Importing and Exporting FMEA Data

You can import and export your FMEA data, including all FMEA types and all Worksheets.

Importing

You can import data from a Microsoft Excel (.xlsx file) spreadsheet into Relyence. The import is a multi-step process, and Relyence will guide you through the steps to import your data.

If the DFMEA Worksheet is active, the Import menu item in the Sidebar is Import>DFMEA Worksheet. If the DVP&R Worksheet is active, then first item in the Import menu is Import>DVP&R, and so on. This is to aid in indicating which View is active to insure you are importing the data to the appropriate data type.

Click the first item in the Import submenu.

The Import dialog appears.

Step 1: Select the file to import and whether you want to reuse an existing Import

Select the File to Import. Click on the File Select (...) button to bring up the file explorer dialog. Navigate to the file you wish to import and select it.

If you have not yet performed and saved any Imports, no further data is requested. Click the Next button to proceed.

Otherwise, you can select either Use existing Import or Create a new Import.

If you do not want to reuse an existing Import, select Create a new Import and click the Next button.

If you want to reuse an existing Import, select the Import you wish to use from the dropdown list of choices.

At this point, the Import button will be enabled, and you can choose to directly proceed to the data import step. This bypasses the import mapping steps and allows easy reuse of saved Imports.

Otherwise, click the Next button.

Step 2: Select if you want to add or update records

If prompted, choose whether you want to add or update records during importing.

Note: The option to Add or Update records does not apply when importing Weibull Life Data or Weibull Reliability Growth Data.

If you choose to Add records, all line items in your import file will be added to your Analysis.

If you choose to Update records, the import will proceed by locating matching items from your import file in your Analysis, and then updating the matching records with data in the import file.

For FRACAS and Reliability Prediction importing, if you select to Update records, you can optionally select to Add new records during update. In this case, if a matching item from the import file is not found in the Analysis, a new record will be added.

Note that if you are importing Control Plan data, a third choice will appear in addition to Add records and Update records - Add new Control Plan records to existing Process Steps. For more details on this type of import, see Importing New Control Plan Records to Existing Process Step Records.

Update Records

In order to update records during importing, the import file must include identifier data fields. These fields provide a unique identifier to locate the record to update. Because data fields such as Name are not required to be unique, these unique identifier fields are needed. Typically, these are referred to as "ID" fields. 

The process to perform an import update are:

1. Export with the Export all data fields option selected. This option will automatically include the unique identifier fields. 
2. Make the necessary changes to the exported file.
3. Re-import using the Update records option.

The data fields that are required to perform a Update are:

• FMEA: Function ID at a minimum, also Mode ID, Cause ID, Effect ID, or Action ID if updating Mode, Cause, Effect, or Action records.
• FRACAS: Incident ID for Incidents, Problem ID for Problems.
• Fault Tree: ID
• Reliability Prediction: Part ID

Merge duplicate rows

If your FMEA Worksheet has consecutive duplicate rows, you can optionally check to have Relyence merge duplicate rows so as to create one record upon import.

For DFMEA and FMEA-MSR, you can merge duplicate rows for Functions, Failure Modes, Effects, and Causes. For FMECA, you can merge duplicate rows for Functions and Failure Modes. For PFMEA, you can merge duplicate rows for Process Steps, Failure Modes, Effects, and Causes.

Step 3: Map data fields

The Import Mapping dialog appears. In this dialog, you will see your data. If Column names contained in row is selected, select the row number and Relyence will attempt to automatically map your data columns. Any columns unrecognized will be unmapped. The number of unmapped columns will appear in the upper right and all unmapped columns will appear with a red border.

To map any unmapped columns, or remap a column, click the dropdown list at the top of the column and select from the list of available data fields. The type of data field will be indicated by the icon to the left of the data field name. The first icon in the list is always the crossed out "skip", or "do not map", indicator. The "A" icon indicates a text field, the Relyence logo icon indicates a unique Relyence database field, the "1" icon indicates a numeric field, and the "check mark" icon indicates a yes/no field.

When you have completed mapping all your data, click Next.

Step 4: Optionally save Import and begin import process

The Save Import dialog appears. If you want to save this Import for later use, select Save this Import and enter the name for your Import. The number of columns to be imported and skipped will be shown.

Click Import.

The import process will start up automatically, and the data will be imported. A progress indicator will appear as your data is being imported. When importing is finished, the Import Complete dialog appears.

If successful, the number of records imported will be noted. If you want to view the import log, click the download link. If unsuccessful, the Import Complete dialog will note this. To view the import issues, click the link to download the import log and review the error(s) encountered during import.

If no valid data can be found in a row of your Microsoft Excel file, no new item will be added; i.e. there will be no "blank" data records imported into your Relyence Analysis.

Step 5: Complete import process

Click Close to close the Import Complete dialog.

Importing data may take a few minutes depending on the size and complexity of the data you are importing. 

