Lifecycle Stage Manager

 
This topic explains the use of user-definable Lifecycle Stages, which are supported by a dedicated dialog, the Lifecycle Stage Manager.  An introduction to Lifecycle Stages and other general information on the topic can be found in Lifecycle Stages.
 
The dialog consists of two main sections:
  • a list of varieties (on the left)
  • a data grid listing lifecycle stages for the selected variety (on the right)
 
Lifecycle Stage Manager
 
Further text and screenshot images explain the dialog and the rest of its features in more detail.
1

List of varieties

1. List of varieties
By default, the first variety of lifecycle stages is selected when the dialog is entered. Clicking on any of the varieties listed in the left side of the dialog changes the content of the main grid on the right side.
2

List of Lifecycle Stages for the selected variety

2. List of Lifecycle Stages for the selected variety
This grid lists all Lifecycle Stages defined for the selected variety. As mentioned in point 1, selecting a different variety from the left list changes the content of the data grid and the title. The example screenshot  shows the list for Typed Object and the applicable action buttons:
  • - Edit Lifecycle Stage - opens the Lifecycle Stage Editor sub-dialog (enabled only for Admin users)
 
  • - Delete Lifecycle Stage (enabled only for Admin users)
     
  • - Add New Lifecycle Stage - opens the same Lifecycle Stage Editor sub-dialog as for the Edit button, except the Name is blank and all properties are editable by default (enabled only for Admin users)
     
Another property is displayed in a separate item - the Valid for new objects? Boolean property, which indicates whether this is a valid Lifecycle stage to assign to new objects.
 
The following table lists all initial pre-defined Lifecycle Stages grouped under each variety, with additional properties, notes and caveats:
 
Variety
Lifecycle Stage name
Stage category
Typed Object
Planned Spare
Planning*
 
Approved Spare
Acquisition
 
Ordered Spare
Acquisition
 
Planned Design
Planning + DW**
 
Approved Design
Acquisition + DW
 
Ordered Design
Acquisition + DW
 
Spare
Acquisition
 
Configuration
Deployment + DW
 
Deployed
Deployment + DW
 
Broken
Deployment DW
 
Returned
Deployment
 
Transferred
Deployment
 
Decommissioned
Retirement + DW
 
Abandoned
Retirement + DW
 
Disposed
Retirement
 
Planned Reserved
Planning + DW
 
Reserved
Planning + DW
BOM
Partially filled out
 
 
Completely filled out
 
 
Under review
 
 
Approved
 
 
Ordered
 
 
Partially received
 
 
Fulfilled
 
Project Line Item
Planned
 
 
Approved
 
 
Ordered
 
 
Partially received
 
 
Fulfilled
 
Project
Planned
 
 
Approved
 
 
Scheduled
 
 
In progress
 
 
Completed
 
 
Cancelled
 
Product
1A - Approved for enterprise-wide use
Approved***
 
1B - Approved for use, but not the enterprise standard
Approved
 
1C - Approved for enterprise; no formal help desk support
Approved
 
2A - Approved legacy product, authorized on a case-by-case basis
Approved
 
2B - Approved legacy product; newer versions are available and should be used
Approved
 
2C - Legacy product to be phased out
Not Approved but Allowed
 
3A - Emerging technology, not yet supported
Approved
 
3B - Unsupported, but testing is in progress
Approved
 
4A - Banned from enterprise use; causes network or system conflicts
Disallowed
 
4B - Banned from enterprise use; no longer loaded, supported, or used
Disallowed
     
* The "Super Stage" field is a kind of "stage category" that groups certain stages together under a common set of semantics for IRM; it can be one of the following: Planning, Acquisition, Deployment, Retirement
 
** Transition from a DW (Design World) to non-DW stage implies breaking any applicable connections (like Cable connections) and removing the item from the Design World
 
*** The "Approved For Use" field can be one of the following: "Approved", "Not Approved but Allowed", "Disallowed".  This field is also a stage category, similar to the Super Stage of Typed Object Lifecycle Stages
3

Adding a new Lifecycle Stage

3. Adding a new Lifecycle Stage
The Add New Lifecycle Stage button opens the same Editor sub-dialog as shown in the point above. The following are examples for different varieties.
 
Note: the first and the last variety (Typed Object and Product) have additional special fields, while the rest (BOM, Project Line Item and Project) are essentially identical.
 
  • Typed Object Lifecycle Stage Editor
  • Super Stage, or a "stage category" that groups certain stages together, can be one of the following values:
  • Design World compatible is a Boolean property that serves as a flag for a specific Typed Object Lifecycle Stage. If a Lifecycle Stage is set to be Design World compatible, the transition of an object from this stage to a non-Design World compatible stage will be treated by breaking any existing connections and removing the object from Design World.
 
  • Product Lifecycle Stage Editor
  • Approved For Use, also serves as a stage category, similar to the Super Stages for Typed Object Lifecycle Stage. Can be one of the following values:
 
  • BOM, Project Line Item and Project varieties have identical Lifecycle Stage Editor sub-dialogs (except of course for the dialog title) and contain only one field for defining Lifecycle Stage Name and the standard Valid for new objects? property displayed as a checkbox:
  • Valid for new objects? is a boolean property that indicates a valid Lifecycle stage to assign to new objects.