A Dependencies List allows you to manage and analyze dependencies between items/portfolios, regardless of their grouping. You can set the Dependencies List to display items/portfolios that an item depends on, and items/portfolios that the item supports.

Note:

Functions can be used to make calculations on the content of the list (i.e., Average Health can be calculated based on the item's health and the health of the item's dependencies).

For a description of the columns in a Dependencies List, refer to Working with a Dependencies List in Working with Forms

To insert a Dependencies List:

Note:

A Dependencies List must be defined within 4/4 group boxes.

1. Follow the general steps described in Inserting a Component.
2. Select Dependencies List from the Component drop-down list. The listed items are described in two types of columns: Dependency Properties, and Item Properties. By default the Dependency columns include Type, Weight, Cost and Annotation. These columns are used to describe the dependency relationship. The Item Properties describe the listed item itself.
3. To customize this instance of the Dependencies list, click Edit. The Dependencies List dialog box opens.
4. In the Direction field, define the direction of the dependency from the drop-down list:
   • Depends on: the item that is focused in the form depends on the listed items/ portfolios.
   • Supports: the item that is focused in the form supports the listed items/ portfolios.
5. The information in the Type field filters the dependencies shown; e.g., software/hardware/ firmware; or, mandatory/ optional. Select the desired dependency type from the drop-down list.

   Note:

   Type is a user-definable value list. For more information about customizing the value list refer to Entering Values to a Value List in Configuring the System Components

6. In the Displayed Elements area select which columns will be displayed in the Dependencies List. Check or uncheck the Type, Weight, Cost, Annotation column, Annotation box and Add, Edit and Remove buttons checkboxes to view or hide these elements on the specific list.

   Note:

   The default Dependency column names Type, Weight and Cost can be changed in the Admin, General Dependency Options dialog box. The labels defined there will be shown throughout the application. For more information, refer to General Dependency Options in Working with Dependencies.

7. Customizing Item Properties--In the Item Properties area, select the scorecard that will be used for the Item Properties columns in the Dependencies List from the drop-down list.
   • There is a default scorecard called "Workbook Item Properties" specifically defined for this purpose.
   • If you select the None option, the Item Properties area of the Dependencies list will disappear and the Dependency Properties area can be expanded to the full width of the group box.
   • You may select an existing scorecard or create a new one. Click Edit to change the properties of the selected scorecard. You may edit the categories (that serve as the Item Properties columns) by clicking Edit. The wizard for the scorecard you selected opens in the Categories step. For more information on the Categories step, refer to Defining Scorecard Categories in Working with Scorecards.
8. Drill-down-- When the user right clicks on an item listed in the Dependencies list, the Dependencies option in the menu will drill-down to that item's dependencies list. You can define the label and target of the drill down link.
   • Label: enter the text that will be the right-click menu entry when focusing on the defined dependencies list. The default text is Dependencies.
   • Links to: there are two options for the drill-down:
   • Workbook: selected by default, the Dependencies tab in the Workbook module is the drill-down target.
   • Form: if selected, the Forms module will be the drill-down target. Select the Form and Tab from the corresponding drop-down lists. This option adds flexibility as you can add data fields around the dependencies list, or provide the ability to add descriptions.

     Note:

     Customize the default dependencies drill down because:

   • Some users are accustomed to working with forms.
   • Some users are not authorized to access workbooks.
   • Users may want to display additional information next to the dependencies list using other form components.
9. Click OK.
10. Double-click the Label cell to change the default label.

    Note:

    The dependency's direction and type automatically appear in the list's title, on the right hand side. The default label is Dependencies.

11. Double-click the Height cell to adjust the height of the dependencies list accordingly. The default height displays up to five dependencies before adding a scrollbar.