Specification - field descriptions

Fields are presented in the order that they are presented in a form. Click a link to see the field descriptions for the form

.

Main tab

Approval: Select a code that describes the type of approval.
Class: Select a category for the object. An object belongs to only one class.
Comment: An optional entry that is used to enter additional information about the specification.
Created By: Shows the user who created the object.
Creation Date: Shows the date when the object was created.
Description: Enter or modify a short description of the object.
End Date: Enter a proposed date to stop tracking the object.
Hold: Select a code that describes the reason for stopping use of an object.
Modified By: Shows the user who changed the object.
Modify Date: Shows the date when the object was last edited.
Source Group: Select a group from the list..
Start Date: Enter a date to begin tracking the object.
Status: Select a code that describes the current state of the object in the release process.
Type: Select a category for the specification.
Yield %: An informational entry that describes the percent yield.

Item Lines tab

Attribute

Use these columns to enter additional attributes for the item.

Description

Shows the item’s description.

Instructions

Shows the instructions associated with the item.

Item Line

Specify an item.

L#

Shows a system-assigned line number.

Mix/Max/Target

Use the Min and Max columns to enter a range of values for the item in the specification, or enter a value in the Target column. These values can be used for comparison to a formula.

Scale Ind

Select the type of scaling that is to be used for the item.

Linear
No Scaling
Auto Adjust to Total
Eq Adjust to Total

When a specification yield is scaled, most items retain their ratio to the total as they are scaled.

Sub Ind

Use this column for informational purposes. It indicates a grouping of items to maintain the proportion of two or more items’ quantities to each other when you are varying one of the ingredients.

In a formula, you can change the value of any item in a subgroup. In this case, the values for the other items in that subgroup change to maintain the proportion you defined.

Test Method

Specify the method used to validate the item.

These are test suites developed in the Optiva Testing module or test codes established by your administrator.

UOM

Shows the percent sign (%) if the item is a Material (1) or Raw Material (8) component type.

For other component types, the unit of measure that is defined for the item displays here. For example, if a Packaging item is defined with a unit of measure of EA, then EA is displayed here.

Byproducts tab

You can add byproducts to the specification.

Description: Shows a description of the byproduct.
Item Line: Specify the byproduct ingredient for the specification.
Line: Shows a system-assigned line number.
Qty %: Enter the ingredient’s percent of total byproduct.
Qty % Lo/Qty % Hi: Enter the ingredient’s minimum and maximum quantity percent of the total byproduct.

Instructions tab

You can add or change instructions for the items.

Security tab

This tab identifies who can access the object and the types of access privileges that are granted for the Owner, Group, and Role.

The Optiva administrator configures the default security for all objects of this type. You can specify the security for a specific object here. For example, you can assign the Owner full privileges (Read/Copy/Write/Delete), but partial or no access privileges to the Role and Group.

Group: Select the security group for the owner of the object. If the owner belongs to more than one group, then the group owner selected during login is displayed here.
Group Access: Select the level of access privileges the Group has to the object.
Owner Access: Select the level of access privileges the Owner has to the object.
Role Access: Select the level of access privileges the Role has to the object.

Context tab

You can define the attributes for an object:

Manufacturing and selling locations
Brand name
Type of product
Product usage
End users of the product

The context data values that are available for selection are configured by your Optiva administrator.

Although you are not required to enter data in this tab, it is useful for performing searches and for running reports.

Description: Shows a description of the selected value.
Type: Select a context attribute from the list.
Value: Select a value for the context attribute. You can add more than one value for the same context attribute; just add another row.

Classification tab

You can assign set(s) to Optiva objects. The values that are available for selection are configured by your Optiva administrator.

Sets are a useful method for categorizing your objects and for filtering data when performing lookups and searches. For example, food manufacturers can have separate classifications (set codes) for Baked Goods, Fast Food, Frozen Food, and so forth.

By default, objects are only shown in the lab in which they were created. Once you assign sets to an object, those objects can be seen by users in other labs.

To hide objects from other labs, do not assign them to a set.

Notes tab

You can enter free-form text comments for function (Doc) codes. The codes that are available for selection are configured by your Optiva administrator and can vary by object type.

If you are unable to edit your notes, then check with you administrator. It is possible that the function code is configured as read-only.

Attachments tab

You can attach text files, large graphic files, and/or URL addresses to an object. Graphic file attachments are displayed in the Thumbnail column.

The function (Doc) codes are configured by your Optiva administrator and can vary by object type. Your administrator also controls who can attach files, publish files, and access the published file location(s).

Published file attachments can be viewed by clicking the link. These files cannot be edited; you must change a local version of the file and re-attach the new version.

If you cannot open published file attachments or URL address links, then check with your Optiva administrator. You must have the appropriate Windows permissions or Internet browser capabilities.

Embedded Images tab

You can add graphic image files directly to the Optiva database. Because image files can consume a large amount of database space, it is recommended that you:

Embed image files only when absolutely necessary, such as for use in reports.
Use the Attachments tab, whenever possible, for adding image files to objects. Attachments point to a file system location rather than to the database.

The function (Doc) codes that are available in the Embedded Images tab are configured by your Optiva administrator and can vary by object type.

Attach: Click the paperclip icon to open the pop-up window. Then, select the image file that you wish to embed with the object.
Description: Specify a description for the embedded image file.
Doc Code: These read-only Function (Doc) codes are configured by your Optiva administrator.
File Name: View the image in either the Thumbnail column or by clicking the File Name link.
Preview: The thumbnail image is displayed here. If you do not embed an image or if you embed an image that is not among the supported file types, a placeholder image is shown.

Parameters tab

Use the Parameters tab to add and filter parameters.

Attribute: Specify a value in the Attribute columns.
Comment: Enter free-form text here.
Description: Shows the parameter’s description.
Filter: Select a filter from the list to view the corresponding parameters.
The SPECIFICATION.NOFILTER profile attribute controls whether you can select No Filter from the list.
Ln#: Shows a system-assigned line number.
Make Default: Select a parameter filter and make that filter the default for your own user id. Master Users (who are defined in the Role page) will be prompted to assign the default filter to the user code, lab code, role, or global lab (@DFLT). User code is the most specific assignment, meaning it takes precedence over the most general assignment, which is @DFLT.
Min/Max/Target: If the parameter can have a range of values, then use the Min/Max columns to specify its minimum and maximum values. If the parameter requires a specific value, then use the Target column.

Parameter

Shows the Parameters which correspond to the Filter category.

Test Method

Select a test method for the parameter. These are test suites developed in the Optiva Testing module or test codes established by your Optiva administrator.

Type Ind

Select the importance of the parameter to the specification’s objective. Valid values are:

Required - Must be within specified range
Best Effort - Should be close to the range
Information - Match is not required.

UOM

Shows the parameter’s unit of measure.

References tab

The References tab is used to link to other objects, such as: Vendors, Customers, Specifications, Formulas, Items, and Projects.

You can add referenced objects to this tab by clicking the Create New Object or Create From buttons. The same reference can be added more than once.

After the new object has been added to the tab, you can click the link to open the object in its own window.

Custom Tables tab

The Custom Tables tab is configured by the Optiva administrator. It enables you to store additional information about the object in a custom table within the Optiva database.

Depending upon how your administrator has configured the tab, you can perform these tasks:

Add table rows.
Type in column values.
Select column values from lookups and lists.