Diagram Tab

The Diagram tab is visible when you are working with an analytical RBD or a simulation RBD.

Blocks

Add Block adds a new standard block to the current diagram.
Add Subdiagram adds a new subdiagram block to the current diagram. When this command is selected, the Select Diagram for the Block window will appear, which allows you to select a diagram or fault tree that exists in the current project to be represented by the subdiagram block.
Add Node adds a new node to the current diagram.
Add Standby Container adds a new standby container block to the current diagram.
Add Load Sharing Container adds a new load sharing container block to the current diagram.
Auto Arrange automatically arranges the blocks in the diagram so that all blocks are evenly spaced and centered.
Auto Fit Width automatically arranges the blocks in the diagram to fit the width of the diagram window.
Auto Snap to Grid is a toggle setting. When it is turned on, any block that is added to a diagram or moved in a diagram is automatically aligned to the nearest grid lines. This setting applies to all diagrams of all types, in all databases.

Settings

Connect Blocks allows you to create connectors between blocks in the current diagram. When this command is selected, click the source block, hold down the left mouse button and drag a line from the source block to the destination block. When the crosshairs are located above the destination block, release the mouse button to create a connector. To stop adding connectors and return to the normal mode, right-click the diagram or clear the Connect Blocks option (i.e., by choosing the command again).
Save Diagram The application always saves the diagram upon calculate or close. This command provides the option to manually save the diagram at any time while you're editing. This can be useful if you're working across a network in an enterprise database.
Drag and Drop Blocks toggles drag-and-drop mode on and off for the current diagram. When drag-and-drop mode is off, you can drag blocks to new locations within the current diagram. When drag-and-drop mode is on, you can drag blocks from the current diagram to another diagram of the same type. If you are using the tabbed MDI view, drag the block to another diagram tab to change the focus to that diagram, then drop the block in the diagram area.
Block Painter allows you to copy the block properties from one block and apply them to another block in the current diagram.
Style copies only the block style (i.e., appearance) settings, including the picture on the block if desired.
Properties copies only the block properties, as defined in the Block Properties window, including any attachments if desired.
Style and Properties allows you to copy the block style and/or properties in a single operation.
Copy Diagram Graphic allows you to copy either the entire diagram or just the selected components of the diagram.
Copy Diagram as Graphic copies the current diagram to the Clipboard. The diagram can then be pasted into other documents as an enhanced metafile (*.emf) graphic.
Copy Block(s) as Graphic copies the blocks and connectors that are currently selected in the diagram to the Clipboard. The selected material can then be pasted into other documents as an *.emf graphic.
Add Annotation adds a new annotation to the current diagram. You can edit the text that appears in the annotation by double-clicking it to open the Edit Annotation window.
Set Block as Failed indicates that the block is "off" and the block will be considered to be failed, inactive or absent from the system for reliability calculations. An X will appear on the block to indicate that the block is failed. If de-selected, the block will be considered active for reliability calculations.
Set Block Flag allows you to display or remove a red, yellow or green flag above the selected block. These flags have no effect on the analysis or simulation so you can use them for any purpose of interest to you. For example, each flag color could represent a level of analysis that has been completed.

Conversion

Convert Block To allows you to convert the selected block in the RBD to another block type. Standard blocks can be converted to subdiagram blocks (you will be prompted to specify the diagram or fault tree to be represented by the subdiagram block), and subdiagram blocks can be converted to standard blocks. Standby containers can be converted to load sharing containers and vice versa.
Create PFS Diagram creates a process flow simulation diagram that is equivalent to the current simulation RBD. See Converting RBDs to PFS Diagrams.

