Finding substitute materials
The "Search for substitutes" feature allows you to find materials that represent the best match to a reference record.
This can be the best overall match, or you can match value for specific Attributes. Substitution results are presented in a clear, ranked list, based on their "nearness" to the reference record, making it quick and easy to identify the likeliest substitutes.
- Identify a reference record by doing one of the following:
- Locating the record in the Contents tree and then clicking
Find substitutes for this record on the
Task menu. - On the record datasheet, clicking Tools > Find substitutes for this record.
- On the Advanced Search page, under Search for substitutes, clicking Choose and then select the reference record from the tree.
- Locating the record in the Contents tree and then clicking
Find substitutes for this record on the
- Specify the Attributes on which the substitution calculation should be based: you can choose any Discrete, Point, Range, and/or Logical Attributes in the current Layout.
- Optionally, enter a value for the Ignore records whose results are less complete than option. For potential substitution records, at least this percentage of Attributes used in the substitution calculation must be populated, otherwise the record will be discounted.
- Click Search to perform the search.
The list of candidate records is then shown. You can then examine the results in a report:
- Nearness Report. A Comparison Table report showing all records which pass your search criteria, ranked in order of distance from your reference record, with values of all the Attributes used in the nearness calculation.
- Potential Issues Report. Identifies issues with your results which may not have been considered in your substitution criteria.
- Choose a report... Click to add the search results to the Record list and open the Reports page.