Systems Architects and Engineers specialising in the effective use of Systems Architecture, Methods and Tools since 1982

Manual Entry

The relations entry form is intended for the quick entry of undetailed bulk lists of relations between sphere items: the additional attribute and note information may be added later for individual relations. The form simulates a minimum view of a matrix in which the from sphere is represented down the vertical axis, the to sphere across the horizontal axis.

Alternative Entry from a Spreadsheet

Relations, as well as sphere items can be entered from an existing spreadsheet, subject to certain simple conditions. See Capturing Spreadsheet Data.

Strategy

The best strategy for entering relations is probably to enter the sphere items first (see Entering Sphere Items), then to go to this relation entry form and to "walk down" each to sphere entry, entering its relations with the from sphere item. Once in the relation value field, as shown, you can use the arrow keys to navigate from one item to the next. The Up and Down Arrow keys change the from item while the left and right arrows change the to item. To enter a relation value, click its radio button in the Relation Values box. You can remove an unwanted relation value by clicking the radio button labelled "None (delete)". Sphere item records are not affected by this procedure but relation entries will be added, amended or deleted according to your choice. NOTE that this form shows all available sphere items in the two spheres whether or not there is an existing relation.

Filtering

Filtering facilities simplify entry of relations. You can limit the display of each sphere to specific sets of items according to the group of items defined by a sequence code hierarchy and to one or more levels. Sequence code filters are partial sequence codes or expressions which define the range of the sphere which can be seen. In the example shown in figure 19, the Information sphere is limited to all items with sequence codes beginning "I2" and the Logical Function sphere is similarly limited to items beginning "FP". While using the form, levels can be chosen by setting the desired level number or an expression against the selected sphere.

The full hierarchy of sphere item names for the current sphere pair is shown for each of the current items for reference. The author uses filtering to limit entry initially to sphere items lying within obviously related concept areas, filling out the more peripheral relations later.

See Common Features and Facilities for more detail about filtering.

Finding Specific Sphere Items

You can use the navigation buttons at the top of the screen or the Page Up and Page Down buttons to move up and down through either list of sphere items if you prefer this to using a filter. At any time, these buttons refer to the sphere table identified by the tick box which is marked. To set the navigation option to the other table, click its tick box.

Inverted View

If it is easier to work with the spheres and their relations in the opposite direction, you can click the Invert button to switch the direction in which the relations are seen. This will cause the underlying colour of the boxes to change to brown to prompt you that your view is in the inverse direction.

Expanded View