Define Characteristic dialog box

The Define Characteristic dialog box is used to add or edit a Characteristic.

Note: The name of this dialog box, or field labels within this dialog box, may appear different than shown here due to user entries into the Preferences dialog box Format tab.

This dialog box is opened:

· by selecting a specific process in the Process branch (or an Analysis or Work Set in their corresponding branch, if available), then the Add Characteristic option from the right mouse menu, or

· by selecting a specific Characteristic, then selecting Edit Characteristic from the right mouse menu or Characteristic menu, or

· by selecting the Add button or the Edit button in the Define Process dialog box, or

· by selecting the Advanced button in the New Chart dialog box (from the Chart icon).

The General tab includes these items:

The Process Name and Description (neither editable from this dialog) are shown at the top of the dialog box. When used to edit a Characteristic, the User Name and Date of the last edit is shown at the bottom of the dialog box.

The following information is available:

Characteristic Name: Enter a unique (i.e. unique for this Process) alphanumeric Characteristic Name into the text box provided, up to 60 characters in length. Typically, this name would indicate the Characteristic being measured, and perhaps the process step at which it is measured (for example: Invoicing Cycle Time).

Characteristic Note: Type an alphanumeric text string (up to 255 characters including spaces). The Note is available from the right mouse menu Show Note option whenever the chart is open, so may be useful for providing simple instructions or descriptions to data entry personnel or analysts. When more detailed descriptions are necessary, use the Document feature to attach one or more files of any length.

Characteristic Image Location: Enter (or use the Browse button) to specify a file name with location. This graphical image is available from the right mouse menu Show Note option whenever the chart is open, so may be useful for providing a simple graphic to data entry personnel or analysts. When more detailed graphics are necessary, use the Document feature to attach one or more files of any length.

For notes or images pertinent to all Characteristics in the Process, use the note feature available in the Define Process dialog box . If the real-time option has been purchased, notes or images pertinent to all Characteristics in a data entry Work Set may also be defined in the Define Work Set dialog box.

Active Status: Select this option to make the Characteristic status Active so that data can be added for the Characteristic.

Note: The Data Form will not allow data entry for Characteristics that are Inactive, or for Characteristics whose Process is Inactive.

Edit Work Set Characteristic: (available only when real-time option purchased) This button is available when editing a Characteristic in a Work Set when the Characteristic has identical properties to the Process Characteristic from which it is derived. Selecting this button will define Characteristic properties within the Work Set that are distinct (differ) from those properties defined by default for the Process Characteristic. See Note below.

Edit Analysis Characteristic: This button is available when editing a Characteristic in an Analysis when the Characteristic has identical properties to the Process Characteristic from which it is derived. Selecting this button will define Characteristic properties within the Analysis that are distinct (differ) from those properties defined by default for the Process Characteristic. See Note below.

Edit Process Characteristic: This button is available when editing a Characteristic in an Analysis (or Work Set, if real-time option purchased) when the Characteristic has distinct properties from the Process Characteristic from which it was originally derived. Selecting this button will redefine the Characteristic properties within the Analysis (or Work Set) so that they are identical to those properties defined by default for the Process Characteristic. See Note below.

Note:

1. When an Analysis (or Work Set) Characteristic has unique properties from its underlying Process Characteristic, the General tab in the Define Characteristic dialog box (from within the Work Set or Analysis) will include this icon $image\modified.gif$ in the upper left-hand corner and the Edit Process Characteristic button in the lower right-hand corner.

2. The underlying data for the Characteristic is always the same, regardless of whether it is viewed in the Process, Work Set or Analysis branch, although not all the data may be analyzed subject to the conditions specified in the Plotted Data tab.