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Component designs

Represent component parts​

If some of your assets are made up of distinct component parts, it's important to keep track of them too! Alloy lets you manage components in the same way as regular assets, helping you to maximise performance and reliability across your inventory.

Assets and components can be linked together in parent/child relationships. These can be visualised using item graphs, making it easy to browse connected items and add/remove components as needed.

An item graph showing a tree of component items connected to an asset item

To get started, you need to represent your components in Alloy:

  1. Create a design for each type of component.

  2. On each component design, add attributes for the data points you want to record about that component type. This may include implementing one or more interfaces to inherit their attributes alongside the ones on the design.

  3. To associate a component type with a parent asset type (or another component), add a Link attribute on the asset design that points to the component design.

  4. Create items of component designs to represent actual components.

  5. To connect a component item to a parent asset item (or other component), add it to the corresponding Link attribute on the parent item.

Create a component design​

To create a design that represents a type of component:

  1. On the start screen, select Create design. If you already have one open, select + Create design in the top-right corner instead.

  2. Choose the Component design type.

  3. Fill in the details and then select Create design.

You can then edit the design to manage its attributes, links and other properties.

Note

If you're unable to create a design, your user account may lack the required permissions.

Standard component design details​

All component designs implement the Asset Component interface. Therefore, all component items inherit a standard set of properties and attributes. Required attributes are marked with an * asterisk.

Details​

If left blank or unchanged, the component design will inherit the following properties:

  • Collections - component items can belong to any collection.

  • Geometry - is optional and all geometry types are allowed.

  • Icon - icon-structure-component

  • Colour - #3d8fbd

Attributes​

The following attributes are inherited from the implemented interfaces:

  • Installed Date - when the component was installed at its location and entered into service.

The following Link attributes are inherited from the implemented interfaces:

  • Reports - links to any generated reports involving the component.

Interfaces​

The following interfaces are inherited directly:

  • Asset Components

The following interfaces are inherited indirectly via the above interfaces:

  • Assets

  • Items With Reports

Diagram
Diagram depicting the structure of a component design

For each design that needs to reference a component type:

  1. On the start screen, select Designs and open the relevant design.

  2. Scroll to the Link attributes section and select Add attribute.

  3. Fill in at least the following fields and then select Save:

    • Name * - enter a distinct name that clearly identifies the new attribute.

    • Design or interface * - choose the relevant component design.

    • Graph * - choose the Component graph.

    For details about the other fields, see Link attribute.

Link attribute details

Create component items​

Once you have a design that describes a particular type of component, you can create items of that design to represent actual components.

To create an item of a component design:

  1. On the start screen, select Designs and open the component design.

  2. Select + Create item in the top-right corner and choose the component design.

  3. To link the new component to a parent asset (or another component), select Parents at the top and then Add parent. Fill in the following fields:

    • Design * - choose the design of the parent item (only compatible ones are listed).

    • Attribute * - after choosing the design, specify the Link attribute to use.

    • Item * - after choosing the design, specify which of its items should link to the new component.

    Select Add to continue.

    Add parent fields

  4. Fill in the component's attribute fields as needed.

  5. Select Create to finish.

Note

To link an existing component item to a parent, select the item to view its details. In the Parents section, select Add parent.

View an item's component graph​

When viewing an asset or component item, the Graph View can provide an interactive visual representation of the component hierarchy (if available).

Select a component item in the graph to view its details, where you can edit or remove the item if needed.

An example item graph

Add a new component​

To create a new component item that's automatically linked to the currently selected item on the graph:

  1. Select Menu (bottom-right) and choose Add item.

  2. Choose a compatible Link attribute on the current item to add the new component to.

    A list of available Link attributes on the selected item

  3. If the chosen Link attribute applies to an interface, Alloy will list the designs that implement it. Choose the design of the new component.

  4. The Item Creator will appear. Fill in the fields as needed and select Create item to finish.