Visualizing Requirements and Traceability Matrix with Mermaid Diagrams
Managing requirements effectively is one of the most important aspects of project success. OpenRose, a free and open-source requirements management tool, makes this process easier by allowing you to export structured data along with traceability matrix and visualize it using Mermaid diagrams.
In this blog, we’ll walk through how to:
- Export requirements data from OpenRose
- Convert it into Mermaid flowcharts
- Include traceability links between requirements
- Use tools like Mermaid.live or draw.io or diagrams.net to create beautiful, shareable diagrams
Step 1: Getting Started with OpenRose
- OpenRose is available at github.com/openrose.
- For this demo, we’ll use a Charity Fundraising Project as an example.
- The project contains three main item types:
- Pre-Fundraising Preparation
- Fundraising Event Execution
- Post-Fundraising Activities
Each item type contains sub-items, and many of them are interlinked through traceability. For example:
- Plan Video Content (Post-Fundraising) is linked to Publish and Promote.
- Publish and Promote itself has two parents: Plan Video Content and Engage Participants and Volunteers.
Step 2: Exporting Project Data
- Export the project data from OpenRose in JSON format.
- Each item includes properties such as:
- Name
- ID
- Status, Priority, Severity, Description
This structured data is the foundation for generating diagrams.
Step 3: Converting JSON to Mermaid
With Copilot (OR with any other AI tool of your choice), you can easily convert JSON into Mermaid flowchart syntax:
- Solid lines represent the breakdown structure (parent → child).
- Dotted lines represent traceability links.
- Shapes can be customized (e.g., circles for projects).
Paste the Mermaid text into Mermaid Live or import it into draw.io using Arrange → Insert → Mermaid Text.
Step 4: Formatting and Layout
Once imported into a diagramming tool:
- Use layouts of your choice for clarity and structure.
- Adjust spacing to avoid overlap.
- Apply colors and styles
Unnecessary items (like empty “Parking Lot” nodes) can be deleted for a cleaner view.
Step 5: Traceability in Action
Traceability is critical for understanding dependencies and impacts:
- Dotted lines show how requirements are linked across item types.
- Expanding nodes reveals full connections.
- You can analyze direct and indirect impacts if a requirement is removed or deferred.
- Example: If Closure of Event Acknowledgement is not implemented, you can visually assess its impact on related requirements.
Step 6: Sharing and Exporting
Mermaid diagrams can be exported into multiple formats:
- HTML
- JPEG / PNG
You can share them with:
- Stakeholders
- Business owners
- Customers
- Project managers
- Team members
- Partners
- Suppliers
- Collaborators
Ability to visualize your requirements and establish communication around it would be of exceptional benefit for your product and services offerings.
- Mermaid.live even allows sharing via a simple link.
- Draw.io also offers Public URL which creates a static copy of your diagram that others can view.
Benefits of This Approach
- Clarity: Complex requirements are easier to understand visually.
- Traceability: Links between requirements are explicit and visible.
- Collaboration: Diagrams can be shared and discussed across teams.
- Flexibility: Works with multiple tools (Mermaid Live, draw.io, etc.).
- Decision Support: Helps analyze the impact of requirement changes.
Conclusion
By combining OpenRose with Mermaid diagrams, you can transform raw requirements data into clear, interactive visuals. This approach not only improves communication but also enhances the quality of requirements analysis.
Whether you’re a product manager, business analyst, or project stakeholder, this method provides a holistic view of your project — making it easier to plan, track, and adapt.
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