This article describes how to create items and parts. 


Prerequisites

  • A basic understanding of the SystemWeaver meta model building blocks
  • Familiar with the SystemWeaver Explorer Interface
  • An installation of the SystemWeaver Explorer client (swExplorer)
  • You must have "Write" access rights to the library where you want to save the itme/part
  • For adding/creating parts, the parent (owning item) must be in "Work" status

Creating an Item

There are three principal ways of creating an item:

  1. The New item menu option.
  2. The New context menu option in the structure tree to create an item when creating a new part.
  3. The Another context menu option in the structure tree to create an item of the type selected.


New Item Menu Option

Use this option when you want to create a new item in a separate action unrelated to the context of creating a new part.

  1. On the Items ribbon, click the New item button. A New Item page appears. 
  2. In the Choose Access section, select the library to be used. The library chosen the previous time that you created an item will be selected by default (see Managing Access Rights With Libraries for more information on libraries).
  3. In the Select Item Type section, select the item type for the new item.
    Tip: You can filter the list to assist in finding the needed item type.
  4. Enter a Name for the new item in the text box provided. An item name should be a short general identification of the item. It can be up to 100 characters long.
    Tip: If multiple items have a similar name, place the differentiator in the beginning. 
  5. Click Create Item. The New Item page will be replaced by an Edit item page where you can start editing the new item. 

Items created using this option can be included as parts at a later time which is the most common scenario. They can also be treated as "top items", i.e., items that are never intended to be used as parts, but rather as a top-most configuration item.


Note: There may be constraints on the item's name. If so, this will be indicated in the dialog with a message, such as "Illegal item name".


New item Drop-Down

Instead of clicking directly on the New item button, you can make a quick selection from its drop-down menu: 


The item types listed under the of Type header are the item types most frequently used for item creation by you. (The list will be empty the first time that you log in.)


To import new items from XML, see Create Items Using Import from XML.

New Context Menu Option

Use this option when creating a new item along with a part that the new item is defining.

  1. Select an item in the structure tree in the desired context. 
  2. Right-click and select New in the Edit section of the context menu (shortcut: Return (or Enter)). The alternative part types you can choose among depend on the type of item you selected.
  3. Select the item type for the part you want to create. The New item/part dialog will display.
  4. In the Choose Access section, select the library to be used. The library chosen the previous time that you created an item will be selected by default (see Managing Access Rights With Libraries for more information on libraries).
  5. In the Select Item Type section, select the item type for the new item.  Tip: You can filter the list to assist in finding the needed item type.
  6. Enter a name for the new item in the Name field.
  7. Click OK. 
  8. Double-click on the new item in the tree to open it and begin editing.

Another Context Menu Option

Use this option when creating new item of the same item type selected.

  1. Select an item in the structure tree of the type you want to create. 
  2. Right-click and select Another in the Edit section of the context menu (shortcut: Return (or Enter)). The New item/part dialog will display.
  3. In the Choose Access section, select the library to be used. The library used by the selected item will be chosen by default (see Managing Access Rights With Libraries for more information on libraries).
  4. Enter a name for the new item in the Name field.
  5. Click OK. 
  6. Double-click on the new item in the tree to open it and begin editing.

Creating a Part

There are three ways* to create a part:

  1. Using the Add context menu option in the structure tree.
  2. Using Paste (or Paste Special) options in the structure tree, where you will need to select an already existing item to be used for defining the new part.
  3. Use the New context menu option in the structure tree to create a part along with a new item that defines it.  This option is described above in the context of creating an item. 


Note: In SystemWeaver, you cannot have a part that is not "defined" by some item (or part or node, see footnote). A part is a "property" of an item in the sense that the part is "owned" by the item, from a configuration management or access rights perspective.


Add Context Menu Option

Use this option when creating a new part along with adding an existing item that defines the new part. The advantage of this option is that you can perform the action in a single step.

  1. Select an item in the structure tree in the desired context. 
  2. Right-click and select Add in the Edit section of the context menu. The Open items of type dialog will display.
  3. Select the item to be added with the new part*. You have the option of using the Search options provided, filtering by any of the fields and/or creating a new item on-the-fly. 

  4. Once you have made your selection, click Open item. The added item and new part will appear in the view. 


Note: If the part you are adding has a defining object that is an abstract type, you will be presented with a Select Type dialog to guide you in selecting a non-abstract sub-type. Abstract types cannot be used.


Paste Method

Use this method when you want to copy an existing item in the structure and add it elsewhere with the new part. This option is the same as the Add option except the method is two-part as you must first locate and select the item prior to the paste operation. It does, however, offer better control of the item selection, since you can copy the item from specific contexts or models, rather then selecting from a list of items.


Paste As

  1. Locate and select a suitable item using any of the views, e.g., tree, parts, in swExplorer.
  2. Right-click and select Copy in the context menu (or shortcut: Ctrl+C).
  3. In a suitable tab and view, select and right-click the item where you want to add the new part.
  4. Select Paste As in the context menu and select the item type. The added item and new part will appear in the view. 


Paste Special

  1. Locate and select a suitable item using any of the views, e.g., tree, parts, in swExplorer.
  2. Right-click and select Copy in the context menu (or shortcut: Ctrl+C).
  3. In a suitable tab and view, select and right-click the item where you want to add the new part.
  4. Select Paste Special. The Paste As dialog opens where you get additional paste options. 


Note: The Paste Special option is only available if there is part information in the clipboard.


Should you create an item in error, see Deleting Items and Parts for instructions on how to delete it.

* The case described here is when a part is defined by an item. A part can also be defined by other parts or nodes. Such parts are created by specialized views, since the selection of parts or nodes usually involves specific logics to locate and select the appropriate part or node.