REALITYCHARTING™ > VERSION 3.1 FEATURES   

GO TO Feature:
The Line Tool has been replaced with a more powerful way of depicting relationships between causes. In addition to replacing the messy lines, this feature eliminates the need to repeat cause boxes, which in turn provides a more concise chart. Selecting GO TO in the Node Menu allows you to set up a logical connection between other causes anywhere on the chart and provides navigation between these causes. A simple user interface allows you to select any cause on the chart and double click it to make the connection. CAUTION: If you open an older file with lines, the lines will not be shown. You will have to establish new causal connections using the GO TO feature.

OR Logic Feature:
In earlier versions you could only show “OR” logic at the first junction of a causal set. You can now select which cause in a causal set has an OR relationship. Select OR in the Node menu and select the causes with an OR relationship.

Find Causal Elements:
In addition to being able to word-search the RealityChart, you can now search for Causal Elements, thus allowing you to look for common causal relationships in different events. Instead of doing a common failure mode analysis based on categorical causes like Seal Failure, you can analyze past events for common causal relationships. For example, search for Seal Failure caused by Lack of Lubrication AND Brand X Seal.

Version Updates:
We have made it very easy for you to obtain the latest version of RealityCharting. Select “Check for Updates” in the Help Menu, enter your registration information, and the latest version will be downloaded to your computer. It is fast and easy. If you do not have Internet access, you can receive a CD-ROM of the latest version by calling (281) 218-6400 xt. 109.

Import a RealityChart:
This new feature allows you to import all the causes from another RealityChart into the RealityChart you are working on. This allows different people to create RealityCharts based on their areas of expertise and combine the various causal relationships into one RealityChart.

New STOP Reasons:
Based on some recent research, we have revised the reasons for stopping a cause path and included these reasons in the STOP drop down list. The new selections for STOP are: Desired Condition, Lack of Control, New Primary Effect, and Other Cause Paths More Productive.

Rules Check Bypass Switch:
When creating large charts, advanced users often found it necessary to capture possible solutions before running the rules check. This was not previously possible because the Wizard and the Apollo process first require a rules test to ensure a complete chart. We have provided a temporary bypass of Wizard Step 2 for advanced users. The bypass switch is located on the bottom of the Rules Check window.

Undo/Redo Feature:
This feature allows you to remove each previously added cause box by selecting the undo button or Edit > Undo from the menu. This feature also allows you to undo: typing of text in any text field, changes in drop down lists, cause box node treatment, criteria check, and the implement tag. A Redo feature is also provided.

Navigation Features:
We added the ability to navigate to a cause from just about anywhere in the application where a cause is listed, such as in the Report, Action Item List, and Possible Solutions List. This ability is denoted by the cause being underlined. If it is underlined, you can click it and the cause will be displayed center left on the workspace.

Create Adobe PDF:
This new feature allows you to create a Portable Document File for easy sharing of information across the Internet. You can create these files for the Incident Report, Outline, Action Item List, Possible Solutions List, Full Chart, Optimized Chart pages and Causal Elements.

Right-Click Options:
If you right-click inside a text field you get Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, and Select All options.

Browser-Based Compatibility:
RealityCharting Browser-Based and Stand-Alone versions are compatible. We believe the future of business related software will be browser-based because it can be run from any computer that has access to the internet or company intranet. To that end, we have developed a new version of RealityCharting that runs on a browser. Since browsers do not allow certain operations, the stand-alone version will always have more features. However, where possible, the look, logic, and features are identical in each version and the files are interchangeable.

New Solutions Editing Features:
Solutions can now be edited in the Solutions Generation window, the Possible Solutions window and the Incident Report window. If you change a solution in these cases, RealityCharting will give you the option of checking the solution criteria again.

New Report Editing Features:
We improved the ability to edit most text in the application. This is most noticeable in the Incident Report where you can change the problem definition text and it changes the text in the Problem Definition window at the same time.

New Problem Definition Window:
We simplified the Problem Definition window so all you have to do is enter text, hit the tab key and enter text in the next section, repeating as necessary to complete your data entry. We have also made it very easy to edit and add subsections to the Problem Definition by providing a Problem Definition Setup window.

