Overview of Asset Groups

About Asset Groups

Asset Groups are collections of assets, grouped together for analysis. Asset Groups, other than groups based on queries, can also be selected in the asset filter that appears in queries, dashboards, graphs, and maps.

You can create an Asset Group and add assets as needed in the Asset Group section, or use a query to define the assets in the group. Asset Groups are also created automatically when assets are selected in an analysis workflow. Asset Groups created in an analysis workflow are identified by the Relationship field.

An Asset Group can be saved and reused for different types of analyses. For example, if you wanted to perform an Asset Criticality analysis and a Risk Based Inspection analysis on the same 20 pieces of equipment, you can create an Asset Group containing those 20 equipment records and use the same group for each analysis.

About Asset Groups Based on Queries

The ability to create an Asset Group based on a query allows a user to apply an analysis to a dynamic group of assets for example, equipment, functional locations, RBI components, etc. When a user bases a new Asset Group on a query, the Asset Group is dynamic in that it is subject to change as assets change with respect to the parameters of the query.

Every time you access an Asset Group that is based on a query, the query is freshly run. For example, the day you create an Asset Group using a query, the query it is based on may populate it with 10 assets. If you were to access the same Asset Group a month later, the query would run afresh and may populate the Asset Group with more or fewer than 10, depending on the number of assets that will meet the parameters of the query the second time around.

The base query that you specify for an Asset Group must contain the following columns:
  • ENTY_KEY
  • ENTY_ID
  • FMLY_KEY
  • MI_SITE_KEY

When you apply an analysis to an Asset Group that is based on a query, the Asset Group is no longer dynamic. Instead, the assets returned by the base query at the time when you apply the analysis are the exact assets for which that analysis will always apply.

You cannot use an Asset Group that is based on a query as a filter in a module overview page or dashboard where asset filtering is available. You must convert the dynamic Asset Group to a static group to use it as a filter.

Create an Asset Group

Procedure

  1. Access the Assets page.
  2. In the left pane, select Group, and then select .
    The New Asset Group workspace appears.

  3. In the Group Name box, enter a name for the new asset group.
  4. In the Group Description box, enter a brief description for the group.
  5. To add a Parent to the Asset Group, above the Select a Parent box, select .
    The Asset Finder window appears.
  6. In the Asset Finder window, select the Asset with which you want to associate the group, and then select Done.
    Note: If you want to add a parent to the Asset Group, only child assets of the selected parent Asset can be added to the Asset Group.
    The number of assets marked to be added to the group appears.
  7. In the workspace heading, select Save.
    The group is saved, and appears in the Asset Group section.
    Note: Relationships are determined while creating an Asset Group during an associated module workflow.

Create an Asset Group Based on a Query

Before You Begin

Before you can create an Asset Group based on a query, you must create a query on which you want to base your Asset Group, if it does not already exists. The query must conform with the requirements listed in the About Asset Groups Based on Queries topic.

Procedure

  1. Access the Assets page.
  2. In the left pane, select Group, and then select .
    The New Asset Group workspace appears.
  3. In the Group Name box, enter a name for the new asset group.
    If you do not specify a Group Name, the name of the Query that you select will be used as the name of the Asset Group.
  4. In the Group Description box, enter a brief description for the group.
    If you do not specify a Group Description, the description of the Query that you select will be used as the description of the Asset Group.
  5. To add a Parent to the Asset Group, above the Select a Parent box, select .
    The Asset Finder window appears.
  6. Above the Select a Query box, select .
    The Select a Query from the Catalog window appears.
  7. Navigate to the query on which you want to base the new Asset Group, and then select that query.
    The Select a Query box is populated with the query path.
  8. Select Save.
    The group is saved, and appears in the Asset Group section.

Create a Static Asset Group from an Asset Group Based on a Query

Before You Begin

Before you can create a static Asset Group from an Asset Group based on a query, the system must contain an Asset Group that is based on a query.

Procedure

  1. Access the Assets page.
  2. In the left pane, select Group, and then select the group that you want to copy.

    The properties for the selected group appear in the <Group Name> workspace, where <Group Name> is the name of the group.

  3. Select Save As a Static Group.

    The Save Asset Group dialog appears.

  4. Select OK

    The asset group copy is created, and assets are added to the group according to the current results of the base query.

    Note: Depending on the number of assets in the group and the number of pending static asset group creation requests in the queue, it may take some time for the asset group copy to appear.
  5. In the left pane, select the newly created group to view it in the <Group Name> workspace.

What To Do Next

Filter Asset Groups

Procedure

  1. Access the Assets page.
  2. In the left pane, in the Group section, select .
    The Group Filter window appears.
  3. Optionally, in the Relationship box, select a relationship by which to filter.
  4. Optionally, select Hierarchy Filter.
    The Hierarchy Finder window appears.
  5. In the Asset Hierarchy, in the row for each asset by which you want to filter groups, select .
  6. Select OK.
    The list of applied filters appears on the Group Filter window.
  7. Select Done.
    The Asset Groups are filtered according to your selection.

Search for an Asset Group

Procedure

  1. Access the Assets page.
  2. In the left pane, select Group.
  3. Select , and then, in the text box, enter your search criteria.
    The search results appear in the list in the left pane.
  4. Select a group to view the details.
    Tip: When you select an Asset Group, the first 25 assets in the group are displayed in the Add Assets box. You can scroll down to view the remaining assets.

Search for an Asset in an Asset Group

Procedure

  1. Access the Assets page.
  2. In the left pane, select Group, and then select the group in which you want to search for an asset.
  3. In the right pane, enter your search criteria in the Search box.
    The search results appear in the Add Assets box.

Modify an Asset Group

Procedure

  1. Access the Assets page.
  2. In the left pane, select Group, and then select the group that you want to modify.
    The selected group's properties appear in the <Group Name> workspace, where <Group Name> is the name of the group.
  3. Modify the properties as needed.
  4. Select Save.
    The changes are saved.

Add Assets to an Asset Group

About This Task

You can add assets to any Asset Group that is not based on a query.

Procedure

  1. Access the Assets page.
  2. In the left pane, select Group, and then select the group to which you want to add assets.
  3. In the Add Assets box, select .
    The Asset Finder window appears.
  4. Select the assets that you want to add to the group.
    Tip:
    • If you toggle the Select Children option, all the child assets of the next asset you select will be added to the group.
    • You can select the Show Selected Only check box to view the list of currently selected assets.
  5. Select Done.
    The number of assets marked to be added to the Group appears.
  6. Select Save.
    The assets are added to the group.

Remove Assets from an Asset Group

About This Task

You can remove assets from any Asset Group that is not based on a query.

Procedure

  1. Access the Assets page.
  2. In the left pane, select Group, and then select the group from which you want to remove assets.
  3. In the list of assets in the group, select to remove an asset from the group. Or, if you want to search or filter assets, in the Add Assets box:
    1. Select .
      The Asset Finder window appears.
    2. Clear the check boxes for the assets that you want to remove from the group.
  4. Select Done.
    The number of assets marked for removal appears.
  5. Select Save.
    The assets are removed from the group.

Delete an Asset Group

About This Task

You cannot delete an Asset Group that is linked to an analysis.

Procedure

  1. Access the Assets page.
  2. In the left pane, select Group, and then select the group that you want to delete.
  3. Select Delete.
    If the Asset Group is linked to an analysis, a message appears, displaying the list of linked analyses. You must unlink the Asset Group from all the analyses before deleting it.

    If the Asset Group is not linked to an analysis, a message appears, asking you to confirm that you want to delete the Asset Group.

  4. Select Yes.
    The Asset Group is deleted.