Using References

The References feature allows you to identify which entities are referenced by other entities. References are available for each entity type through the blue icon () displayed next to the Results table heading. When you select an item in the table and click the icon, the application displays a list of links of entities to which (or from which) the currently-selected item is referenced.

For example, when you click the icon in the Staffing Requirements table while a staffing requirement is selected, the list includes Activity, Department, Driver, Job and Skill. These entities are listed because they are associated with staffing requirements. When you define a staffing requirement criteria, you must assign an activity, job, and skill to the locations (department) selected in the location tree. When you define the details for a staffing requirement and you have volume-driven requirements, then you must assign a driver.

You can click a link in the list to refresh the Configuration Editor and display the related entity. You can perform related operations on that entity.

When the list of items in the Results section is longer than what can be viewed within the viewport, clicking the Reference icon only displays references for the entities that you can see in the current viewport.

References may change over time. When you are navigating using references, the current date is used as the point in time upon which all references are based.

The References functionality allows you to track related entities, navigate easily between them, and make modifications as necessary. The functionality helps you explore across related entities. If you discover any problems, you can manage them before schedule generation takes place.

The results that are displayed after clicking on a reference item are not filtered. The results are not filtered even if the contents from which you navigated had been filtered. For example, select a location in the location tree and select Activity from the Operations drop-down-list box. Then click the Staffing Requirement reference. The results set that is listed is unfiltered. The set lists all of the results (system-wide) that reference your selection.

You can secure specific operations using security permissions. The permissions can limit operations to only certain users. If an operation has been secured, the same security applies to the list of available entity types when users click the References icon.