Abstract:
A process provides automated coherent documentation of the construction of variably configured assemblies and systems, which consist of mechanical, electrical or electronic subassemblies or components using relational database software. A relational database software program is used to define the location of subassemblies or components within the final assembly or system, define important configuration information for the subassemblies and define the interconnection of the subassemblies within the assembly or system. This process improves upon prior art utilizing schematics, assembly drawings, parts lists and configuration logs based upon ANSI standard documentation practices by reducing the time required to produce such documentation and improving the accuracy of such documentation. The use of a relational database allows for various data manipulations that may be desirable such as error prevention, error detection, data analysis and specified searches.

Description:
The U.S. Government has a paid-up license in this invention and the right, in limited circumstances, to require the patent owner to license others on reasonable terms as provided by Contract No. N00024-94-D-5204, awarded by the U. S. Navy. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to documentation of the construction of assemblies and systems and more particularly to the use of relational database software for the automated production of documentation for the construction and support of variably configured electrical or electronic assemblies and systems, including electronic assemblies and systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Documentation of the construction of electrical or electronic assemblies and systems is commonly accomplished with schematics, assembly drawings, parts lists and configuration logs. Schematics and assembly drawings are generated by drafting a design using either traditional manual drafting tools such as paper, pencil, triangles, squares, etc. or by modern computer aided design (CAD) software tools. Both of these methods result in drawings (illustrations and text) identifying the proper construction of electrical, electronic and mechanical subassemblies and assemblies. Parts lists or Bill of Materials are generally tabular information containing information such as the part number, description of the part, quantity of part used, unit of measure, source of supply and reference designated location of use. A configuration log is a parts list for a specific assembly potentially including identification information of the subassemblies contained within the assembly. 
     The purpose of a schematic is to illustrate the physical interconnection of components. The accuracy of a schematic may depend upon its use. An electrical schematic used to fabricate a printed circuit board needs to be very accurate for the circuit board to perform its intended function. On the other hand, a schematic for the wiring of a house may not need to be completely accurate for the wiring in the house to operate correctly because the electrician wiring the house can correct errors during installation. 
     The purpose of assembly drawings is to illustrate the mechanical assembly process and desired end result for the combination of several components. The accuracy of an assembly drawing also may depend upon its use. The architectural plans for a house may be very detailed when necessary to achieve a specific observable result, but may also be vague when details are left to the discretion of a skilled craftsman. For a high volume product produced by a factory, the drawings may need to be very accurate due to a company policy for documentation control or they may be allowed to be inaccurate when the factory has implemented other processes to correct the deficiencies. An assembly drawing will often contain instructions in addition to illustrations for clarity. 
     The purpose of the parts list is to identify the components required to produce an assembly. The parts list is often complemented with the schematic and/or assembly drawings to aid the assembler in achieving the desired result or end item. The parts list is typically correlated to the schematic by a reference designator which is an alpha-numeric string unique to the location of each part. The parts list is also typically correlated to the assembly drawing by either the reference designator or an item number which also uniquely identifies the location of each part. 
     The purpose of a configuration log is to record data such as serial numbers and parts numbers for subassemblies that make up an assembly. Manufacturers use configuration logs to record products shipped and shipping dates usually to identify the product&#39;s warranty period or collect data about customers buying habits. 
     The industry standard for defining reference designated location of use is ANSI Y32.16-1975. This specification provides a method for defining and utilizing uniquely identified locations for components, subassemblies, assemblies and cables, as well as standards for marking such items to aid in construction. 
     Documentation produced by these traditional means is often error prone due to the inability of disparate systems to fully inter-operate. Factories responsible for the construction of assemblies often require several cycles of correction to the documentation in order to improve its clarity, consistency and correctness. 
     These traditional systems may also be time-consuming and therefore costly. They are usually very general purpose and therefore require very detailed and careful input and checking, especially for consistency between systems. Since the quality of the documentation is entirely determined by the care of the drafter and checker, inconsistent, missing, and misleading or ambiguous results are common. 
     Traditional systems work well for documenting assemblies with limited configuration options. Conversely, these systems are not as efficient for documenting the assembly instructions for highly re-configurable or variable systems. 
     An accurate database of configuration information may benefit a customer when a repair for an assembly is required. The information contained in the database may be essential to the repair and not readily available from other sources. For example, a repair manual for a highly re-configurable assembly may simply not be able to identify all configuration options and corresponding repair procedures. 
     The present invention complements the traditional methods of documenting re-configurable assemblies by simplifying the creation of the variable portion of the documentation for assemblies with significant configuration options. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Tabular and other data representing the construction of assemblies and systems is entered in a relational database. The relational database produces output consisting of reports representing the construction of the assembly. The relational database is preferably structured to use an applicable industry standard such as ANSI Y32.16-1975 specifications with modifications necessary to allow for the coherent representation of data within a relational database. 
     The relational database contains two categories of information. The first category consists of lookup tables containing commonly or repetitively used data. The second category is assembly specific tables containing links or relationships to the lookup tables for commonly used data and additional data unique to the particular assembly. 
     The lookup tables contain two types of data. The first type defines the generic or unpopulated assembly by its list of reference designated locations. For example, for electrical and electronic assemblies, the list of locations may exclude cables since cables interconnect subassemblies at different locations. However, cables are identified by unique reference designators. The second type defines the list of all components and subassemblies (parts) and their characteristics. The characteristics of components and subassemblies may include configuration parameters and interfaces. Configuration parameters are significant elements of data about a component or subassembly. Interfaces are places on the component or subassembly where electrical or mechanical connections from other components or subassemblies are possible. The definition of the reference designated locations may restrict the parts eligible for use in any particular location. The definition of the interfaces may restrict the eligibility of mating interfaces for later assembly. Additionally, parts may be categorized into part types. Some part types may have common properties that differ from other part types. For example, cables may be excluded from location definitions or software may be excluded from supporting the definition of interfaces. 
     The assembly specific data tables combine the definition of reference designated locations with a list of parts specific to an assembly. The characteristics of the specific parts used in the assembly are available from the relationship to the parts definition contained in the parts list lookup tables. The assembly specific data includes relationships defining the reference designated locations, the specific parts list and additional unique part characteristic data such as configuration parameter values and interconnection data. The values of configuration parameters provide data unique to the use of a part within a specific assembly. The interconnection data provides a cross reference of electrical and mechanical connections within a specific assembly. A specific assembly may either be a specific configuration of an assembly produced in some quantity or a unique assembly, perhaps identified by a serial number. The fundamental process for defining an assembly consists first of creating a list of parts. The parts are then assigned to the pre-defined locations within the final assembly. Then the parts are interconnected within the assembly and finally, configuration parameter values are assigned. A report may be generated to present this information in an orderly, understandable way. Other data managed by the database may require additional steps in the fundamental process. 
     The benefit of having a definition of the reference designated locations in the assembly is that parts may be selected from the parts list and assigned to appropriate locations (where they belong). The benefit of having a definition of the characteristics of a part is that the important characteristics of a part are known and recorded consistently. The benefit of having a definition of the interfaces of a part is that the definition of one interface may be used to select an appropriate mating interface. The existence of these definitions, which only occurs once for each assembly and part, enables the rapid construction of many different configurations of the parts within the assembly. The use of a relational database to perform this process enables the addition of significant error prevention and error detection capabilities to the process, thus enhancing the accuracy of the data contained within the assembly definition. The database also allows reporting of almost any conceivable data analysis. 
     A single database may contain any number of reference designated location definitions, part definitions and assembly definitions. A good database design would incorporate user friendly forms for user data input and various reports that may be printed for reference. The preferred embodiment will present the underlying schema or database table structure for the present invention. The process for using the database will be shown. The user interface, query and report designs are not presented in this document as their implementation will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. A sample report from the database is presented to support the preferred embodiment. 
     The preferred embodiment presents a relational database system for defining the construction of variably configured computer systems. These computer systems consists of cabinets populated with modular components such as power supplies, circuit card assemblies, mass memory devices, loaded software, and human machine interface (HMI) devices such as keyboards, trackballs and monitors. The invention, however, is not limited to the construction, repair or maintenance of such computer systems. It may be used for virtually any item of manufacture, particularly with products have a variety of different configurations, such as automobiles and many other types of goods. The described embodiment may also be used to document the configuration of a system of computers on a local area network in a building. In its most general sense, the present invention documents a system of interconnected nodes at specified physical locations, the nodes having various properties or configuration parameters that define their function. In the claims of this document, the word “unit” includes items of manufacture as well as interconnected node systems, or for the wiring of buildings, ships, planes, telephone switching centers and many other applications. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1,  2  and  3  show the relational database schema. Each table  100  has a name in the header and a list of fields. Field names that include a preceding asterisk “*” are fields that make up the primary key for the table. The primary key is a unique entry in the table. When the primary key name begins with “ID”, a counter field is assumed to insure uniqueness. When multiple fields make up the primary key, they are sorted top to bottom in order of increasing uniqueness. Two kinds of relationships between tables are shown. The first is a one-to-many relationship depicted as line with an arrow  10  where the arrow points from the one table to the many table. The second kind of relationship has no arrows  12  and indicates that the corresponding fields are related but not strictly . To reduce clutter, connectors such as  14  are added to relationship lines. Connectors mate with other connectors containing the same letter. 
     FIG. 1 shows the relational database schema for the parts definition lookup tables including the part type table  100 , the part list table  102 , the kit definition table  104 , the interface definition tables  106 ,  108  and  110  and the parameter definition tables which include  112 ,  114 ,  116  and  118 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the relational database schema for the reference designated location definition lookup tables  200 ,  202  and  204  and associated part family definition tables  206  and  208 . FIG. 2 also shows the configuration management tables  210  and  212 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the relational database schema for the assembly, otherwise known as Unit, configuration tables including the unit definition  300 , the unit parts list  302 , the unit configuration parameters  304 , the unit interconnect  306 , the unit processor group definition  308  and the operating system definition table  310 . 
     FIG. 4 is a diagram that illustrates key elements of the process for the definition of parts, locations and units and of the process for unit assembly and unit support. 
     FIG. 5 shows a sample database report containing parts list information. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a unit illustration for a database report. 
     FIG. 7 is a part configuration illustration that shows a representative jumper connection for particular pins of an electronic part. 
     FIG. 8 shows a sample database report containing a processor group definition. 
     FIG. 9 shows a sample database report containing a configuration parameter definition. 
     FIG. 10 shows a sample database report containing an interconnect cross reference. 
     FIG. 11 shows a sample database report containing a cable tag marking reference. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The embodiment will be presented in the order of the Figures. The Figures show the relational database schema for the part definition, location definition and unit definition respectively. The Figures also show the process for operation of a user interface to the database tables. The description of the process will show how the features of the table schema are used to achieve the intended purpose. The process will not be described in terms of any specific implementation of a user interface since such a user interface will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. The primary output report of the embodiment will be described. 
     Data lookup table tlkpPartType  100  is used to categorize parts and provide control flags that determine which features of the database may or may not apply to each part category. Table I defines the fields of tlkpPartType. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE I 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpPartType 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDPartType 
                 Counter 
                 A unique key for each part type. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the part type. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Typical values might include, Power 
               
