged into the file error.log.
needs_layouts¶
New in version 0.5.0.
needs_layouts
is used to define own grid-based layouts with custom data.
Please read Layouts & Styles for a lot more detailed information.
needs_layouts
must be a dictionary and each key represents a layout. A layout must define the used grid-system and
a layout-structure. Example:
needs_layouts = {
'my_layout': {
'grid': 'simple',
'layout': {
'head': ['my custom head'],
'meta': ['my first meta line',
'my second meta line']
}
}
}
Note
Sphinx-Needs
provides some default layouts. These layouts can not be overwritten.
See layout list for more information.
needs_default_layout¶
New in version 0.5.0.
needs_default_layout
defines the layout to be used by default.
The used layout name must be one provided already by Sphinx-Needs or one provided by user via configuration needs_layouts.
Default value of needs_default_layout
is clean
.
needs_default_layout = 'my_own_layout'
needs_default_style¶
New in version 0.5.0.
The value of needs_default_style
is used as default value for each need, which does not define its own
style information via :style:
option.
See Styles for a list of default style names.
needs_default_layout = 'border_yellow'
A combination of multiple styles is possible:
needs_default_style = 'blue, green_border'
Custom values can be set as well, if your projects provides the needed css-files for it.
needs_template_folder¶
New in version 0.5.2.
needs_template_folder
allows the definition of your own Sphinx-Needs
template folder.
By default this is needs_templates/
.
The folder must already exist, otherwise an exception gets thrown, if a need tries to use a template.
Read also need_template option description for information of how to use templates.
needs_duration_option¶
New in version 0.5.5.
Used to define option, which shall be used to store duration
information for needgantt.
See also duration_option, which overrides this value for specific needgantt
charts.
Default: duration
needs_completion_option¶
New in version 0.5.5.
Used to define option, which shall be used to store completion
information for needgantt.
See also completion_option, which overrides this value for specific needgantt
charts.
Default: completion
needs_services¶
New in version 0.6.0.
Takes extra configuration options for Services:
needs_services = {
'jira': {
'url': 'my_jira_server.com',
},
'git': {
'url': 'my_git_server.com',
},
'my_service': {
'class': MyServiceClass,
'config_1': 'value_x',
}
}
Each key-value-pair in needs_services
describes a service specific configuration.
Own services can be registered by setting class
as additional option.
Config options are service specific and are described by Services.
See also needservice.
needs_service_all_data¶
New in version 0.6.0.
If set to True
, data for options, which are unknown, is added as string to the need content.
If False
, unknown option data is not shown anywhere.
Default: False
.
needs_service_all_data = True
needs_external_needs¶
New in version 0.7.0.
Allows to reference and use external needs without having their representation in your own documentation.
(Unlike needimport, which creates need-objects from a local needs.json
only).
needs_external_needs = [
{
'base_url': 'http://mydocs/my_project',
'json_url': 'http://mydocs/my_project/needs.json',
'version': '1.0',
'id_prefix': 'ext_',
'css_class': 'external_link',
},
{
'base_url': 'http://mydocs/another_project/',
'json_path': 'my_folder/needs.json',
'version': '2.5',
'id_prefix': 'other_',
'css_class': 'project_x',
},
{
'base_url': '<relative_path_from_my_build_html_to_my_project>/<relative_path_to_another_project_build_html>',
'json_path': 'my_folder/needs.json',
'version': '2.5',
'id_prefix': 'ext_',
'css_class': 'project_x',
}
]
needs_external_needs
must be a list of dictionary elements and each dictionary must/can have the following
keys:
- base_url
Base url which is used to calculate the final, specific need url. Normally the path under which the
index.html
is provided. Base url supports also relative path, which starts from project build html folder (normally whereindex.html
is located).- json_url
An url, which can be used to download the
needs.json
(or similar) file.- json_path
A path to a locally stored
needs.json
file. Can not be used together withjson_url
. A relative path must be relative to the project configuration folder (where theconf.py
is stored). (Since version 0.7.1)- version
Defines the version to use inside the
needs.json
file (optional).- id_prefix
Prefix as string, which will be added to all id of external needs. Needed, if there is the risk that needs from different projects may have the same id (optional).
- css_class
A class name as string, which gets set in link representations like needtable. The related css class definition must be done by the user, e.g. by Own CSS file on sphinx level. (optional) (default:
external_link
)
needs_table_classes¶
New in version 0.7.2.
Allows to define custom CSS classes, which get set for the HTML tables of need
and needtable
.
This may be needed to avoid custom table handling of some specific Sphinx theme like ReadTheDocs.
needs_table_classes = ['my_custom_class', 'another_class']
Default: ['rtd-exclude-wy-table', 'no-sphinx-material-strip']
This classes are not set for needtables using the table
style, which is using the normal Sphinx table layout
and therefore must be handled by themes.
The following themes support the following table classes to deactivate their specific handling:
Theme |
Class |
ReadTheDocs |
|
Sphinx-Material |
|
Hint
The deactivation of theme specific table handling is quite a new feature in most themes. Please be sure to use the newest theme version or even the nightly build.
needs_builder_filter¶
New in version 0.7.2.
Defines a Filter string, which is used to filter needs for the builder needs.
Default is 'is_external==False'
, so all locally defined need objects are taken into account.
Need objects imported via needs_external_needs get sorted out.
needs_builder_filter = 'status=="open"'
needs_string_links¶
New in version 0.7.4.
Transforms a given option value to a link.
Helpful to e.g. generate a link to a ticket system based on the given ticket number only.
needs_string_links = {
'custom_name': {
'regex': "...",
'link_url' : "...",
'link_name': '...'
'options': ['status', '...']
}
}
- regex
Must be a valid regular expression. Named capture groups are supported.
