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	Introduction

Introduction to the Synthesis Platform

This section provides a brief introduction to the Synthesis Platform as it relates to using BlockSim.

You can also review an overview of the main features in BlockSim and a list of what's new in Version 8.

Centralized Data Storage and Flexible Permissions

All Synthesis-enabled applications offer centralized data storage that allows multiple users to work cooperatively on analysis projects. As described in Working in Synthesis, you can choose which database platform will provide the back-end data storage for each Synthesis repository.

A Standard Repository (*.rsrp) is easy to create and maintain without any special IT infrastructure or support, but there are limitations to the amount of data it can store and the number of users who can access the database simultaneously.
An Enterprise Repository requires implementation of Microsoft SQL Server® or Oracle® (which requires separate licensing, support and maintenance), but it is a more robust platform that can store much more analysis information in the same database and supports access by many more simultaneous users.

For all enterprise databases, and when you have enabled login security for standard databases, authorized users will be able to create and maintain user accounts that determine which analyses and capabilities each individual user has permission to access. You can use the basic security groups that have been predefined in the software or customize the access permissions to meet the specific needs of your organization.

Tip: Working with a database-driven, multi-user application such as BlockSim 8 is a bit different from working with other types of software that you may be familiar with (such as Microsoft Excel or previous versions of BlockSim). For example, changes are saved automatically while you are updating the analysis (e.g., whenever you click OK or navigate away from a cell in a table or worksheet). In addition, you must be diligent about storing backups and performing adequate database maintenance to guard against data loss or corruption. Specific recommendations are provided in Backups and Database Maintenance: Protecting Your Data.

Integration with Other Synthesis Elements

The new Synthesis Platform offers a unique solution to the problem of integrating different types of reliability information without sacrificing the power and flexibility of each individual analysis tool. From the individual user’s perspective, your interaction with each software product will be similar to your experience with previous versions — a full-featured tool that has been expertly designed to meet your needs for all aspects of the analysis methodology. However, from the overall reliability program perspective, multiple users will now have the ability to access the same centralized data repository from any Synthesis Element and thereby share commonly needed resources between applications and analyses (such as the model that describes a component’s failure behavior, the description of a particular maintenance strategy or the reliability-wise configuration of a system).

As described in the Resources topic, this integration is facilitated primarily through Synthesis resources that can be published from one type of analysis and utilized in other analyses where they may be relevant. When a resource needs to be updated in response to new information, the change can be reflected automatically in all analyses that rely upon it. Specifically for BlockSim, the Synthesis Platform gives you the ability to:

Use models and/or universal reliability definitions (URDs) that were created in Weibull++, ALTA, Xfmea or RCM++ to define the reliability and/or maintenance characteristics of the blocks in your BlockSim RBDs and fault trees.
Publish any RBD or fault tree analysis as a model that can be used to define reliability characteristics in Xfmea/RCM++ or another BlockSim analysis.
Work with system configuration and failure mode data from Xfmea or RCM++ as RBDs or fault trees in BlockSim (using the new "Failure Modes and Reliability Analysis" – FMRA).

Messages and Action Tracking

One of the many benefits of having multiple users working from the same centralized data repository is the opportunity to use a common interface for posting announcements and tracking the completion of assigned actions.

All Synthesis-enabled applications offer the My Portal interface, which facilitates the dissemination of Messages directed either to all system users or only to specific users/groups. My Portal can also be used to display the Actions that you are involved with, either as the person responsible for completing the assignment, the person who created the record or a person who simply needs to be kept informed about the progress.

If desired, the Synthesis repository can be configured to enable E-mail Notifications that serve to alert members of the team when a message or action that they’re involved with is created or updated. Now in Version 8, you also have the option to send actions to your calendar in Microsoft Outlook.

Take Advantage of Internet Connectivity

One of the many new enhancements in the Version 8 Synthesis Platform is the ability to take advantage of an active Internet connection to obtain the most up-to-date announcements, documentation and examples. Once you have registered and activated the application on your computer, Internet access is not required — you can still perform all of your analysis activities while working offline — but an Internet connection allows you to take advantage of several useful new features, including:

ReliaSoft Online for up-to-date tips and announcements.

Reliability Web Notes for context-sensitive access to theoretical background information for the feature you’re currently working with.

Help Center for access to a variety of support tools – including the ability to download software updates and generate an e-mail with the details needed for technical support.

Online Help File for access to all of the latest updates that provide new information users have been looking for. (Of course we will always install a static version for the times when you’re working offline.)