               
                   
                   
                 System, Enclosure, Storage, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Processor, Cable, HMI, kit, etc. 
               
               
                 FlagLoc 
                 Yes/No 
                 Indicates whether the part type may 
               
               
                   
                   
                 be assigned to pre-defined location. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Cables would normally not be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 assigned a location since they span 
               
               
                   
                   
                 locations. 
               
               
                 FlagIF 
                 Yes/No 
                 Indicates whether the part type may 
               
               
                   
                   
                 have an interface assigned to it. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Parts such as software would not 
               
               
                   
                   
                 have a physical interface. 
               
               
                 FlagSize 
                 Yes/No 
                 Indicates whether the part type 
               
               
                   
                   
                 supports variable size. Certain types 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of parts may vary in size such as the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 number of slots for modular circuit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cards that plug into a rack. 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *A counter field type is one where an index number is increased by one count for each new record.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Data lookup table tlkpPartsList  102  is used to contain the complete list of available parts or subassemblies to be later constructed into assemblies or systems called units. A typical part has a part number and description. Parts are categorized by part type. Of special interest is the size field. Situations may occur requiring population of multiple parts into a single location or a single part into multiple locations. A size of one or more will indicate the part takes one or more consecutive locations. A size of zero indicates a part can be added to populated location without requiring additional space. For example, a mezzanine module on a circuit card assembly or a software component added to a mass storage device. This table also uses the OS_Supported field to identify a compatibility matrix for operating systems with each part. This is used in the unit definition to assign parts to processor groups when multiple processors with varying operating systems are used within the system. A set of fields are also provided for configuration management control of part definitions. When a part is “Released”, its definition is protected from further modification. When the part is not “Released”, its definition is modifiable, but a record of the explanation for the change is maintained. Table II defines the fields of tlkpPartsList  102 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE II 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpPartsList 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDPart 
                 Counter 
                 A unique key for each part. 
               
               
                 PartNumber 
                 Text 
                 A unique part number to identify 
               
               
                   
                   
                 each part. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the part. 
               
               
                 IDPartType 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpPartType 100 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 identify the type of the part. 
               
               
                 Size 
                 Integer 
                 Indicates the number of locations the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 part requires. 
               
               
                 DefaultRefDes 
                 Text 
                 Used to define the default reference 
               
               
                   
                   
                 designator for cables. Since cables 
               
               
                   
                   
                 are not assigned locations, the have 
               
               
                   
                   
                 either fixed or variable designations. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 This is the fixed designation. A 
               
               
                   
                   
                 variable designation is assigned 
               
               
                   
                   
                 when the unit is constructed. Alpha- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 numeric reference designators need 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to be represented with fixed length 
               
               
                   
                   
                 numeric strings in order to sort 
               
               
                   
                   
                 properly (e.g. A001, A010). 
               
               
                 OS_Supported 
                 Text 
                 A character string where each 
               
               
                   
                   
                 position corresponds to a specific 
               
               
                   
                   
                 type of operating system. A “Y” at 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the character position indicates the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 operating system is supported by the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 part. A “N” at the character 
               
               
                   
                   
                 position indicates the operation 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system is not supported by the part. 
               
               
                 CM_MstrKey 
                 Long Integer 
                 Link to tblCM_Status 210 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tblCM_Memo 212 defining the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 group of configuration management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 records for a part. 
               
               
                 CM_CurKey 
                 Long Integer 
                 Link to tblCM_Status 210 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tblCM_Memo 212 defining the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 current configuration management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 records for a part 
               
               
                 Status 
                 Long Integer 
                 The current configuration status. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Either “Released”, “Unreleased” or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 “In Process”. Released is used to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 write protect the part definition. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Data lookup table tlkpKitDef  104  is used to group parts into kits. A kits of parts is useful for more quickly assembling a parts list when multiple parts are always used together. Table III defines the fields of tlkpKitDef  104 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE III 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpKitDef 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IDKitPN 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tlkpPartsList 102 for a part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of part type kit. This record is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 added when a kit type part is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 created. 
               
               
                 IDPart 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpPartsList 102 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 add parts to a kit. 
               
