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Cross Reference Browser

General

This browser allows you to build a matrix between any two types (or with the same type on both axes) where all relationships, or selected relationships between the types, will be shown within the body of the matrix. You can also query any of the items displayed as headings on the horizontal or vertical axis. Contents of cells allow you to see relationships, info node details, and to create new relationships. 

As of Release 1.7 there is the ability to query inferred relationships. This is where two item types are related indirectly through two or more other relationships. An example: An Employee works for a Business Unit which is part of an Organization. We can infer that the Employee works for the Organization. 

The following is a representation of the Cross Reference Browser. Hotspots on the screen picture will take you directly to relevant help for that feature.

EVA NetmodelerNavigation Bar

The general EVA Netmodeler navbar appears on almost all pages. See further help for the Navbar

Selection Frame (Top)

In this area, you select the item types that you want to appear as rows and columns. You can also specify how many rows and columns you want returned at a time. It is usually best to adjust the numbers to get results that fit comfortably in the matrix display space. You may want to set them to larger numbers for printing purposes or to allow you to scroll around in a larger matrix.

The Search Depth will be set at 1 by default. This will limit further processing in this query to relationships directly linked to the first selected type (Ro w Type). Search depth can be set to allow inferencing at various depths. The maximum is determined by a system parameter. It is seldom useful to exceed a depth of 3.

You can suppress the relationship descriptions (leaving just icons in the matrix cells) to save display space, fitting in more columns, if you prefer. Uncheck the box labeled Show relationship description to achieve this. 

By default all possible relationships between the two selected types are included in the cross reference query. If you like you can constrain the display to just one type by selecting the relationship from the Filter by Relationship Path drop down list. Where a Search Depth of greater than 1 is used, the Filter by Relationship Path box will display direct relationships first, then those with two relationships on the path, then those with three. Select the required relationship from the list or select All Paths from the top of the list to include all possible relationships.

Use the Show all / Populated / Unpopulated cells option to control which items of the row type are included in the resulting cross reference.

• Show all creates a row in the cross reference for each item of the row type.
• Show only Populated Cells creates a row in the cross reference only for items that have a valid relationship via the specified relationship path to at least one item of the specified column type.
• Show only Unpopulated Cells creates a row in the cross reference only for items that have no (zero) valid relationship via the specified relationship path to any item of the specified column type.

Note that this option is not available when the Search Depth is set to more than 1.

Clicking the generate button will cause EVA Netmodeler to retrieve and display the matrix data.

Cross Reference Frame (right hand side bottom)

This area displays a matrix with the selected types on the vertical and horizontal axes. The items of the type are used as labels for columns and rows. These names are hyperlinks that can be used to query the properties of the item selected. These will appear in the relevant frame at the left, top or bottom.

If the returned query information is a subset of the full matrix for the selected types, then a navigation map will appear in the top left cell of the matrix. This shows the current portion of the full result being viewed, represented by a red square, in the context of the full set. You can hover the cursor over other squares to see what these contain. The tooltip will report the top left item in that portion of the result space. Clicking a green square will cause the browser to retrieve and display that subset of the data.

In the cells of the matrix, there will be an entry wherever a relationship exists. This may be a text link and an icon, or just an icon, depending upon the options selected for the query. If a single relationship exists between the items, that relationship will be shown. Clicking the link for the single relationship will cause the related items details and the relationship / info node details to display in the relevant frames at the left of the display. If multiple relationships exist between the items, a button is shown in the cell. Clicking the button will display a list of the relationships present. Selecting from the list will cause the selected relationship to display in the middle left frame.

If two items have no relationship, the cell is apparently blank. However, you can add a relationship by clicking within the cell where the cursor appears as a hand (or other icon representing a link in your browser). The new relationship can be specified in the left middle frame.

Row Item Frame (top left)

Properties of the selected row item are displayed here. The edit button will allow you to edit content, if authorised. The del button will allow you to delete the Row item, if authorised

Relationship Frame (middle left)

Details of the relationship between the selected row item and column item are displayed here. You can add new relationships, delete an existing relationship, or edit the info node properties using the edit rels button, if authorised.

Column Item Frame (bottom left)

Properties of the selected column item are displayed here. The edit button will allow you to edit content, if authorised.

Relevant System Settings

A variety of system settings affect the appearance and behaviour of the cross reference browser.