An easy way to ensure your Microsoft Excel import file is properly set up is to use the Export function to create a sample file. You can then use this file as a starting point for creating your import file. You can then remove fields you don't use or need, change the order of the fields as you prefer, and add your data.

The following data fields are ignored during importing:

• Attachments
• Team Members
• FMEA calculated fields: RPN values, AP values, and Criticality values

Click the following link if you would like to download and review a sample DFMEA import file:

DFMEA Drone Ground Controller

Including the Subsystem Name or Subsystem ID when Importing

You can include the Subsystem Name or Subsystem ID in your Imports to designate where the imported data belongs in your Analysis Tree.

Note: If you import both Subsystem Name and Subsystem ID, the Subsystem ID field is used to determine to which Analysis Tree item each Part belongs and Subsystem Name is ignored.

For example, your DFMEA Worksheet can include FMEA data from multiple Subsystems. In this case, include the Subsystem Name column in your import file and enter the associated Subsystem. The FMEA item will be added to the appropriate Subsystem in your Analysis Tree.

Including the Part Number when Importing Piece-Part FMECAs

In the same manner in which you can associate your FMEA data with specific Subsystems when importing, you can associate Piece-part FMECA data with specific Parts in your Subsystems. When importing, include the Part Number column in your import file and enter the Part Number the FMECA data is associated with. The FMECA data will be added to the appropriate Part in your FMECA.

Importing the Analysis Tree

You can import the Analysis Tree into Relyence if you prefer not to build your tree structure using the Relyence user interface.  To import the Analysis Tree, click Import>Analysis Tree from the Sidebar. 

Importing the Analysis Tree works in the same manner as described above for importing Analysis data. 

When importing Analysis Tree data, it can be used to add records or update records.

When using the Add records option:

• When mapping the data fields to import when performing an Analysis Tree import, the Parent field or Level field is used to indicate which subsystem is the parent to the current subsystem. This enables you to define the hierarchy of your tree using the Analysis Tree import function.
• For example, consider if you wanted to import Subsystems to create the following Analysis Tree structure:

• Your source file would need to contain, at a minimum, the Name and Parent values or the Name and Level values as shown in the tables below:

- or - 

• Note: If you import both Parent and Level, the Parent field is used and Level is ignored.

When using the Update records option:

• Make sure your source file includes the Subsystem ID field to update most data fields

• Make sure your source file includes the Parent Subsystem ID or Parent field as well if the update needs to reassign the Subsystem to a new parent Subsystem

If you are importing Analysis Tree data for FMECA and the Analysis does not include Reliability Prediction, you may also see some "calculator" icon fields, such as Failure Rate, which can be imported for use in the FMECA. 

Managing Imports

During importing, you have the option to save your Import. If you would like to delete or rename any of your saved Imports, you can do so from Manage Analyses. For general details about the Manage Analyses feature, see the Help topic Using the Manage Analyses Function.

To access the Manage Analyses function, click Manage Analyses from the Account menu.

A list of all your current Imports will be shown, along with the Product type they are associated with, and the type of data that is imported.

To delete any of your Imports, select it and click Delete. On the Delete dialog, click Yes to confirm the deletion or No to exit and retain the saved Import.

To rename any of your Imports, select it and in the rightmost pane, enter a new Name for the saved Import.

To exit Manage Analyses and return to your Analysis, from the Sidebar, click Back to Analysis.

Exporting

To export the data you are currently viewing, click the first item in the Export submenu item on the Sidebar.

The Export dialog appears. 

You can enter the name for the exported file or accept the default.

When exporting from Tables that support different Views, Relyence will export only the data fields shown in your current View. If you want to export all the data fields for the Table, and not just those shown in your current View, select Export all data fields. This option does not appear if multiple data Views are not available.

Click Export to start the export process. A progress indicator will appear.

If needed, click Cancel to stop the export.

When complete, the exported Microsoft Excel file will be available in your default download location.

The first row in the exported file will contain the data field names.

Only the records currently being viewed will be exported. If you have a filtered or sorted view of your data displayed, only those records will be exported. This allows you to control exporting to include only those records you want. To export all records, make sure all filters are cleared.

Exporting the Analysis Tree

To exporting your Analysis Tree, you must first make the Analysis Tree Properties pane active.

Click the Properties icon in the Analysis Tree toolbar.

The Analysis Tree properties display in the right pane.

Click Export>Analysis Tree from the Sidebar menu.

The Export dialog appears.

Enter your preferred Export File Name. If you want to export all the Analysis Tree data fields, select the Export all data fields checkbox. Otherwise, leave it clear to export only those data fields that are shown.

Click Export to start the export process. A progress indicator appears in the lower right.

If needed, click Cancel to stop the export.

When complete, the exported Microsoft Excel file will be downloaded to your default download location.

The first row in the exported file will contain the data field names.