               
                 Qty 
                 Integer 
                 The quantity of part within a kit. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Data lookup table tlkpIF_Def  106  is used in conjunction with tlkpIF_Family  108  and tlkpTagDef to define the interfaces of a part. A part has one set of defined interfaces that are used to connect to other parts. To simplify the process of interconnecting parts, interfaces are grouped into interface families. An interface family is a collection of interfaces that are functionally and mechanically compatible with each other. Interface families are grouped into the part types to help organize them because there may be very many different interface families. An interface includes gender plugs or jacks. Two interfaces are compatible when they share the same interface family and opposite gender. Additionally, each interface of a cable may have a tag associated with it. The cable tag is added to the cable interface end and is marked with the name of the interface, the cable reference designator, and the reference designator and interface name of the destination or mate of the cable end. This type of marking insures proper assembly and operation of the system. Table IV defines the fields of tlkpIF_Def Table V defines the fields of tlkpIF_Family. Table VI defines the field of tlkpTagDef. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE IV 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpIF_Def 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *ID_IF 
                 Counter 
                 A unique key for each interface. 
               
               
                 IDPart 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tlkpPartsList 102 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 correlate an interface to a part. 
               
               
                 ID_IF_Family 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpIF_Family 108 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 define the interface family for the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interface. 
               
               
                 Name 
                 Text 
                 A name for the interface. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the function of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interface. 
               
               
                 Gender 
                 Text 
                 The value Plug or Jack. 
               
               
                 ID_Tag 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpTagDef 110 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 correlate an interface to the tag used 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to mark the interface with its name 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and destination. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE V 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpIF_Family 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *ID_IF_Family 
                 Counter 
                 A unique key for each interface 
               
               
                   
                   
                 family. 
               
               
                 IDPartType 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpPartType 100 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 group an interface family into a part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 type. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the interface family. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE VI 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpTagDef 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *ID_Tag 
                 Counter 
                 A unique key for each cable Tag. 
               
               
                 TagPN 
                 Text 
                 A part number of a tag. Used to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 group all markings on the same tags 
               
               
                   
                   
                 when printing the tags in a factory. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the use of the tag. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Data lookup table tlkpParamDef  118  is used in conjunction with tlkpParamDesc  116  to define multiple sets of general purpose configuration parameters for a part. Multiple sets of configuration parameters are defined for parts that have more than one pre-definable configuration. The configuration parameter list for a part pre-defines the information deemed important about a part. In some cases the default value of a parameter may be defined. In other cases, only the parameter is defined and the value is left blank for assignment of a value during construction of a unit. In some cases, an illustration of the part is used to simplify the configuration of part in by showing the location and settings of variable switches, and the like. 
     The data lookup tables tlkpParamList  112  and tlkpParamGrp  114  provide a list of pre-defined and reusable parameters. Reusable parameters are necessary to support clarity of the collected data and to support searching and sorting of the data. Parameters are categorized into parameter groups to help organize the parameters and facilitate grouping when printing reports. Typical groups of parameters may include revision identification information such as serial numbers, weight, power requirements, switch settings, firmware settings, networking information, etc. 
     Table VII defines the fields of tlkpParamList  112 . Table VIII defines the fields of tlkpParamGrp  114 . Table IX defines the fields of tlkpParamDesc  116 . Table X defines the fields of tlkpParamDef  118 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE VII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpParamList 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDParam 
                 Counter 
                 A unique key for each parameter. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the parameter. 
               
               
                 IDParamGrp 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpParamGrp 114 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 assign the parameter to parameter 
               
               
                   
                   
                 group. 
               
               
                 HelpNotes 
                 Text 
                 Amplifying data entered to describe 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the use of the parameter. 
               
               
                 FlagCopy 
                 Yes/No 
                 A flag indicating whether the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parameter value is cleared when one 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unit is copied to a different unit. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Used for information such as 
               
               
                   
                   
                 subassembly serial numbers that are 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unique to each unit. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE VIII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpParamGrp 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDParamGrp 
                 Counter 
                 A unique key for each parameter 
               
               
                   
                   
                 group. 
               
               
                 LongDescription 
                 Text 
                 A long form of the description of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the parameter group. Used for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 printing reports. 
               
               
                 ShortDescription 
                 Text 
                 A short form of the description of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the parameter group. Used on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 input forms to save space. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE IX 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpParamDesc 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDPart 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tlkpPartsList 102 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 correlate a parameter set to a part. 
               
               
                 *PN_CfgNo 
                 Integer 
                 A number to uniquely identify the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 set of configuration parameters. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the set of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 configuration parameters. 
               
               
                 LRU_DwgPath 
                 Text 
                 The name of a file or set of files 
               
               
                   
                   
                 containing the illustration of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 particular configuration of the part. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE X 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpParamDef 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDPart 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tlkpPartsList 102 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 correlate a parameter set to a part. 
               
               
                 *PN_CfgNo 
                 Integer 
                 A link to tlkpParamDesc 116 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 identify the set of configuration 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parameters. 
               
               
                 *IDParam 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpParamDesc 116 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 define a parameter. 
               
               
                 Default Value 
                 Text 
                 The default value of the parameter 
               
               
                   
                   
                 or blank if the parameter value is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 determined when the unit is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 constructed. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Data lookup table tlkpEquipType  200  combined with tlkpLocDesc  202  and tlkpLocDef  204  defines a type of equipment and the locations within the equipment that fixed subassemblies (not cables) may be placed. Multiple sets of location definitions are supported for an equipment when necessary. An illustration may be associated with a location definition to illustrate the location definition in printed reports. This illustration should have callouts identifying the reference designated locations for subassemblies. A set of fields are also provided for configuration management control of location definitions. When a location definition is “Released”, its definition is protected from further modification. When the location definition is not “Released”, its definition is modifiable, but a record of the explanation for the change is maintained. 
     In order to sort alpha-numeric reference designators properly, they must be represented with fixed length numeric strings (e.g., A 001 , A 002 , A 010  vs. A 1 , A 10 , A 2 .). Part families are used to control the assignment of subassemblies to locations in which subassemblies are compatible. In order to sort alpha-numeric reference designators properly, they must be represented with fixed length numeric strings (e.g. A 001 , A 002 , A 010  vs. A 1 , A 10 , A 2 ). Data lookup tables tlkpPartFamilyDef  208  and tlkpPartFamDesc  206  define the list of parts that make up a part family. A part family is then assigned to a location in tlkpLocDef  204 . Table XI defines the fields of tlkpEquipType  200 . Table XII defines the fields of tlkpLocDesc  202 . Table XIII defines the fields of tlkpLocDef. Table XIV defines the fields of tlkpPartFamDesc  206 . Table XV defines the fields of tlkpPartFamilyDef  208 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XI 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpEquipType 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDEquipType 
                 Counter 
                 A unique identifier of an equipment 
               
               
                   
                   
                 type. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the equipment. 
               
               
                 CM_MstrKey 
                 Long Integer 
                 Link to tblCM_Status 210 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tblCM_Memo 212 defining the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 group of configuration management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 records for an equipment. 
               
               
                 CM_CurKey 
                 Long Integer 
                 Link to tblCM_Status 210 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tblCM_Memo 212 defining the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 current configuration management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 records for an equipment. 
               
               
                 Status 
                 Long Integer 
                 The current configuration status. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Either “Released”, “Unreleased” or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 “In Process”. Released is used to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 write protect the location definition. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpLocDesc 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDEquipType 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpEquipType 200 
               
               
                   
                   
                 defining the equipment type 
               
               
                   
                   
                 associated with the location 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition. 
               
               
                 *EquipCfgNo 
                 Integer 
                 A number to uniquely identify a set 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of location definitions. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the location 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition. 
               
               
                 EquipDwgPath 
                 Text 
                 The name of a file or set of files 
               
               
                   
                   
                 containing the illustration of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 particular location definition of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 equipment. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XIII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpLocDef 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDEquipType 
                 Long Integer 
                 Link to tlkpLocDesc 202 defining 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the equipment type associated with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the location definition. 
               
               
                 *EquipCfgNo 
                 Integer 
                 Link to tlkpLocDesc 202 to identify 
               
               
                   
                   
                 a set of location definitions. 
               
