Building the Zonal Hierarchy

The zones that you add to an MPC project for zonal analyses are arranged in a tree-based structural configuration called the zonal hierarchy. To access the configuration in LHSI projects (i.e., projects using one of the MSG-3 guidelines that support identification of L/HIRF Significant Items), click the Zonal Hierarchy tab on the System panel; in non-LHSI projects (i.e., projects using one of the MSG-3 guidelines that do not support identification of L/HIRF Significant Items), click the Zonal-L/HIRF Hierarchy tab.

There can be no more than three levels in the zonal hierarchy (major zone, major sub-zone and zone), and the first two levels must be selected from a predefined list of major zones and major sub-zones that are stored in the database.

Each item has properties associated with it, which are viewed and edited on the Properties tab of the Analysis panel when the zone is selected in the hierarchy.

Available Columns

The following columns are displayed in the zonal hierarchy:

Zone # displays the zone number. This will be assigned automatically for major zones and major sub-zones. For zones, you can select an acceptable number from the drop-down list.
Description displays the name and/or description of the zone.
Status Updates displays if the item contains any status update notes.
Attachment displays a paper clip icon if one or more files or URLs have been attached to the corresponding item. It displays if a Description and Operation (D&O) document is one of the attached files.
Flag displays a flag for the item, if desired. The available flags are: Complete (indicated by a green flag), In Progress (indicated by a yellow flag) and Incomplete (indicated by a red flag). In all ReliaSoft applications, flags are displayed in the interface only and do not affect analysis results or reports.
User Access displays an icon when the item is inaccessible. (See Status Indicators.)
- If the item is in use by another user, an in use icon will be displayed. Point to the in-use icon to display the name of the user who is accessing the item.
- If you do not have the item permissions needed to edit the item, a restricted access icon will be displayed.
Standard Zonal Analysis displays if a standard zonal analysis has been created for the zone.
Enhanced Zonal Analysis displays if an enhanced zonal analysis has been created for the zone.
L/HIRF Analysis is shown only in non-LHSI projects. If shown, this column displays if a lightning/high intensity radiated field (L/HIRF) analysis has been created for the zone.

Adding Major Zones and Major Sub-Zones

For compliance with the ATA numbering guidelines, the available major zones and major sub-zones have been predefined for the database. (See Managing Major Zones.)

To add a new major zone, choose Zones > Add > Add Major Zone(s).

To add a new major sub-zone, select the major zone and then choose Zones > Add > Add Major Sub-Zone(s).

Both command open windows that display the list of major zones/major sub-zones that have been predefined for this database. Use the check boxes to select one or more items to add to the zonal hierarchy and click OK.

Note that each major zone/sub-zone can be used only once per project. So if the item already exists in the current system configuration, the text will be grayed out and you will not be able to select it.

Adding Zones

Zones have not been predefined for the database. Instead, you have the flexibility to create these records as needed for your particular analysis.

To add a new zone, select a major sub-zone and choose Zones > Add > Add Zone.

Because of the ATA numbering guidelines, you cannot add more than 9 zones for the same major sub-zone. For example, if the major zone number is 100 and the major sub-zone is 110, you can add zones with any of the following numbers: 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118 or 119.

Deleting

To delete an item from any MPC hierarchy, select the hierarchy item and press DELETE. The hierarchy item will be deleted, along with all dependents and all associated attachments. There is no undo for deleting an item or the entire hierarchy.

Cutting/Copying

You can cut or copy items in any MPC hierarchy and paste them to the same project or to another project within the same database. (Please note that if you want to share hierarchy items between different databases, you must use the import/export functionality instead.) To select multiple hierarchy items for cut or copy:

Click the first hierarchy item and then press CTRL and click additional hierarchy items at the same level of the hierarchy.

Click the first hierarchy item, then press SHIFT and click another hierarchy item to select all hierarchy items at the same level of the hierarchy between and including the two.

After you select the hierarchy items, you can use the standard keyboard shortcuts for cut/copy (CTRL+X and CTRL+C) or you can choose Home > Clipboard > Cut and Home > Clipboard > Copy. When a hierarchy item is cut or copied, all dependents will also be cut or copied, along with any attachments.

Pasting

To paste items that you have cut or copied from any MPC hierarchy, press CTRL+V or choose Home > Clipboard > Paste. Note the following:

For the top two levels in the hierarchy (i.e., systems/subsystems, structures/substructures or major zones/major sub-zones), each item can be used only once per project. If an item with the same number already exists within the project you are pasting to, you will be prompted to decide if you want to replace the existing hierarchy item or cancel.
If a hierarchy item is cut or copied but then deleted from the project, the copied data will also be deleted from the Clipboard. In addition, once a hierarchy item has been cut or copied, any edits that are made to the original will also be applied to its copy in the Clipboard. In other words, if there are changes to the original hierarchy items after you cut/copy them but before you paste them somewhere else, this will affect the data that can be pasted. Also note that you will not be able to cut or copy a hierarchy item in a project that is locked by another user.

Importing

It is easy to import any entire hierarchy (or selected items) from any project in the same database or another selected database. (See Importing MPC Hierarchies Between Projects.)