> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.nextedy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Manage Global Configuration

> This guide walks you through locating, editing, and maintaining the global Nextedy POWERSHEET configuration that applies across your Polarion instance.

export const LastReviewed = ({date}) => {
  if (!date) return null;
  const formatted = new Date(`${date}T00:00:00Z`).toLocaleDateString("en-US", {
    year: "numeric",
    month: "long",
    day: "numeric",
    timeZone: "UTC"
  });
  return <p className="mt-10 text-sm text-gray-400 dark:text-zinc-500 not-prose">
      Last reviewed on {formatted}
    </p>;
};

## Prerequisites

* Administrator access to the Polarion server
* SVN access to the global repository (`.polarion` directory at repository root)
* Familiarity with YAML syntax and Powersheet [sheet configuration](/powersheet/reference/sheet-config/index) concepts

## Understand the Configuration Hierarchy

Powersheet resolves configuration at three levels. Global configuration provides defaults that project-level and document-level settings can override.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/none-17b4493f/3Zik2OH750CE3kB4/powersheet/diagrams/guides/administration/manage-global-config/diagram-1.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=3Zik2OH750CE3kB4&q=85&s=a52693716e4104321fff069758ad4b62" alt="diagram" style={{ width: "520px", maxWidth: "100%" }} width="520" height="220" data-path="powersheet/diagrams/guides/administration/manage-global-config/diagram-1.svg" />
</Frame>

<Steps>
  <Step title="-- Locate the Global Configuration Directory">
    Global configuration is stored in the SVN repository root, not inside any individual project. Access it via the Polarion administration UI or directly through SVN.

    **Via Polarion UI:**

    1. Navigate to **Administration > Nextedy Powersheet**
    2. Open the **Global Settings** section
    3. Review the data models and sheet configurations listed

    **Via SVN:**

    The global configuration resides at the repository root level:

    ```
    <svn-root>/
      .polarion/
        nextedy/
          models/               # Global data models
            default_model.yaml
          sheet-configurations/  # Global sheet configurations
            default_sheet.yaml
    ```

    <Warning title="Repository root vs. project root">
      The global `.polarion/nextedy/` directory must be at the **SVN repository root**, not inside a project folder. Placing it inside a project makes it a project-level configuration, not a global one.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="-- Edit the Global Data Model">
    The global data model defines entity types and relationships available to all projects that do not declare their own model.

    1. Check out the repository root via SVN:
       ```bash theme={null}
       svn checkout https://your-polarion-server/svn/ --depth immediates
       svn update .polarion/nextedy/models/ --set-depth infinity
       ```

    2. Open the global data model YAML file and edit the entity types:

       ```yaml theme={null}
       # .polarion/nextedy/models/default_model.yaml
       domainModelTypes:
         - name: UserNeed
           polarionType: requirement
           prefix: UN
           icon: requirement

         - name: SystemRequirement
           polarionType: requirement
           prefix: SR
           icon: requirement

         - name: DesignRequirement
           polarionType: requirement
           prefix: DR
           icon: requirement

         - name: Hazard
           polarionType: hazard
           prefix: HZ
           icon: risk

         - name: RiskControl
           polarionType: riskControl
           prefix: RC
           icon: shield

       relationships:
         - name: systemRequirements
           from: UserNeed
           to: SystemRequirement
           linkRole: relates_to
           cardinality: oneToMany
           direct: systemRequirements
           back: userNeeds
       ```

    3. Save and commit:
       ```bash theme={null}
       svn commit -m "Update global data model"
       ```

    <Tip title="Use consistent entity naming">
      Define entity type names in PascalCase (e.g., `UserNeed`, `SystemRequirement`). This convention keeps binding paths readable across sheet configurations and expansion paths.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="-- Edit the Global Sheet Configuration">
    Global sheet configurations define default column layouts available across all projects.