Properties

Block Properties opens the Block Properties window, which allows you to define the failure, maintenance, optimization, throughput and other characteristics of the selected block. If an annotation is selected, this command opens the Edit Annotation window, which allows you to edit the text for the annotation.
Line Bend alters the bend style of the selected connectors. If a custom style is used, the options for removing bend points will become available.
Standby Settings apply only to configurations of standby containers (in RBDs), standby gates (in fault trees) or process standby containers (in PFS diagrams).
Set Block to Active (Not Standby) changes the status of the selected block or train from standby to active. Clear this option to change the status of the selected block or train to standby. This option is available only when a block in a standby container, a train in a process standby container or a dependent event block (i.e., an event block that is connected to a standby gate) is selected.
Set Standby Order opens the Standby Blocks Order window where you specify the order in which the standby items are used. This option is available only when a standby container, standby gate or process standby container is selected.

Selection

Diagram Actions
Refresh Diagram updates the diagram to show any changes.
Change Diagram Type opens the Change Diagram Type window, which allows you to change the current diagram to the opposite diagram type (i.e., you can change the current analytical diagram to a simulation diagram, or the current simulation diagram to an analytical diagram). In this window, you have the following options:
 
  • Select Duplicate using the new type option to create a new diagram using the new type. The new diagram will be named "Copy of [original diagram name]." If you do not select this option, the original diagram itself will be changed to the new type.

  • Select Perform the same change to any subdiagrams to change any subdiagrams to the new diagram type. Note that if you select both this and the Duplicate using the new type check box, new subdiagrams will be created along with the new main diagram.

 

Note: If you create an analytical diagram from a simulation diagram, by either duplication or conversion, the maintenance and throughput characteristics defined in the simulation diagram will not be displayed in the analytical diagram, as they are not relevant to the analysis. However, the properties are not lost, and if you then create a simulation diagram from that analytical diagram, all original properties will be retained.

Change IBS Setting is available only when you are working with an analytical RBD or an analytical fault tree using the Equation analysis type. It opens the Change IBS Setting window, which allows you to change the current identical block simplification (IBS) setting for the diagram. If Use IBS is selected, the software looks for blocks with identical failure characteristics and attempts to simplify the equation, if possible, when analyzing the diagram. This is useful when analyzing large diagrams that contain a lot of the same blocks. However, using this option means that more types of changes to the diagram will invalidate the mathematical equation that describes the reliability-wise configuration of the diagram and will require that the diagram be reanalyzed. If you select or clear this check box after you have already analyzed the diagram, you will have to reanalyze it. The Apply the same setting to any subdiagrams check box in this window will cause the same setting to be used for all of the current diagram's subdiagrams, and their subdiagrams, etc.
Show Block Details opens the Block Details window, which displays the details of the blocks and resources in the current diagram.
Diagram Style opens the Diagram Style window, which allows you to edit the appearance of the diagram.
Open Subdiagram opens the diagram that the selected subdiagram block represents. This option is available only when a subdiagram block is selected.
Open Parent Diagram opens a sub-menu that allows you to select a parent diagram (i.e., a diagram that contains a subdiagram block representing the current diagram) to open.
Export Graphic saves the diagram as a graphic in one of the following formats: *.wmf, *.png, *.gif or *.jpg. You will be able to use the exported graphic in any application, provided that the application supports the file format.
Set Block Order allows you to specify the order in which the diagram's blocks will be displayed in associated allocation analyses, the Optimum Replacement window and, for simulation diagrams, in simulation results and plots.
Cascade Select selects all the blocks that are connected from the selected block, including the selected block itself. This allows you to easily select all blocks that are connected to a block.
Trace Path traces the path of the selected block. Click another block or the diagram to remove the traced path. The color of the traced path is the same as the color for a selected connector and can be set in the Diagram Style window. The thickness of a traced path can also be set in the Diagram Style window, independent of the properties of a selected connector.
Quick View shows a preview of the diagram referenced by the currently selected subdiagram block.

Calculation

Optimum Replacement opens the Optimum Replacement window, which allows you to define the cost of planned and unplanned replacements for selected block(s) and calculate the optimum replacement time, as well as the cost per unit time at that replacement time.

Related Topics and Links