Create a trace link from a diagram shape to a Systems Engineering object

Note

Microsoft Visio Professional must be installed on your computer. Visio Standard is not supported.

The diagram template's trace link relation rule may override the display of trace links in the diagram.

The complying Systems Engineering object can reside in the diagram owner's structure or in a different structure.

Tip

To enable the selection of occurrences as defining and complying objects, do one of the following in Systems Engineering:

• Choose Edit→Toggle In-Context Mode.
• Click Toggle In-Context Mode on the toolbar.

Otherwise, you can select only item revisions.

Caution

If you select occurrences and item revisions together as complying objects, the diagram template's trace link relation rule must allow that combination. Otherwise, a validation error is displayed.

If you intend to assign a custom trace link subtype, ensure that it is activated for diagrams before you start this procedure.

Procedure

1. In the diagram, right-click the shape for the defining object and choose Start Trace Link.
2. In the Function view or the Logical Block view, select the complying object, and then do one of the following:

To	Do this
Accept the default trace link subtype	Choose Tools→Trace Link→End Trace Link. You can also right-click the object and choose End Trace Link. Or, click End Trace Link on the toolbar.
Assign a custom trace link subtype	Ensure that the custom trace link subtype is activated for diagrams (Caution). Choose Tools→Trace Link→End Trace Link... to display the Create Trace Link dialog box. You can also click End Trace Link... on the toolbar. Select the subtype from the list in the Create Trace Link dialog box. In the Name box, type a name for the trace link object. You can type an optional description in the Description box. Click OK, or click Apply to keep the dialog box open and create another trace link subtype.

Note: If the trace link relation rule permits, you can see the trace link in the diagram by right-clicking the Visio page and choosing Refresh Diagram.

A corresponding trace link is created in the Trace Links view. Next to each linked object, a trace link symbol indicates whether that object is an item revision or an occurrence.

• The linked object is an item revision.
• The linked object is an occurrence.

Note: In the diagram, the trace link shape does not indicate whether the defining and complying objects are occurrences or item revisions.

Related Topics

• Setting diagram template relation rules
• Activating trace link subtypes for diagrams