Main screen

Add a system or part of a system

Edit a system or part of a system

For more information about DEAR, see the IEA Team's website.

Training courses on DEAR are available--contact the IEA Team:

Colleen Coggins, Chief Architect
Suzanne Acar, Data Architect
Michael McGreer, Technology Architect
Carl Huls, Indian Trust Architect

Add a System or Part of a System

Here you add a new system, or part of one, by filling in the blanks. The lower level add screens use the same fields in the same way as this screen, but are missing some of the fields that aren't applicable to the lower levels. The only one with a difference is the Add System Component Instance screen.

Text at top

The top of the window shows where the new system will be added.

Identifying information

For a new system, you have to fill in at least a name and a managing partner. Once the system is created, you can't use the wizard to change the name, version, and inventory type, because these attributes are part of the unique identifier for the system.

Details to fill in

Fill in these fields as follows:

Acronym: This is whatever acronym is associated with the system, such as "AMIS" for "Abandoned Mine Information System".

Data Collection Status: Shows which phase this system is in, and whether it is not populated, populated, or validated within that phase.
Operational Status: Shows whether the system is under development, operational, or retired. (Most systems entered should be operational.)
Operational Month/Year: The month the system went operational. (Or "Un" if unknown.) Once entered, there will normally be no reason to change this date unless it is in the future.
SDLC stage: System Development Life Cycle stage. Most systems entered should be in the Transition/Deployment stage.
Estimated end of system life: The year the system owner expects this system to be replaced.

Managing partner

You can't type directly in the managing partner field. The Choices button opens a popup window to show available choices for the managing partner. Select from the Choices window (shown below) the partner with primary responsibility for the system. The Choices window automatically fills in the managing partner field.

Large text boxes

Fill in these fields as follows:

Description: What the system is, what it does.
Comments: If there is a problem you don't have the access to fix (deletion, name change, etc.), make a note in this field. A DEAR administrator will fix it in DEAR, outside of the wizard.
Other Names: This field is particularly for system names that are longer than 80 characters and so don't fit completely in the "Name" field.
URL: Some systems are big enough that they have their own associated website. This is the place to enter it.

Save

This button saves your work and returns you to the main screen. DEAR automatically creates the system, subsystem, system component, and system component instance, all with the same name, version number, acronym, and description. DEAR also automatically gives the system the CPIC status for a proposed new system. The wizard doesn't show this status, though; to see it you will have to look in DEAR.

Cancel

This button returns you to the main screen without saving your work. You will get a popup window asking if you want to discard your changes.

Help

This button opens up the tutorial you are reading now, through the link on this popup window:

Not yet mapped

The new system is NOT automatically mapped to DEAR domains (PRM, BRM, etc.) To map it, go back to the main screen, select the new system, and click on "Edit".

Where you go next

"Save" and "Cancel" will both take you back to the main screen.

Railroad switchyard photograph from Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection