Import Existing (Items or FMEA Records)

The Import Existing windows make it easy to find and import existing system hierarchy items or FMEA records. You can use up to four search terms, with the Boolean operators AND and OR.

For system hierarchy items, choose System Hierarchy > Add Items > Import > Import Items (Query) (or choose Items (Query) in the Import Wizard accessed via Project > Management > Import/Export).

For FMEA records, choose the command for the desired record type. For example, FMEA > Functions > Import Functions.

Tip: When using this feature from within the new Smart Add utilities it will be pre-populated with the same query criteria.

Using the Utility

Regardless of the record type, all five of these utilities function in a similar manner.

1. Use the Database Location area to choose where you wish to search. This can be:
   • Only the current project.
   • All projects in the current database.
   • All projects in another database.
2. Use the Query Criteria area to specify the keywords and/or phrases that you want to consider in the search. You can define up to four search terms, with the Boolean operators AND and OR. Refer toQuery Criteriabelow for more information.
3. Click Search to display a list of records that meet your criteria. Note that this will only consider projects that have the same FMEA structure as the current project, and will return only records that are eligible for import.
4. Use the check boxes to choose which records you want to import.
5. Use the options at the bottom of the window to specify additional preferences. Specifically:
   • If you are importing items, specify which level in the system hierarchy the new items will be imported to:
     • As system pastes to the top level.
     • As same level pastes to the same level as the item that is currently selected.
     • As next level pastes to the level below the item that is currently selected.

Also specify whether you want to import the sub-items and analysis data associated with the selected items:

• Include lower level items imports any sub-items associated with the selected items.
• Include analyses imports any associated FMEAs, control plans, etc. associated with the selected items. If this check box is not selected, only the item properties, attachments and diagrams will be imported.
• If you are importing FMEA records, specify whether to include the dependent records. For example, if you are importing functions, you can import only the functions, or you can import the functions and their related failures, effects, causes, etc.
  • By default, dependent records will be imported. If you want to import only the individual records, select the Import without dependents check box.

6. Click OK to copy the data.

Query Criteria

You can use the four fields in the Query Criteria area to limit the search by up to four keywords or phrases. Note that these drop-down lists use the property names (i.e., the basic name for the field, which cannot be changed) and not the display names (i.e., the names that can be customized for each project).

To match, the record must contain the search term anywhere within the field.

• AND searches for the records that match both requirements.
• OR searches for the records that match either requirement.

Note that the query will always be evaluated from left to right. For example, "A and B or C or D" will be implemented as "((A and B) or C) or D".