Chapter 2: Interface

Once we login to the 4G:PLM system, we can see two panes. The left pane is called Navigation Pane and the right pane is called the Content Pane. On the top of the pane is the navigation bar that lists different icons.

2.1 Navigation bar



When you move the cursor over the icons, it will display the names. These icons can also be accessed through the menu bar like New Objects lists all the Objects that can be created in 4G:PLM system.

2.2 Left Pane
The left pane also known as Navigation pane lists all your recent activities like Recent Parts, Recent Changes, Recent Manufacturing Parts, Recent Manufactures and Suppliers. This section also has the Search functionality to search for objects within the 4g:PLM database. Different sections automatically expands/contracts as you move the cursor over them.



These different sections are organized as:
         
·    Recent Parts
          ·    Recent Changes
          ·    Recent Document
          ·    Recent Manufacturer Part
          ·    Recent Manufacturer & Supplier
          ·    Search

Please note the data populated to personalized or based on your navigation history.    

2.3 Right Pane
The Right Pane, also known as the Content Pane, is where the items, objects or documents selected from the Navigation Pane is displayed



The content pane consists of three tabs:
         
·    Work Area
         
·    History
         
·    Inbox

2.3.1 Work Area
The Work Area contains the object or item selected from the Navigation Pane. While creating new objects or items, etc., a new window will pop up for you to work on. This window will have different views depending on the objects or items that you work on.

Think of the work area as your desktop. You can add objects of any type to your desktop and then find them easily later. When you are done working with an object, you can right-click on it to remove it from your desktop.

2.3.2 History
The history tab is a record of actions you have taken in the past in various change processes, e.g. approval or release of an ECO. You can look here to find changes that you have taken action on in the past.

2.3.3 Inbox
Inbox shows incoming emails or approval or change requests initiated by others. To change or respond to the messages, open the Inbox tab in the Right Pane of 4G:PLM. Any changes that are awaiting your approval show up here. Also, if someone has added you as an observer to a change workflow, you will receive notification here of important events.
Note that you may also receive notifications to your e-mail address if your administrator has configured e-mail notification.

2.4 Managing Work Area
Work area can be cleaned/deleted if users wishes to do. You can do it either by clicking on the icon or Tools>> Clear Work Area.



Similarly, we can also clear Recent History or attachment. You can save workarea using the Save work area icon provided in the menu bar.

 

2.5  Advance Options
You can drag & drop objects from the left pane to the right pane to work with. On the left pane, while working with the recent objects, you can access advanced options by right clicking an object. For example, while working in the “Recent Item” on the left pane, right clicking on an Item object will give the options to:

         
·    Add to Work Area
         
·    Remove from Recent
         
·    Details
         
·    Where Used
         
·    BOM
         
·    AML
         
·    Changes
         
·    Attachments
         
·    Delete Parts

There are also advanced menu options while you are working on the right pane. Right clicking an Item object will give you the following options:
         
·    Remove from Work Area
         
·    Details
         
·    Where Used
         
·    BOM
         
·    AML
         
·    Changes
         
·    Attachments

While working in 4G:PLM, double clicking any object, both on the left pane and the right, will open the object in a new window.

 

2.6 Using Inbox and History
An item in the Inbox will allow you to perform certain actions directly, depending upon what action is needed from you in the workflow. This is where you’ll see which changes need your attention to review or approve. The History tab (next to the Inbox and Work Area) will indicate the past history for the user. This is user specific history, not the history of each object which is captured on the history tab of the item. This object history is called “LOG” and shows on each item. The log is non-modifiable by the user.

 

2.7 Menu Bar


The different options for each menu are:

Admin
         
·    Create User
          ·    Users
          ·    Groups
          ·    Roles
          ·    Permissions
          ·    Saved Searches
          ·    Classes
          ·    Lifecycles
          ·    Workflows
          ·    Attributes
          ·    Price Tables
          ·    Server Configuration
          ·    Mail System
          ·    Vaulting System
          ·    User Settings
          ·    Working Directory

New Objects
          ·    Part
          ·    Document
          ·    ECO
          ·    ECR
          ·    MCO
          ·    Stop Ship
          ·    Deviation
          ·    Manufacturer Part
          ·    Manufacturer
          ·    Supplier

Search
          ·    Search Document
          ·    Search ECO
          ·    Search ECR
          ·    Search MCO
          ·    Search Stop Ship
          ·    Search Deviation
          ·    Search Manufacturer Part
          ·    Search manufacturer
          ·    Search Supplier

Tools
          ·    Import
          ·    Export
          ·    Compare item Revision
          ·    Save Work Area
          ·    Clear Work Area
          ·    Clear Recent

Reports
          ·    Pending ECO
          ·    Items By User
          ·    Product Discovery

Help
          ·    About
          ·    Manual
          ·    Manage Product License
          ·    Contact Support

1. Admin
The Admin menu is for the administrators to create users, provide permissions, set the working directory for the users to work in, setup the mail server, define the data model, etc.

2. New Objects
New Objects menu helps to create new objects like items, parts, documents, manufacturer, etc. The menu help the users to easily create new objects, example provided in Chapter 3.

3. Search
The Search menu is, as the name suggests, there to help users to search through all objects in the Database. The advance search allows users to search through individual properties of the database.

4. Tools
Tools helps the users to export or import objects like items, users, parts, classes, lifecycles, etc. from and to other systems or files. Save the Work Area, Clear the Work Area, etc.

5. Reports
Reports menu creates the “Pending ECO” reports. It also shows which user created which object in the system, the product directory, etc.

6. Help
Shows information about the product license, allows to connect with a support manager for advance help or support.

 

2.8 Using Search Functionality
4G:PLM provides robust and easy to use Search functionality. On the menu bar, click on the search icon to bring up the search window.
The “Object” drop-down menu contains a list of various object types and their common attributes. For example, to search for the part number of a part, you would select “Part Number” under “Parts”



Next, you define one or more conditions as search criteria by clicking the “Condition” drop-down:



Once you have defined a single criterion, you can search by clicking the “Search” button in the bottom of the “Search” pane. Doing so automatically causes your single criterion to be added to the criteria list and the search begins.

You can also define additional criteria, and add them each time by clicking the “Add” button. This allows you to define multiple criteria, which by default are connected with the Boolean “Or” operator. By clicking on the down-arrow next to the Boolean operator, this can also be changed to “And”:



Once you click on Search button, the right pane would show-up the search result based on the criteria selected