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Active Sensing, Inc. |
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Acseni® Configuration & Data Management System |
The system library allows users to copy electronic files into a data repository. The library can manage any valid Windows (or DOS) file, including CAD files, budget spreadsheets, text specifications, and graphic images. Once a file has been checked into the library, it may be checked out for modification, copied as the basis for a new design, or simply viewed with a recommended third-party file viewer program. These capabilities can be limited by the file owner, who determines the level of access that other users can enjoy.
Before submitting a file for management, a master or variation record, which acts as the folder for related electronic documents, must first have been created. Any number of files can be saved in each master and variation file folder. The folder information is stored in the Acseni database, while the files reside in a special area (the "library") established on the network database server.
As mentioned, any number of files can be inserted into a master or unissued variation record’s folder. To add a file to the folder, you tell Acseni where the file is located in your private workspace, such as on a hard disk or floppy drive. After Acseni copies the file into the library, you can provide it with an additional title and a page number (that is, its sequence in the file list). As the file’s owner, you can define the viewing, copying, and modification permissions of other users and guests (see Access Permissions, below).
You can copy a file from the library into your local workspace without affecting other users’ ability to access the file. However, if you want to make changes to the file, and want to prevent other users from also modifying the same file, you can check out the file. Checking out the file is actually a two-step process: the system first copies the file to your local workspace, then marks the library file as unavailable. When you check the file back into the library, the file is marked as available. (Note that you must check the file back in, even if you decided not to modify it. In this case, Acseni does not copy the file from your workspace, but simply marks the library file as available.)
If you have an optional file viewer installed and have appropriate permissions, you can view the file image. The viewer commands control scaling, panning, zooming in/out, and rotations.
The file owner is the user who first inserts a file into the master or variation folder. (This user does not have to be the owner of the folder record, although this will usually be the case.) The owner can decide whether other users can view, copy, or check out the file. The owner also decides whether guests can view or copy the file; guests can never check a file out, because they have no rights to check in modified files.
Members of the CM group always have the same rights as a file owner’s, and may also over-write the owner’s assigned permissions or re-assign the file to a different owner.
You can store library files into separate directories based on the source files’ file extension. This provides additional flexibility for managing your file backups; for example, you may only occasionally check-in .DOC files, so a separate DOC directory may reduce server backup time. The library directories are defined in the Media/Location form. The location and number of library directories will not affect your ability to categorize documents within Acseni. Document type, program, part category, and other attributes are managed without regard to which directory holds the document.
When a file is checked into the library, Acseni generates a unique 8-character file identifier that (along with the original file’s extension) becomes the file’s library name. This is functionally equivalent to a library book’s card catalog number. The new file name is used only within the library directory - most users will not care about it. Administrators can obtain the cross-reference between the file folder and the physical file name using the Library List button on the Reports form.
There are two differences between how master and variation files are managed:
A master record’s files are only available from the Master form. A variation’s files are available on the Variation form, the Find-Item Detail form, and the Variation Changes forms. You can perform any valid library function from any of these forms. For example, you can add your product’s CAD files to the library as you build a structure, or as you create the variation changes list on an ECN.
The current Microsoft Access-based product manages folders and files using only DOS/Windows 3.1x filenames. Long filenames under later versions of Windows or Windows NT are translated to their 8.3 alias filenames during import/export functions. Folders and filenames that are 8 characters (or fewer) will display normally; longer folder and filenames will be remapped (e.g., "My spreadsheet.xls" will be remapped to an 8.3 name like "myspre~1.xls"). Since non-Windows servers (like Linux) may not remap filenames as WIndows expects, it's recommended that library folders have names within the 8-character limit.
Technical Support for current users
ACSENI has been replaced by PDXpert Product Lifecycle Management software
Copyright © 1996-2006 by Active Sensing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information here is believed to be accurate at time of first publication. However, all product features, capabilities and prices are subject to change without notice. Acseni is a registered trademark of Active Sensing, Inc.