               
                 *RefDes 
                 Text 
                 A unique location within the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 equipment. Alpha-numeric 
               
               
                   
                   
                 reference designators need to be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 represented with fixed length 
               
               
                   
                   
                 numeric strings in order to sort 
               
               
                   
                   
                 properly (e.g. A001, A010). 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the location 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition. 
               
               
                 IDPartFamily 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpPartFamilyDef 
               
               
                   
                   
                 208 defining the part family 
               
               
                   
                   
                 compatible with the location. 
               
               
                 Required 
                 Yes/No 
                 A flag indicating whether the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 location is required to be populated. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Used for error checking. 
               
               
                 ID_DefaultPN 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpPartsList 102 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 identify a part such as a cover. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Should be used to fill a location 
               
               
                   
                   
                 when no other part has been 
               
               
                   
                   
                 assigned to the location. Expedites 
               
               
                   
                   
                 filling required locations with a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 default part. 
               
               
                 AdjRefDes 
                 Text 
                 The reference designator of an 
               
               
                   
                   
                 adjacent location that may be used 
               
               
                   
                   
                 for parts with a size greater than 
               
               
                   
                   
                 one. Alpha-numeric reference 
               
               
                   
                   
                 designators need to be represented 
               
               
                   
                   
                 with fixed length numeric strings in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 order to sort properly (e.g. A001, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 A010). 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XIV 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpPartFamDesc 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDPartFamily 
                 Counter 
                 A unique identifier for a part family. 
               
               
                 IDPartType 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpPartType 100 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 categorize a part family by a part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 type. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the part family. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XV 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpPartFamilyDef 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDPartFamily 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tlkpPartFamDesc 206 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 define a part family for a list of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parts. 
               
               
                 *IDPart 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpPartsList 102 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 define a list of parts in a part family. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Data lookup tables tblCM_Memo  212  and tblCM_Status  210  are used to record an explanation of changes that occur to definitions of parts, locations, or assembled units. A unique master key is assigned to each part, location definition, or unit definition defining the group of records related to it. The current key identifies the most recent comment record. A new record is added when the status changes to “Released” and no records currently exist in the tables. After this initial record is created, a new record is created each time the status changes from “Released”. The time, date and identity of the user are also recorded. Table XVI defines the fields for tblCM_Memo  212 . Table XVII defines the fields for tblCM_Status  210 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XVI 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tblCM_Memo 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *CM_MstrKey 
                 Long Integer 
                 Link to tblCM_Status 210 defining 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the group of configuration 
               
               
                   
                   
                 management records for a part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition, location definition or unit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition. 
               
               
                 *CM_CurKey 
                 Long Integer 
                 Link to tblCM_Status 210 defining 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the current configuration 
               
               
                   
                   
                 management records for a part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition, location definition or unit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition. 
               
               
                 Comment 
                 Text 
                 A description recorded to justify the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 change. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XVII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tblCM_Status 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *CM_MstrKey 
                 Long Integer 
                 Link to tblCM_Memo 212 defining 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the group of configuration 
               
               
                   
                   
                 management records for a part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition, location definition or unit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition. 
               
               
                 *CM_CurKey 
                 Long Integer 
                 Link to tblCM_Memo 212 defining 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the current configuration 
               
               
                   
                   
                 management records for a part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition, location definition or unit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition. 
               
               
                 *DateStatus 
                 Date 
                 The date and time of the last status 
               
               
                   
                   
                 change. 
               
               
                 Status 
                 Text 
                 The current configuration status. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Either “Released”, “Unreleased” or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 “In Process”. Released is used to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 write protect the part definition, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 location definition or unit definition. 
               
               
                 User 
                 Text 
                 The name of the user responsible for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 making the change. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Unit definition data table tblUnitEquip  300  defines a unique system or assembly. A unit is identified by the combination of fields IDEquipType, SerialNumber and Instance. The IDEquipType field identifies the type of equipment to be assembled. The SerialNumber field identifies a unique piece of equipment. The Instance field further identifies a different version of a SerialNumber equipment if so desired. The EquipCfgNo field is selected from the corresponding field in data lookup table tlkpLocDesc  202  to select a specific location definition for the selected equipment type. An illustration may be associated with a Unit definition which can provide a functional block diagram of the system in printed reports. The functional block diagram enhances the understanding of the tabular data provided by the database without being too detailed or costly to produce. A set of fields are also provided for configuration management control of the unit definition. When a unit definition is “Released”, its definition is protected from further modification. When the unit definition is not “Released”, its definition is modifiable, but a record of the explanation for the change is maintained. Table XVIII defines the fields for tblUnitEquip  300 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XVIII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tblUnitEquip 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDUnitEquip 
                 Counter 
                 A unique identifier of the unit. 
               
               
                 IDEquipType 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpLocDesc 202 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 select an equipment location 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition. 
               
               
                 EquipCfgNo 
                 Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpLocDesc 202 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 identify a set of location definitions. 
               
               
                 SerialNumber 
                 Text 
                 A serial number for a specific unit. 
               
               
                 Instance 
                 Text 
                 Any text describing a different 
               
               
                   
                   
                 version of the same SerialNumber 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unit. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the unit. 
               
               
                 FuncDwgPath 
                 Text 
                 The name of a file or set of files 
               
               
                   
                   
                 containing the illustration of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 functional block diagram for the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unit. 
               
               
                 CM_MstrKey 
                 Long Integer 
                 Link to tblCM_Status 210 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tblCM_Memo 212 defining the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 group of configuration management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 records for a unit. 
               
               
                 CM_CurKey 
                 Long Integer 
                 Link to tblCM_Status 210 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tblCM_Memo 212 defining the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 current configuration management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 records for an unit. 
               
               
                 Status 
                 Long Integer 
                 The current configuration status. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Either “Released”, “Unreleased” or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 “In Process”. Released is used to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 write protect the unit definition. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Unit definition data table tblUnitPartsList  302  contains a list of parts selected from tlkpPartsList  102 . Parts may be added to the list in groups by selecting kits from data lookup table tlkpKitdef  104 . Each part is added to the parts list of the unit assuming quantity one for each. This is necessary for each part to be uniquely configured and connected to other parts in the assembly. Only the IDPart field of a part from tlkpPartsList is added to the parts list table since the definition of the part is always available from the part definition lookup tables. When a part is added to the parts list, it is assigned the next sequential item number in the ItemNumber field to uniquely identify the part. When a kit is added to the parts list, each part in the kit is assigned the next sequential kit item number in field KitNumber. The KitNumber field maintains a grouping of all parts added from each kit. The KitPartNumber field preserves a link to the part number of the kit for reference. The PN_CfgNo field is selected from the corresponding field in data lookup table tlkpParamdesc  116  to select a specific set of configuration parameters for a part and it is also used as a link to get to the LRU_DwgPath field. The RefDes field is selected from the data lookup table tlkpLocDef  204 . The ProcessorGrp field is used to combine parts that all need to be grouped under a single computer operating system. This is useful for multiprocessor systems. The ProcessorGrp field is selected from unit definition data table tblUnitProcGrp  308 . The Spare field is used to designate a part that is not configured within the unit, such as a spare shipped separately. Table XIX defines the fields of tblUnitPartsList  302 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XIX 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tblUnitPartsList 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDUnitPartsList 
                 Counter 
                 A unique identifier of a part. 
               
               
                 IDUnitEquip 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tblUnitEquip 300 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 assign the part to a unit. 
               
               
                 ItemNumber 
                 Integer 
                 A sequential number unique to each 
               
               
                   
                   
                 part within a unit. 
               
               
                 IDPart 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpPartsList 102 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 link to all other tables using IDPart 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to supply part definition information 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from the lookup tables. 
               