    1. Open the global sheet configuration file:

       ```yaml theme={null}
       # .polarion/nextedy/sheet-configurations/default_sheet.yaml
       columns:
         - key: id
           header: ID
           width: 80
           isReadOnly: true

         - key: title
           header: Title
           width: 300

         - key: status
           header: Status
           width: 120
           isReadOnly: true

         - key: severity
           header: Severity
           width: 100

       views:
         - name: Default
           visibleColumns:
             - id
             - title
             - status

         - name: Full Detail
           visibleColumns:
             - id
             - title
             - status
             - severity
       ```

    2. Adjust columns, widths, and views as needed for your organization's defaults.

    3. Commit via SVN.

    <Info title="Verify in application">
      The exact set of global sheet configuration properties may vary by Powersheet version. Test your changes in a non-production environment first.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="-- Override Global Settings at Project Level">
    When a project needs different behavior, create a project-level configuration that overrides the global one.

    1. Navigate to the project's SVN directory:
       ```
       &lt;svn-root&gt;/&lt;ProjectGroup&gt;/&lt;ProjectId&gt;/.polarion/nextedy/
       ```

    2. Create or edit the model and sheet configuration files inside the project's `.polarion/nextedy/` directory.

    3. Any entity types, relationships, or columns defined at the project level **replace** the corresponding global definitions for that project.

    | Scope    | Location                        | Applies to                            |
    | -------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
    | Global   | `<svn-root>/.polarion/nextedy/` | All projects without their own config |
    | Project  | `<project>/.polarion/nextedy/`  | Single project only                   |
    | Document | Widget parameters in LiveDoc    | Single document only                  |
  </Step>

  <Step title="-- Validate and Reload">
    After committing global configuration changes:

    1. **Trigger a reload** --- In Polarion, navigate to **Administration > Nextedy Powersheet** and click **Reload Configuration** (or restart the Polarion service if no reload button is available).

    2. **Verify in a project** --- Open a project that relies on global configuration. Open a sheet and confirm:
       * Entity types from the global data model appear in expansion paths
       * Global columns display with the expected headers and widths
       * Views defined globally are selectable in the sheet toolbar

    3. **Check for conflicts** --- If a project has its own configuration, verify that the project-level settings take precedence as expected.

    <Warning title="Cache after SVN commit">
      Polarion may cache configuration from SVN. If changes do not appear after committing, perform a server-side cache refresh or restart the Polarion service.
    </Warning>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Common Pitfalls

<Warning title="Mixing global and project models">
  If a project defines its own data model, the global model is **not merged** --- it is replaced entirely. Ensure project-level models include all entity types the project needs, even those that were inherited from the global model.
</Warning>

<Warning title="Incorrect SVN path depth">
  When checking out the repository root, use `--depth immediates` to avoid downloading all project data. Then selectively deepen only the `.polarion/nextedy/` directory.
</Warning>

<Tip title="Version control your configurations">
  Since all configuration lives in SVN, you get full version history automatically. Use meaningful commit messages to track why changes were made, making it easy to roll back if a configuration change causes issues.
</Tip>

## Verification

You should now see:

* Global data model entity types available in any project that does not define its own model
* Global sheet configuration columns and views appearing as defaults in sheets across your Polarion instance
* Project-level overrides correctly replacing global settings where defined

## See Also

* [Sheet Configuration Reference](/powersheet/reference/sheet-config/index) --- Full property reference for sheet YAML files
* [Data Model Reference](/powersheet/reference/data-model/index) --- Entity types, relationships, and cardinality
* [Configure Permissions](/powersheet/guides/administration/configure-permissions) --- Control who can modify configurations
* [Install and Manage License](/powersheet/guides/administration/install-manage-license) --- License setup for Powersheet
* [Create an Entity Type](/powersheet/guides/data-model/create-entity-type) --- Step-by-step entity type creation
* [Add a Column](/powersheet/guides/sheet-configuration/add-column) --- How to add columns to a sheet configuration

<LastReviewed date="2026-06-24" />