ReliaSoft Locator Links

ReliaSoft Locator Links provide quick access to specific analyses in a database (similar to Windows shortcuts). You can save these link files anywhere on your computer or network, e-mail to a colleague, post on the Internet or an intranet, etc.

When you double-click (open) a ReliaSoft Locator Link file (*.rsllx), it will launch the appropriate ReliaSoft application and go directly to a specific project item (e.g., folio, diagram, plot, system hierarchy item, etc.) or FMEA record (e.g., function, failure, etc.), as long as certain conditions are met.

For Enterprise Databases

The locator link stores the pathname/filename of the connection file (*.rserp) that was used to connect to the enterprise database when the locator link was created. In order for you to use the locator link, the following must be true:

  • The connection file must still reside in the same location and you must have access to that location.
    • If the user who created the locator link opened the connection file from a mapped network drive (e.g., P:\ReliaSoft\ConnectionFile.rserp), then the link will only work if all other users have that drive mapped to the same letter. To make sure that the link works for all users, you should open the connection file from the UNC pathname (e.g., \\SharedDrive\ReliaSoft\ConnectionFile.rserp) before creating a locator link file.
  • Starting in Version 2025, you must have the password for the connection file (or it must already be stored in your Windows Credential Manager).
  • The database itself must still reside in the same location and you must have access to the server.
  • You must have an active user account in the database.
  • The required ReliaSoft application must be activated on your computer.

    The ideal use case for this functionality consists of a situation where a connection file is stored in a shared network location and all database users connect to the database using that connection file in that shared location. In this case, locator links can be created and shared freely among all users. If this is not possible and users must use individual, locally stored connection files, then it is still possible for locator links to work as long as the connection files are identically named and stored in the identical location on each computer. By default, connection files are stored in the \ReliaSoft\files subfolder within the user's Documents folder; if all users use this default location for connection files, the differences in their usernames will be ignored and locator links referencing these connection files will work.

For Standard Databases

The locator link stores the pathname/filename of the standard database (e.g., *.rsr25) that was open when the locator link was created. In order for you to use the locator link, the following must be true:

  • The database must still reside in the same location and you must have access to that location.
    • If that was a mapped network drive (e.g., P:\ReliaSoft\Database1.rsr25), then the link will only work if all other users have that drive mapped to the same letter. To make sure that the link works for all users, you should open the database from the UNC pathname (e.g., \\SharedDrive\ReliaSoft\Database1.rsr) before creating a locator link file.
  • If the database has login security enabled, you must have an active user account in the database.
  • The required ReliaSoft application must be activated on your computer.

ReliaSoft Locator Links created in Version 2019 or later do not include the software version information as part of the link. When you open a link, the software will attempt to connect to the database, regardless of the database's version. If you attempt to open a standard database that was created in an earlier version, the software will automatically convert it to the latest version. Starting in Version 2025, if you attempt to open an enterprise database that was created in an earlier version OR if you attempt to use a locator link created in an earlier version to open a current enterprise database, the software will display a message notifying you that the locator link is not properly formatted. You will not be able to use the locator link.

Creating a Locator Link

In an enterprise database, you can choose to either send the file by e-mail or save it to a specified location. In a standard database, the only option is to save the file because it is likely that the pathname may only work on your own computer (as discussed above).

  • For an item selected in a current project explorer (Weibull++, BlockSim or Lambda Predict), choose Project > Current Item > Save Locator Link.
  • For an item selected in an XFMEA/RCM++ system hierarchy, choose System Hierarchy > Current Item > Save Locator Link.
  • For an item, structure or zone selected in an MPC hierarchy, choose Tools > Save Locator Link on the relevant ribbon tab.

Note: If you get a "Locator Link is not properly formatted" message, the locator link may be corrupted or is using old encryption. Create a new locator link using the methods described above.

Posting Locator Links on a Web Page

Remember that ReliaSoft Locator Links are files that must be opened from a computer where ReliaSoft desktop applications are installed. If you post the *.rsllx as a standard link on an HTML web page, you will need to instruct users to download the file (instead of opening directly from the web browser).

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