               
                 KitNumber 
                 Integer 
                 A sequential number unique to each 
               
               
                   
                   
                 kit and assigned to all the parts in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 each kit. 
               
               
                 KitPartNumber 
                 Long Integer 
                 Selected from kit part types within 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpPartsList 102 to define the kit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 part number. 
               
               
                 PN_CfgNo 
                 Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpParamDesc 116 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to link also to tlkpParamDef 118 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 identify a set of configuration 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parameters for each part within the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unit. 
               
               
                 RefDes 
                 Text 
                 A reference designator selected 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from tlkpLocDef 204 or manually 
               
               
                   
                   
                 entered for parts such as cables that 
               
               
                   
                   
                 do not have a fixed location. Alpha- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 numeric reference designators need 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to be represented with fixed length 
               
               
                   
                   
                 numeric strings in order to sort 
               
               
                   
                   
                 properly (e.g. A001, A010). 
               
               
                 ProcessorGrp 
                 Integer 
                 The number of a processor group 
               
               
                   
                   
                 selected from tblUnitProcGrp 308. 
               
               
                 Spare 
                 Yes/No 
                 A flag indicating whether a part is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to be configured within the unit or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 kept separate. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Unit definition data table tblUnitParam  304  defines the list of parameters associated with a part in tblUnitPartsList. When a particular configuration of a part is selected from tlkpParamDesc  116  associated with field PN_CfgNo, the corresponding records from tlkpParamDef  118  are copied into tblUnitParam  304 . This copy is performed to allow changing any of the parameter values unique to a part without affecting the default values in tlkpParamDef  118 . Table XX defines the fields of tblUnitParam  304 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XX 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tblUnitParam 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 *IDUnitParts 
                 Counter 
                 A unique identifier of a part. 
               
               
                   
                 List 
               
               
                   
                 *IDParam 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tlkpParamDef 118 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 define the parameter. 
               
               
                   
                 Value 
                 Text 
                 The value of a parameter. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Unit definition table tblUnitConnect  306  defines all connections between interfaces within the unit. All unconnected (no connect) interfaces are also recorded. When all interfaces are accounted for within tblUnitConnect, the connection process is verifiably completed. Each connection has a unique field IDUnitConnect which is necessary for deleting connections from the table. The use of field IDUnitEquip also allows enhanced performance by grouping records associated with the unit under construction. Connections are established by identifying the IDUnitPartsList from tblUnitPartsList  302  value of a part and an interface ID_IF from tlkpIF_Def  106  associated with the part. A mate is selected based upon the following criteria. The interface must be in the same unit, not previously assigned, not on a spare part, in the same interface family (field ID_IF_Family in tlkpIF_Def  106 ), and of opposite gender. If a mate is not selected, then the field FlagNoConnect may be set with the interface. It does not matter whether an interface is assigned to the _A fields or the _B fields. Table XXI defines the fields of tblUnitConnect  306 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXI 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tblUnitConnect 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDUnitConnect 
                 Counter 
                 A unique identifier of a connection 
               
               
                 IDUnitEquip 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tblUnitEquip 300 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 group the corrections within a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unit. 
               
               
                 IDUnitPartsList_A 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tblUnitPartsList 302 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 identify a part. 
               
               
                 ID_IF_A 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tlkpIF_Def 106 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 identify interface of the part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 IDUnitPartsList_A 
               
               
                 IDUnitPartsList_B 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tblUnitPartsList 302 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 identify a part. 
               
               
                 ID_IF_B 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tlkpIF_Def 106 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 identify an interface of the part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 IDUnitPartsList_B 
               
               
                 FlagNoConnect 
                 Yes/No 
                 Indicates that the interface in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 either the _A fields or the _B 
               
               
                   
                   
                 fields is not connected to a mate. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 This method is probably faster 
               
               
                   
                   
                 than detecting the undefined 
               
               
                   
                   
                 values in the mating fields. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Unit definition table tblUnitProcGrp  308  is used in conjunction with tlkpOS  310  to define a processor group and assign the processor group to an operating system. The processor group is then used to select the processor group for parts in tblUnitPartsList  302 . A processor group is a collection of parts that operate under a single operating system. This would include parts such as processors, mass storage devices, HMI devices and software. This grouping is helpful in systems with multiple processors and operating systems to insure operating system compatibility of parts. 
     Data lookup table tlkpOS  310  contains an index which is a sequential number and a description corresponding to an operating system. The index is used as a character array index into field OS-Supported of tlkpPartsList  102 . The treatment of field OS_Supported as an array allows for a varying number of operating systems without affecting the design of the database. If the character at the indexed position of field OS_Supported is a “Y”, then the operating system is supported, otherwise it is not. When a part in tblUnitPartsList is assigned a processor group, the OS_Supported field of the part is verified to support the operating system assigned to the processor group. Additional parameters are provided in tblUnitProcGrp  308  to further define the configuration of the processor group. Table XXII defines the fields of tblUnitProcGrp  308 . Table XIII defines the fields of tlkpOS  310 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tblUnitProcGrp 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *IDUnitEquip 
                 Long Integer 
                 A link to tblUnitEquip 300 to group 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the connections within a unit. 
               
               
                 *ProcessorGrp 
                 Integer 
                 A sequential number for each 
               
               
                   
                   
                 processor group within a unit. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 The description of the processor 
               
               
                   
                   
                 group 
               
               
                 Index 
                 Integer 
                 Selected from tlkpOS to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 correspond the processor group to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 an operating system. 
               
               
                 Password 
                 Text 
                 The login password for the default 
               
               
                   
                   
                 login name. 
               
               
                 BootPath 
                 Text 
                 A text string indicating the source 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of the operating system the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 executes on the processor group. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 For example, the operating system 
               
               
                   
                   
                 may be loaded from a local mass 
               
               
                   
                   
                 storage device or over a local area 
               
               
                   
                   
                 network from a remote mass 
               
               
                   
                   
                 storage device. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXIII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Fields of Table tlkpOS 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Field Name 
                 Field Type 
                 Field Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *Index 
                 Integer 
                 A unique identifier of a operating 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system. Used as in index into the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 array in field OS_Support in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpPartsList 102. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Text 
                 A description of the operating 
               
               
                   
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The process for manipulating data in the relational database tables will be described assuming a hierarchical set of actions which is typical of an event driven graphical user interface. The following tables have a column identifying the level of hierarchy for an action using an outline numbering scheme, a brief description of the action and additional explanation about the action if necessary to fully describe the action. Table XXIV defines the top level process. Major steps in the process will be decomposed in subsequent tables. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXIV 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Actions of Main Menu 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Level 
                 Description 
                 Additional Explanation 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 Part Definition 
                 The parts definition process (Table 
               
               
                   
                   
                 XXV). 
               
               
                 2 
                 Location 
                 The location definition process (Table 
               
               
                   
                 Definition 
                 XXVII). 
               
               
                 3 
                 Unit Definition 
                 The unit definition process (Table 
               
               
                   
                   
                 XXVIII). 
               
               
                 4 
                 Maintenance 
                 Maintenance of other tables (Table 
               
               
                   
                   
                 XXXI). 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The part definition process involves the creation of database records to define the configuration information for parts. The definition process begins with the creation of the part, and continues with the addition of parameter definitions and interface definitions. Parts defined as kits will not have parameter definitions or interface definitions. To edit field OS_Supported in tlkpPartsList  102 , use tlkpOS to index into the OS_Supported array and toggle the character for each operating system between “Y” and “N”. For certain parts that add on to other parts without taking extra space, set the Size field in tlkpPartsList  102  to zero. The field DefaultRefDes in tlkpPartsList  102  is only used for cables with a fixed reference designator assignment. When the part is initially created, the Status field is set as In-Process. When the part definition process for a part is completed, the status is set to Released. Further modifications of the part definition will require changing the status back to In-Process and recording an explanation for the change. Table XXV defines the part definition process. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXV 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Actions of Part Definition 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Level 
                 Description 
                 Additional Explanation 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1.1 
                 View Parts List 
                 Display the list of parts from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpPartList 102. 
               
