Glossaries Glossary - Package to Pseudo

Package Diagram - Non SysML

A Package Diagram (PD) shows the grouping of elements in the OO model, and is a Cradle extension to UML.

Package Diagram - SysML

Used to partition the way a model is organised in the form of a package containment hierarchy. A pkg may also show the model elements that packages contain and the dependencies between packages and their contained model elements. A package is like a folder containing stereotype elements and diagrams.

Parametric Diagram - SysML

Used to express how one or more performance constraints, specifically equations and inequalities, are bound to the properties of a block or activity. pars support engineering analyses, including performance, reliability, availability, power, mass, and cost. pars can also be used to support trade studies of candidate physical architectures.

Parametric Query

A parametric query is one that prompts you at runtime for values for certain parameters prior to the query being run. Parametric queries are supported for Identity, Name, Key, Level and free-format categories (including picklists).

Partitioning

An activity in the early part of analysis in which the descriptions of the environmental interfaces of the system, expressed in events, are divided into groups of related external stimuli and responses. This partitioning process yields groups of related functionality that will naturally co-exist on the same Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) and Behaviour Diagrams (BDs).

Password

For a user to log into a Cradle database, he must supply a password. These are defined in the User Setup dialog. Options for how passwords are controlled such as password expiry can be defined in Project Setup.

Performance Attribute

The components of a performance parameter (PP) are termed performance attributes (PAs). Each PP has a fixed set of PAs that describe the PP.

Performance Function Library

The Performance Function Library is a library of functions that are available for use within the derivations of PPs’ quantities. All these functions are available for use in the derivation of any quantity in any PP in any diagram symbol. Any function can be nested to an arbitrary depth within any other function.

Performance Modelling

Performance Modelling (PERF) is the system design activity in which performance analysis is used to iterate the design of all, or part of, a system to produce a design that is viable from a performance perspective.

Performance Parameter

An elemental component of the performance analysis of a system, the means by which such analyses are conducted, and the means by which the results of such analyses are expressed. Performance Parameters (PPs) define the characteristics of the behaviour of a system, not the behaviour itself, which is simulation. Performance Parameters are used to answer questions such as How much?, How quickly?, and How long? Examples of Performance Parameters include DATA RATE, DATA SIZE, THROUGHPUT, UTILISATION and STALENESS.

Phase

Project-specific phase hierarchies can be specified in WorkBench. A phase hierarchy can be defined for a project, with each phase having any number of sub-phases each of which can have a number of activities.

Physical Architecture Diagram

A diagram type (PAD) often used throughout a system design to show the topology of the highest levels of system architecture, specifically those levels concerned with sub-systems, equipments, buses, and interfaces.

Pivot Table

Pivot tables are a type of metric. They are a convenient method to summarise how many entries in a data set have a particular combination of values for two attributes of interest.

Placeholder

A digit place-holder is used in a number format to indicate whether the relevant digit would be displayed or suppressed. For example, the use of # as a digit place-holder indicates that non-significant zeros would be suppressed.

Plan

A plan is a convenient means to identify and describe a WBS. A plan is the means by which Cradle records the interaction between it and an external Microsoft Project schedule.

Preference File

Records preferences for all Cradle tools, including, but not limited to, WorkBench. There is a system preference file in the Cradle executables directory for each supported platform and a personal preference file for each user, that is stored in the directory personal to that user. Cradle tools read the system preference file followed by the current user’s preference file. Any definitions found in the user’s preference file override corresponding definitions in the system preference file. The system preference file always contains a full set of definitions, whereas personal preference files usually only contain those definitions where the user has a preference that is different to the system default.

Print Directive

Print directives are instructions that allow certain print features, such as underlining and emboldening, to be specified for each of the elements of the definition. They also allow information such as page numbering, document titles, and the current date to be embedded in the document.

Privilege

Privileges give access to specific tool functions.

Process Flow Diagram

A Process Flow Diagram (PFD) shows a particular task or process that the system can perform, known as a process flow. The primary role of a PFD is to link the existing functions involved in a given system operation or task into a time-sequenced view as an orthogonal projection of the main system model.

Process Improvement Programme

An initiative within an organisation which undertakes the continual evaluation of the engineering process and contrasts it with what is believed to be achievable, to thereby refine the process being used.

Process Maturity

A review activity within which an organisation analyses its systems engineering process and the productivity within each component part of the process so as to better understand it and identify areas for improvement.

Product Breakdown Structure

A Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) is a physical hierarchy that ultimately corresponds to the type of information used by an organisation's CAD/CAM system.

Project

A project is the working environment/database that contains your data.

Project Code

The four character code that uniquely identifies each Cradle project database managed by a single CDS.

Project Database

A set of data and index files that collectively contain all of the information created by a Cradle project, including requirements, events, diagrams, specifications, data definitions, and project-specific information types, such as equipments, interfaces, risks, and issues. The CDS provides access to all Project Databases (PDBs) for Cradle WorkBench clients.

Project Database Unique Identifier

Stored for each item of each type and is unique across all Cradle projects. The PDUID assists in the configuration control and change tracking of information in the Cradle database.

Project Directory

A directory in the file system of the host executing the CDS which contains a project's project database. Cradle keeps a record of the project directories of all projects that have been created.

Project Hierarchy

The project hierarchy is the left-hand side of the Project Manager screen. The project hierarchy is modified by creating and deleting, copying or dragging and dropping folders in the hierarchy tree.

Project Identifier

The item's Project ID.

Project Link

This is a bidirectional link between Microsoft Project and Cradle whereby WBS items can be transferred.

Project Management

The activity, performed throughout a project, of attending to the project's organisational, procedural, timescale, programme, and cost aspects so as to bring the project to a successful conclusion on time and to budget.

Project Manager

A utility which is used to manage your Cradle projects.

Project Parameter

The set of configurable options and controls that define the setup of a project. Each project has its own set of Project Parameters that are held as a file in the project database.

Project Setup

Every Cradle project is created with a default project setup. The Project Setup tool is used to change the default values, to enable the project to be configured to meet your needs.

Project Unique Identifier

16 character Project Unique Identity (PUID).

Properties

Properties is an option in the item menu that allows you to set the attributes of one of many items in a single operation.

Pseudo Cross Reference

Pseudo cross references are relationships between items created by names/numbers. They only exist between diagrams, specifications and data definitions.