Importing and Exporting Data
XFRACAS offers several ways to import and export XFRACAS records (e.g., incidents, system configurations, etc.) via *.xml or *.xlsx templates.
- Use the Data Import page to view and manage the import queue, the log of processed files and the log of files that could not be processed.
- Use the optional XFRACAS Data Import Utility (DIU) Windows service (running on the web server) to process the import queue on a scheduled basis.
- Use the optional XFRACAS Web Service in your own custom application to insert XML files into the import queue, along with other related functions.
- Use the ReliaSoft API to export system template configurations to XML for import into ReliaSoft BlockSim.
Preparing Data for Import
Before you can import data using any of these methods, you'll need to convert it to the required XML structure, which typically involves the use of a template and a data mapping tool.
Note: Instructions for building this XML template are provided in the XFRACAS Data Import Guide (*.pdf). This guide also walks through a few examples of common data mapping scenarios.
In addition, example files are available for some of the more common import scenarios. You may be able to save time by downloading and adapting these files to import your own data. (See XML and XLSX Templates.)
If you plan to import serialized systems based on an existing system template, see Tips for Importing Serialized Systems. This method can save time, especially when importing multiple serialized systems.
Importing from/Exporting to Other ReliaSoft Applications
If you are using ReliaSoft XFMEA or RCM++ for failure modes and effects analysis, you also have the option to import and/or synchronize system templates and failure modes. (See Import or Sync from XFMEA.)
Note that you can also use the Reliability Data Warehouse (RDW) in Weibull++ to extract data from XFRACAS to build data sets for life data analysis or repairable system/reliability growth analysis. (See Reliability Data Warehouse in the Weibull++ documentation.)
Starting in Version 2024, you can use the ReliaSoft API to export system template configurations to XML files that are correctly formatted for import into BlockSim. This functionality is for generic system configurations only, not for serialized system configurations. Two special detail fields for parts have been added to support this process:
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URD Name allows you to specify the URD resource to apply to the part upon import. If this URD already exists in the project, it will be applied. If it does not yet exist, it will be created. Initially, no failure behavior will be associated with URDs created during import; you will need to edit them to add the desired failure models.
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Ignore SubParts has the effect of truncating the system template hierarchy at the level of the given part. If this option is selected, the XFRACAS part will be represented in BlockSim as a standard block; any subitems that it may have in XFRACAS will not be represented in BlockSim. If this option is not selected and if the XFRACAS part has subitems, it will be represented in BlockSim as a subdiagram block, with the subdiagram containing the part's subitems.