               
                 1.1.1 
                 Add Part 
                 Add new record to tlkpPartsList 102. 
               
               
                 1.1.2 
                 Delete Selected 
                 Delete part from tlkpPartsList 102 and 
               
               
                   
                 Part 
                 related data from tlkpParamDesc 116, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpParamDef 118, tlkpIF_Def 106, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpPartFamilyDef 208 and tlkpKitDef. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 A part cannot be deleted if used in any 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unit definition. 
               
               
                 1.1.3 
                 Copy Selected 
                 Copy all of the data defining a part 
               
               
                   
                 Part to New Part 
                 (configurations, interfaces and part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 families as in 1.1.2) to a new part. 
               
               
                 1.1.4 
                 Edit Selected 
                 Change the values of fields in 
               
               
                   
                 Part Description 
                 tlkpPartsList 102 except field 
               
               
                   
                   
                 PartNumber. 
               
               
                 1.1.5 
                 Edit Selected 
                 Edit parameter definitions (Table 
               
               
                   
                 Part Parameters 
                 XXVI). 
               
               
                 1.1.6 
                 Edit Selected 
                 Edit interface definitions (Table 
               
               
                   
                 Part Interfaces 
                 XXVII). 
               
               
                 1.1.7 
                 Status Selected 
                 Change configuration status of selected 
               
               
                   
                 Part 
                 part. 
               
               
                 1.2 
                 View Kit List 
                 Displays all parts of part type Kit 
               
               
                 1.2.1 
                 Add Kit Part 
                 Adds a new record to tlkpKitDef 104 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 add a part to a kit. 
               
               
                 1.2.2 
                 Delete Kit Part 
                 Delete a part from tlkpKitDef 104. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The parameter definition subprocess within the part definition process allows for the creation of multiple sets, or configurations, of parameters for a part. The parameter definition lookup table structure is a general purpose method to define arbitrary information about a part. Parameters are created to be reusable on all parts so that queries may be written to extract desirable information. Parameters are also created as members of parameter groups to help organize the parameters. The values assigned at this point are default values since parameters and values are copied from the selected configuration when configuring a unit. The field FlagCopy in tlkpParamList indicates that a parameter value, such as a subassembly serial number, must be cleared when one unit is copied to another. To save space within the database, the name of an illustration file or set of files (using wildcards) may be used in field LRU_DwgPath in tlkpParamDesc  116 . The file or files can be temporarily brought into the database during printing operations. The HelpNotes field of tlkpParamList  112  provides direction to the user on the meaning of the parameter and its possible values. Parameters may include information such as weight and power consumption which can be calculated with additional queries. Table XXVI defines the parameter definition subprocess of the part definition process. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXVI 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Actions of Parameter Definition 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Level 
                 Description 
                 Additional Explanation 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1.1.5.1 
                 Add 
                 Add a new record to tlkpParamDesc 
               
               
                   
                 Configuration 
                 116. 
               
               
                 1.1.5.2 
                 Delete 
                 Delete record in tlkpParamDesc 116 
               
               
                   
                 Configuration 
                 and related parameters in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpParamDef 118. Configuration 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cannot be deleted if used in unit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition. 
               
               
                 1.1.5.3 
                 Copy 
                 Add a new record to tlkpParamDesc 
               
               
                   
                 Configuration 
                 116 with next PN_CfgNo and copy 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parameters in tlkpParamDef 118 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 newPN_CfgNo. 
               
               
                 1.1.5.4 
                 Edit 
                 Edit parameters of selected PN_CfgNo 
               
               
                   
                 Configuration 
                 from tlkpParamDesc 116. 
               
               
                 1.1.5.4.1 
                 Add Parameter 
                 Add new parameter selected from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpParamList 112 to tlkpParamDef 
               
               
                   
                   
                 118. 
               
               
                 1.1.5.4.1.1 
                 Create 
                 Add new parameter definition to 
               
               
                   
                 Parameter 
                 tlkpParamList 112. Field IDParamGrp 
               
               
                   
                   
                 selected from tlkpParamGrp 114. 
               
               
                 1.1.5.4.2 
                 Delete 
                 Delete parameter from tlkpParamDef 
               
               
                   
                 Parameter 
                 118. Parameters cannot be deleted if 
               
               
                   
                   
                 used in unit definition. 
               
               
                 1.1.5.4.3 
                 Edit Parameter 
                 Edit field DefaultValue in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpParamDef 118. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The interface definition subprocess of the part definition process allows for the creation of a list of interfaces for connection of the corresponding part to others parts. In a large system, the number of types of interfaces is large so the interfaces need to be organized. Interface families are used to categorize interfaces into functionally and mechanically compatible groups. Additionally, the number of interface families may be large so the interface families are also grouped into categories of part types. As a general rule, the part type of an interface family should be based on the more fixed type of connector (not cable interfaces). An interface is assigned to an interface family and given a gender. The gender, plug or jack, is used to allow interfaces within the same interface family to mate when constructing a unit. As a general rule, the more fixed type of connector is defined as a Jack and more flexible connectors are defined as Plugs (cable interfaces). If a cable interface may be connected to a variety of mates, a cable tag may be assigned to the interface which can be marked with information defining the connection (source and destination). For example, if cable W 100  interface P 1  connects to subassembly A 1 A 2  J 2 , the marker is “W100 P1 (A1A2 J2)”. The parentheses indicate the destination of the cable interface. Table XXVII defines the interface definition subprocess of the part definition process. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXVII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Actions of Interface Definition 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Level 
                 Description 
                 Additional Explanation 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1.1.6.1 
                 Add Interface 
                 Add a new record to tlkpIF_Def 106. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Field ID_IF_Family selected from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpIF_Family 108. Field ID_Tag 
               
               
                   
                   
                 selected from tlkpTagDef 110. Select 
               
               
                   
                   
                 field Gender from “Plug” or “Jack”. 
               
               
                 1.1.6.1.1 
                 Add Interface 
                 Add a new record to tlkpIF_Family 
               
               
                   
                 Family 
                 108. Field IDPartType selected from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpPartType 100. 
               
               
                 1.1.6.2 
                 Delete Interface 
                 Deleter record from tlkpIF_Def 106. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Cannot be deleted if used in unit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The location definition process is used to create a type of equipment or system and assign location definitions to it. Multiple sets of location definitions may be required for some types of equipment or systems. A location definition is a list of reference designated locations corresponding to places within the equipment or system for fixed subassemblies. This does not include cables used to connect the subassemblies. In some cases, the location definition may be augmented with an illustration implemented as a file or set of files identified by the field EquipDwgPath of tlkpLocDesc  202 . Part families are used to insure that only parts compatible with a location are later assigned to that location during the unit construction process. A part family is a list of parts compatible with location. Since parts are categorized into part types, so are part families. When the equipment is initially created, the Status field is set as In-Process. When the location definition process for an equipment is completed, the status is set to Released. Further modifications of the location definition will require changing the status back to In-Process and recording an explanation for the change. Table XXVIII defines the location definition process. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXVIII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Actions of Location Definition 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Level 
                 Description 
                 Additional Explanation 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 2.1 
                 Add Equipment 
                 Add a new record to tlkpEquipType 
               
               
                   
                 Type 
                 to create a type of equipment. 
               
               
                 2.1.1 
                 Add Configuration 
                 Add a new record to tlkpLocDesc 
               
               
                   
                   
                 202. 
               
               
                 2.1.2 
                 Delete 
                 Delete record in tlkpLocDesc 202 
               
               
                   
                 Configuration 
                 and related records in tlkpLocDef 
               
               
                   
                   
                 204. Configuration cannot be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 deleted if used in unit definition. 
               
               
                 2.1.3 
                 Copy 
                 Add a new record to tlkpLocDesc 
               
               
                   
                 Configuration 
                 202 with next EquipCfgNo and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 copy records in tlkpLocDef 204 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 new EquipCfgNo. 
               
