"Where Used" and Graph Navigation

Learn about these special OpenBOM features that enhance product development processes.

"Where Used" Feature

The “Where Used” feature is a lifesaver when making an analysis of product data. It lets you identify where a particular part or assembly is utilized across all your bills of materials (BOMs).

What’s special about this feature?

  • Shows you every bill of materials (BOM) that would be affected when a part needs to be replaced

  • Saves time, reduces errors, and can contribute significantly to cost-saving measures.

  • Gives you multiple options to navigate the information, such as navigating to where you used the command in the OpenBOM dashboard, BOM, catalogs, or our newest addition – graph navigation

How do I use this feature?

  1. Open the “Items” tab from the left side of OpenBOM dashboard.

  2. Select an item.

  3. Click on the green button “Where Used” in the panel which appears on the right.

  4. A new window will appear with the relevant information.

Graph Navigation

Graph navigation in OpenBOM offers a new way to navigate between interconnected data objects, providing a novel approach to element navigation within the system. [Note, graph navigation is 4 top properties from “Dashboard” view] 

To configure the “Dashboard” user defined view, navigated to Views and Select the “Dashboard”

Modify the view – the first 4 properties will be used for the Graph Navigation

 

Configure view to set 4 properties for graph navigator

What’s special about this feature?

  • Facilitates the connection between people and objects by providing easier navigation and connectivity

  • Enables the creation of visual representations such as tree or network navigation, providing a new way of looking at data

  • Allows users to conduct precise queries (e.g. graph science queries) and supports sophisticated visualization that helps you identify problems

Graph Navigation Type 1: Tree Browsing

Tree browsing is simple. It refers to hierarchical relationships. You can navigate through the levels, zoom in and out, and switch directions between “Where Used” (up) and “Composed Of” (down).

Graph Navigation Type 2: Incremental Browsing

Incremental browsing is a more advanced mechanism to navigate through the data connections and threads. At this first release of June 2023, it includes only “Composed Of” and “Where Used” relationship types. However, in the next release, it will include capabilities to navigate through all OpenBOM data objects, such as vendors, orders, and POs. In the future, it will also support custom objects and custom links.

How do I use the graph navigation feature?

Check out the video below to learn more about the graph navigation feature.

How to configure Graph Navigation? 
Graph Navigation displays first three property from “Dashboard” view. You can configure Dashboard view to any property you need. 

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