Refresh Buttons:
We added Refresh buttons to windows that might change as a result of editing or adding text in other primary windows.

New Buttons:
We created easier access to some interface features by adding Create PDF, Print, and Export buttons to the bottom of various windows like the Report window.

Collect Causes to Holding Area:
We added a Collect feature, which collects all unattached causes on the workspace and places them in the Holding Area. This can be very helpful in minimizing lost causes and expediting the Rules Test.

New Cause Box Alignment:
In previous versions when adding a new cause box to a large causal set, the new cause box would display off-screen at the bottom of the workspace. In this version, the chart automatically repositions such that all new causes appear on screen in the middle of the workspace.

Chart Page Numbers:
Added the word “Chart” to the page numbers in the optimized view so that when exporting into another document such as MS Word there is a distinction between the chart page numbers and the new document page numbers.

Custom Action Items:
Added the ability to place additional items on the Action Item List that are not directly connected to a question mark on the RealityChart.

Previous Cause in Solutions Generation Window:
Added the ability to go backward in Solution Generation. Select the Previous Cause button and RealityCharting will take you back to the previous cause and possible solutions.

Improved Cause & Evidence Box Text Entry:
You no longer have to highlight the text in these boxes before you enter the data. Simply select the box or start typing and your text will be entered.

Improved Find Feature:
When the Find Feature does not find a match, it will say so, instead of just showing a blank.

Cleanup of Stray Causes:
If unconnected causes are left on the workspace and you Close or Save a file, you will be given the options of deleting the unconnected causes, placing them in the Holding Area, connecting them, or saving them unconnected.

Primary Effect Tool:
A new tool has been added that when selected, the Primary Effect is placed center-left on the workspace. This is very helpful when working on a large chart and you want to quickly get back to the Primary Effect.

Pop-up Calendars:
Where dates are entered, a pop-up calendar is provided.

Zoom Feature Set:
The selected zoom size in the page layout views will remain set instead of reverting to a default setting each time a new page is selected.

Possible Solutions List Scroll Speed:
The scroll speed of the Possible Solutions List has been improved by adding a page-forward and page-back feature to the scroll bar.

Possible Solutions List Scroll Speed:
The scroll speed of the Possible Solutions List has been improved by adding a page-forward and page-back feature to the scroll bar.

Brighter Colors:
We have completely revised the Graphical User Interface to include new brighter colors and more consistent icons and graphics. We hope you like the new look.

Desktop Icon:
During installation you can create a RealityCharting desktop icon.

Advanced Evidence:
When evidence text is added that is too long, a window appears and asks if you want to add a reference. If you choose yes, the text already typed will be used as the beginning of your reference.

Reference Features:
If a reference is created by RealityCharting in the evidence box, the number will automatically be assigned. If at a later date this reference is deleted, the reference number will be retained and the text “Deleted” placed after the number in the References list. This will preserve the numbering sequence such that all other reference numbers remain valid.

Reference Deletion Warning:
If you try to delete a reference assigned to evidence, a warning will be displayed that states: “This reference is used as evidence of a cause, do you want to delete it?”

Chart Structure Preserved:
If you move a cause with branches into the Holding Area you are given the option of preserving the parent/child relationships. While in the Holding Area, the parent cause will be delineated with a white box in the title bar.

Large Files Open Faster:
We improved the opening and operating speed of large files.

Associated Solutions Tracking:
If you change a cause that already has a solution attached to it, a warning window will give you the option of keeping the attached solutions or changing them.

Submit Solution Criteria:
Added a Submit button to the Solution Criteria window to make it more intuitive. Selecting the Enter-key when this window first opens will still cause the criteria logic to be passed and the window closed.

Help Menu Scrolls:
The help menu now scrolls if you place your cursor inside the help window and move your scroll wheel.

Changing Cause Statement:
If you attempt to change a cause that already has a solution attached to it, RealityCharting will ask if you want to change the solutions or not and provide an optional drop down window showing the current solutions to help you decide.