               
                 2.1.4 
                 Edit Configuration 
                 Edit locations of selected 
               
               
                   
                   
                 EquipCfgNo from tlkpLocDesc 
               
               
                   
                   
                 202. 
               
               
                 2.1.4.1 
                 Add Location 
                 Add new location to tlkpLocDef 
               
               
                   
                   
                 204. Select field IDPartFamily 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from tlkpPartFamilyDesc 206. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Adjust reference designator to use 
               
               
                   
                   
                 fixed length numeric fields (e.g. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 A001). 
               
               
                 2.1.4.1.1 
                 Create Part Family 
                 Add new part family definition to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpPartFamilyDesc 206. 
               
               
                 2.1.4.2 
                 Delete Location 
                 Delete location from tlkpLocDef 
               
               
                   
                   
                 204. Location cannot be deleted if 
               
               
                   
                   
                 used in unit definition. 
               
               
                 2.1.4.3 
                 Add Part to Part 
                 Add new part to a part family in 
               
               
                   
                 Family 
                 tlkpPartFamilyDef 208. Select part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 family from tlkpPartFamDesc 206. 
               
               
                 2.1.4.4 
                 Delete Part from 
                 Delete part from a part family in 
               
               
                   
                 Part Family 
                 tlkpPartFamilyDef 208. Select part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 family from tlkpPartFamDesc 206. 
               
               
                 2.2 
                 Status Selected 
                 Change configuration status of 
               
               
                   
                 Equipment 
                 selected equipment. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The unit definition process results in a description of the construction of a unit assembly or system. A unit is made of parts selected from the parts definition tables. The parts are assigned to locations according to the part family definitions of the location definition of the selected equipment type. Processor groups may be defined and parts assigned to them. The parts are then interconnected based upon the interface definitions and interface families in the part definition. Finally, the parts are assigned configuration parameters based on the configuration parameter definitions in the part definition. The completed unit definition may be printed on reports to be described later. The unit definition is linked to the part definition and location definition for efficiency and coherency. When the unit is initially created, the Status field is set as In-Process. When the unit definition process for an equipment is completed, the status is set to Released. Further modifications of the unit definition will require changing the status back to In-Process and recording an explanation for the change. Table XXIX defines the unit definition process. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXIX 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Actions of Unit Definition 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Level 
                 Description 
                 Additional Explanation 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 3.1 
                 Add Unit 
                 Add a new record to tblUnitEquip 
               
               
                   
                   
                 300 to create a unit for assembly. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Select the IDEquipType from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpEquipType 200 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 EquipCfgNo from tlkpLocDesc 202. 
               
               
                 3.2 
                 Edit Unit 
                 Select a unit from tblUnitEquip 300. 
               
               
                 3.2.1 
                 Edit Parts List 
                 View the unit parts list from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tblUnitPartsList 302. 
               
               
                 3.2.1.1 
                 Add Part 
                 Add a part from tlkpPartsList 102 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to tblUnitPartsList 302. Use the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 next sequential item number starting 
               
               
                   
                   
                 at 1. If the part is a kit, add all the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parts of the kit (multiply any 
               
               
                   
                   
                 quantities greater than 1) and use 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the next sequential kit number 
               
               
                   
                   
                 starting at 1. Copy the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DefaultRefDes field from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpPartsList 102 to the RefDes 
               
               
                   
                   
                 field of tblUnitPartsList 302. 
               
               
                 3.2.1.2 
                 Delete Part 
                 Delete a part from tlkpPartsList 102 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and all corresponding records from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tblParam 304 and tblUnitConnect 306. 
               
               
                 3.2.1.3 
                 Delete Kit 
                 Delete all parts of a kit according to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3.2.1.2. 
               
               
                 3.2.2 
                 Assign Locations 
                 Assign field RefDes in 
               
               
                   
                 to Parts 
                 tblUnitPartsList 302 based on a part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 family compatible, unoccupied 
               
               
                   
                   
                 location from tlkpLocDef 204. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Additional parts may be added to an 
               
               
                   
                   
                 occupied location of their size is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 zero (e.e. putting software on a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 hard disk). Spare parts are 
               
               
                   
                   
                 excluded from this step. Automatic 
               
               
                   
                   
                 assignments may be made for parts 
               
               
                   
                   
                 that have only one possible location. 
               
               
                 3.2.3 
                 Define Processor 
                 Add a record to tblUnitProcGrp 
               
               
                   
                 Groups 
                 308 to define a processor group. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Select field Index from tlkpOS 310. 
               
               
                 3.2.4 
                 Assign Processor 
                 Assign field ProcessorGrp in 
               
               
                   
                 Groups to Parts 
                 tblUnitsPartsList 302 selected from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tblUnitProcGrp 308. Insure that the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 OS_Supported field from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tlkpPartsList allows the part to be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 assigned to the operating system 
               
               
                   
                   
                 based on field Index from tlkpOS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 310. Spare parts are excluded from this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 step. 
               
               
                 3.2.5 
                 Interconnect Parts 
                 Display the list of parts with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interfaces, the interfaces and the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 connections to the interfaces (Table 
               
               
                   
                   
                 XXIX). Spare parts are excluded from this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 step. 
               
               
                 3.2.6 
                 Assign Parameters 
                 Display the list of parts with 
               
               
                   
                 to Parts 
                 configuration parameters and their 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parameters (Table XXXI). 
               
               
                 3.3 
                 Status Selected 
                 Change configuration status of 
               
               
                   
                 Unit 
                 selected unit. 
               
               
                 3.4 
                 Print Reports 
                 Print a set of reports for a unit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 definition (Table TBD). 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The unit interconnection process is used to interconnect the parts in the unit that have interfaces defined. Mating interfaces are selected from the parts within the unit that have interfaces in the same interface family and opposite gender and are unconnected. To know when the interconnection subprocess is completed, all unconnected interfaces are defined explicitly as “No Connects” thus accounting for all interfaces within a unit. The field IDUnitConnect of tblUnitConnect  306  is necessary to delete records from the table. The field IDUnitEquip of tblUnitConnect accelerates queries for connections within a unit. Table XXX defines the unit interconnection subprocess of the unit definition process. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXX 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Actions of Unit Interconnect Definition 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Level 
                 Description 
                 Additional Explanation 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 3.2.5.1 
                 Assign Cable 
                 Assign values to cable reference 
               
               
                   
                 Reference 
                 designators since they are not 
               
               
                   
                 Designators 
                 assigned during location definition. 
               
               
                 3.2.5.2 
                 Auto-assign 
                 Detect all interfaces that have only 
               
               
                   
                 Connections and 
                 one possible mate or no possible 
               
               
                   
                 No Connections 
                 mates and automatically assign them. 
               
               
                 3.2.5.3 
                 Assign Connection 
                 Select a mate for an interface that is in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 same interface family, opposite gender and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unconnected and assign a connection in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tblUnitConnect 306. 
               
               
                 3.2.5.4 
                 Assign No 
                 Assign a No Connect record in 
               
               
                   
                 Connection 
                 tblUnitConnect 306. 
               
               
                 3.2.5.5 
                 Delete Connection 
                 Delete a record in tblUnitConnect 306. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The unit parameter definition process is used to assign a specific set of configuration parameters to each part within a unit. The parameters from the selected configuration are copied to tblUnitParam  304  so that parameter values may be modified independent of the part definition. A link to the original parameters in maintained with field PN_CfgNo in tblUnitPartsList so that the description and illustration fields in tlkpParamDesc  116  may be used. Parts that have only one configuration may be automatically assigned. Table XXXI defines the unit parameter definition subprocess of the unit definition process. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXXI 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Actions of Unit Parameter Definition 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Level 
                 Description 
                 Additional Explanation 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 3.2.6.1 
                 Auto-assign 
                 Copy all parameters from 
               
               
                   
                 Configurations 
                 tlkpParamDef 118 to tblUnitParam 
               
               
                   
                   
                 304 for parts with of only one 
               
               
                   
                   
                 configuration in tlkpParamDesc 
               
               
                   
                   
                 116. Assign the PN_CfgNo field of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tblUnitPartsList 302 to the value 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from tlkpParamDesc 116. 
               