- link_url
The final url as string. Supports Jinja.
- link_name
The final link name as string. Supports Jinja.
- options
List of option names, for which the regex shall be checked.
link_name
and link_url
support the Jinja2 syntax.
All named capture group values get injected, so that parts of the option-value can be reused for
link name and url.
Example:
# conf.py
needs_string_links = {
# Adds link to the Sphinx-Needs configuration page
'config_link': {
'regex': r'^(?P<value>\w+)$',
'link_url': 'https://sphinxcontrib-needs.readthedocs.io/en/latest/configuration.html#{{value | replace("_", "-")}}',
'link_name': 'Sphinx-Needs docs for {{value | replace("_", "-") }}',
'options': ['config']
},
# Links to the related github issue
'github_link': {
'regex': r'^(?P<value>\w+)$',
'link_url': 'https://github.com/useblocks/sphinxcontrib-needs/issues/{{value}}',
'link_name': 'GitHub #{{value}}',
'options': ['github']
}
}
.. spec:: Use needs_string_links
:id: EXAMPLE_STRING_LINKS
:config: needs_string_links
:github: 404
Replaces the string from ``:config:`` and ``:github:`` with a link to the related website.
Replaces the string from |
needs_build_json¶
New in version 0.7.6.
Builds a needs.json
file also during other builds, like html
.
This allows to have one single Sphinx-Build for two output formats, which may save some time.
All other needs.json
related configuration values, like needs_file, are taken into account.
Example:
needs_build_json = True
Default: False
Hint
The created needs.json
file gets stored in the outdir
of the current builder.
So if html
is used as builder, the final location is e.g. _build/html/needs.json
.
needs_permalink_file¶
The option specifies the name of the permalink html file, which will be copied to the html build directory during build.
The permalink web site will load a needs.json
file as specified
by needs_permalink_data and re-direct the web browser to the html document
of the need, which is specified by appending the need ID as a query
parameter, e.g., http://localhost:8000/permalink.html?id=REQ_4711
.
Example:
needs_permalink_file = "my_permalink.html"
Results in a file my_permalink.html
in the
html build directory.
If this directory is served on localhost:8000
, then the file will be
available at http://localhost:8000/my_permalink.html
.
Default value: permalink.html
needs_permalink_data¶
This options sets the location of a needs.json
file.
This file is used to create permanent links for needs as described
in needs_permalink_file.
The path can be a relative path (relative to the permalink html file), an absolute path (on the web server) or an URL.
Default value: needs.json
Removed options¶
The following options are no longer supported, if the latest version of sphinx-needs is used.
needs_template¶
removed: 0.3.0
The layout of needs can be fully customized by using jinja.
If nothing is set, the following default template is used:
.. _{{id}}:
{% if hide == false -%}
.. role:: needs_tag
.. role:: needs_status
.. role:: needs_type
.. role:: needs_id
.. role:: needs_title
.. rst-class:: need
.. rst-class:: need_{{type_name}}
.. container:: need
:needs_type:`{{type_name}}`: :needs_title:`{{title}}` :needs_id:`{{id}}`
{%- if status and status|upper != "NONE" and not hide_status %}
| status: :needs_status:`{{status}}`
{%- endif -%}
{%- if tags and not hide_tags %}
| tags: :needs_tag:`{{tags|join("` :needs_tag:`")}}`
{%- endif %}
| links incoming: :need_incoming:`{{id}}`
| links outgoing: :need_outgoing:`{{id}}`
{{content|indent(8) }}
{% endif -%}
Available jinja variables are:
type
type_name
type_prefix
status
tags
id
links
title
content
hide
Warning
You must add a reference like .. _{{id}}: to the template. Otherwise linking will not work!
needs_template_collapse¶
removed: 0.3.0
Defines a template, which is used for need with active option collapse.
Default value:
.. _{{id}}:
{% if hide == false -%}
.. role:: needs_tag
.. role:: needs_status
.. role:: needs_type
.. role:: needs_id
.. role:: needs_title
.. rst-class:: need
.. rst-class:: need_{{type_name}}
.. container:: need
.. container:: toggle
.. container:: header
:needs_type:`{{type_name}}`: :needs_title:`{{title}}` :needs_id:`{{id}}`
:needs_type:`{{type_name}}`: :needs_title:`{{title}}` :needs_id:`{{id}}`
{%- if status and status|upper != "NONE" and not hide_status %}
| status: :needs_status:`{{status}}`
{%- endif -%}
{%- if tags and not hide_tags %}
| tags: :needs_tag:`{{tags|join("` :needs_tag:`")}}`
{%- endif %}
| links incoming: :need_incoming:`{{id}}`
| links outgoing: :need_outgoing:`{{id}}`
{{content|indent(4) }}
{% endif -%}
For more details please see needs_template.
needs_hide_options¶
New in version 0.3.0.
removed: 0.5.0
Note
To remove options from output in Sphinx-Needs
version >= 0.5.0
you must provide your own layout, which
does not include these options. See :ref:layouts_styles
for more information.
Can be used to hide specific options from general output in rendered document:
needs_hide_options = ['tags', 'global_option']
Works with local set options, extra options and global options.
Default value: ['hidden']
The hidden
option is a globally available option, which is always hidden and
can be used to easily execute Dynamic functions.
Combined with Dynamic functions and needs_global_options this configuration can be used to perform complex calculations in the background and hide any output.
needs_collapse_details¶
New in version 0.2.0.
removed: 0.5.0
Note
Starting with version 0.5.0 the used layout decides, what the default behavior is. To customize this behavior, you have to create your own layout.
If true, need details like status, tags or links are collapsed and shown only after a click on the need title.
# conf.py
needs_collapse_details = False
Default value: True
Can be overwritten for each single need by setting collapse.