Managing Packages in the Life Cycle › Bind Packages

Bind Packages

The bind packages feature enforces the following restrictions on packages belonging to a package group:

• A package can belong to only one bound package group.
• If a package is part of a bound package group and if Enforce Bind is selected on the Demote or Promote Properties dialog, all packages in the group must be demoted or promoted together.
• You cannot promote or demote a single package that belongs to a bound package group while Enforce Package Bind is selected. To promote or demote a single package that is a member of a bound package group, either you must not select Enforce Package Bind or remove the package from the bound package group.

Typically, gathering packages in one state becomes important during the final stages of the life cycle. The following diagram shows how you might not enforce package binding during the early stages of the life cycle to allow flexibility of package movement; later, you might restrict the movement by enforcing package binding. Notice the enforce package bind option is selected only during promotion from QA to Production. This gathers the packages in their bound package group in the final state, ensuring that Production has all necessary packages for the group.