               
                 3.2.6.2 
                 Select 
                 Select a configuration from 
               
               
                   
                 Configuration 
                 tlkpParamDesc 116 and copy all 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parameters from tlkpParamDef 118 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to tblUnitParam 304. Assign the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 PN_CfgNo field of tblUnitPartsList 302 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to the selected value from tlkpParamDesc 
               
               
                   
                   
                 116. 
               
               
                 3.2.6.3 
                 Delete 
                 Delete a configuration from 
               
               
                   
                 Configuration 
                 tblUnitParam 304 and clear field 
               
               
                   
                   
                 PN_CfgNo in tblUnitPartsList 302. 
               
               
                 3.2.6.4 
                 Edit Configuration 
                 Edit the values in tblUnitParam 304. 
               
               
                   
                 Values 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The maintenance of supporting tables requires basic record operations. The supporting tables are not modified as part of normal activities and are considered more of an administration activity. Table XXXII defines the maintenance process. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXXII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Actions of Maintenance 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Level 
                 Description 
                 Additional Explanation 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 4.1 
                 Edit Part Type 
                 Add, delete and edit part type 
               
               
                   
                 Definitions 
                 definitions in tlkpPartType 100. 
               
               
                 4.2 
                 Edit Operating 
                 Add, delete and edit operating 
               
               
                   
                 System Definitions 
                 system definitions in tlkpOS 310. 
               
               
                 4.3 
                 Edit Parameter 
                 Add, delete and edit parameter 
               
               
                   
                 Group Definitions 
                 group definitions in tlkpParamGrp 
               
               
                   
                   
                 114. 
               
               
                 4.4 
                 Edit Cable Tag 
                 Add, delete and edit cable tag 
               
               
                   
                 Definitions 
                 definitions in tlkpTagDef 110. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The configuration management tables tblCM_Status  210  and tblCM_Memo  212  are used by the part definition process, the location definition process and the unit definition process to record explanations for changes in status. The status is used to secure records when the data is considered complete. When the first change in status occurs, no records will exist in the tables so an initial record is created. The initial record defines a new master key in field CM_MstrKey which assigns all records under this key the associated part, equipment or unit. The new master key is the next sequential value from the largest master key. A new current key is established in field CM_CurKey which identifies each separate explanation in field Comment. A new record is added and a new current key is established each time the status is change from Released to In-process. Each time the status changes, a new record is added to tblCM_status recording the date and time, the user and the status. 
     The primary printed reports that may be generated define the construction of a selected unit. This report could be called a configuration identification index (CII). Other reports may be generated to create a hard copy of part definitions or location definitions. The CII requires several chapters of reports for each topic to be printed. This document could also include title page and tables of contents. Table XXXIII defines a basic set of chapters for a CII. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XXXIII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Configuration Identification Index Report 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Chapter 
                 Title 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 Parts List 
                 A report containing a list of parts 
               
               
                   
                 (See FIG. 5 for 
                 sorted by either part number or 
               
               
                   
                 an example) 
                 reference designator. A group of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 parameters containing information 
               
               
                   
                   
                 such as item serial numbers could 
               
               
                   
                   
                 also be reported. 
               
               
                 2 
                 Illustrations 
                 A report containing the illustrations 
               
               
                   
                 (See FIG. 6 and 
                 within a unit followed by a unit 
               
               
                   
                 7) 
                 functional block diagram, followed 
               
               
                   
                   
                 by the location definition and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 followed by the part drawings. 
               
               
                 3 
                 Processor Groups 
                 A report containing a list of the 
               
               
                   
                 (See FIG. 8) 
                 processor groups and associated 
               
               
                   
                   
                 fields. This report could also 
               
               
                   
                   
                 contain a list of all the parts 
               
               
                   
                   
                 assigned to each processor group. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 It may also be practical to include 
               
               
                   
                   
                 configuration parameters of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 operating system software in each 
               
               
                   
                   
                 processor group. 
               
               
                 4 
                 Configuration 
                 A report containing a list of all parts 
               
               
                   
                 Parameters 
                 with configuration parameter 
               
               
                   
                 (See FIG. 9) 
                 groups not previously reported. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The parts would be organized in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 part number or reference designator 
               
               
                   
                   
                 order The parameters for each part 
               
               
                   
                   
                 would be presented in group order 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and then parameter order 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (alphabetical). 
               
               
                 5 
                 Interconnection 
                 A report containing a list of all 
               
               
                   
                 (See FIG. 10) 
                 interfaces and their mates or No 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Connect flags. The interfaces 
               
               
                   
                   
                 would be organized in reference 
               
               
                   
                   
                 designator order and interface name 
               
               
                   
                   
                 order. 
               
               
                 6 
                 Cable Tags 
                 A report containing a list of all 
               
               
                   
                 (See FIG. 11) 
                 interfaces requiring cable tags and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the marking required for the tags. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     An example use of the present invention is the documentation of the construction of a computer assembly. The part types of a computer may include, power system (power supplies, fans, etc.), human machine interface (keyboards, monitors, etc.), circuit cards (processors, I/O, etc.), storage devices (hard disk, tape, CD ROM, etc.), enclosures (cabinets, panels, etc.), networking (routers, switches, transceivers, etc.) and cables. Software can come in two categories, installed and uninstalled. Installed software, such as operating systems can be put in the same category as storage devices and given size zero. Then the software can be located on the storage device during the location assignment process. Uninstalled software would be treated as spare parts since it is separate from the assembly. A variable computer using circuit card slots and a backplane may support multiple processors and operating systems. Processor groups would be used to separate storage devices, circuit cards and HMI devices into their respective groups. Circuit cards that are mezzanines on other cards and do not require additional slots can be assigned size zero and added to locations along with the primary circuit card in the location. All of the types of illustrations; part, equipment and functional block diagram, could be used to complement the tabular data. A genealogy of reference designators would be used with each location assigned a unique reference designator and each cable assigned a unique reference designator. The equipment illustration would show the reference designators for locations. 
     The basic process for configuring a computer is to define the parts and their associated operating system compatibility matrix, parameters and interfaces  401 . The next step is to define the locations in the enclosure for the subassemblies and create part families for the locations  402 . The last step is to construct the computer by creating the unit with selected a location definition, build the parts list, assign the parts to locations, define the processor groups, assign the parts to processor groups, define the interconnections, select configuration parameters and assign values to the parameters. The unit may then be assembled and tested  404  according to the configuration defined in the database and the CII report may be generated. The data may be used to support the product  405  after delivery. 
     The present invention is equally capable of documenting the construction of a system of many computers connected by a network. Instead of reference designators for locations within a enclosure, the locations may be defined by a grid within a building. Each computer in the building would be assigned a location. Other parts such as software (size=0) could be added to each computer. The configuration parameters for the computer could identify specific configuration information about the computer such as hardware features. Other parts such as networking hubs and switches would also be included. The interconnect definition would completely define the network topology. Parameters such as cable lengths could be recorded as well as installation dates, cable routing information, and maintenance records. The process for configuring a computer system is identical to the process for configuring a computer assembly, although more dynamic since a typical installation is constantly changing. 
     Although the embodiment preferred by the inventor is electronic units, the invention is applicable to virtually any type of manufactured goods, particularly where the good is produced with a number of configurations or versions, such as automobiles, computers, airplanes and many other products.