The Reverse Structure option in Nora IPLM allows you to view the “where used” context of any object, showing where that object is referenced in other structures. This feature is especially useful for impact analysis, reuse tracking, and change management.
Accessing Reverse Structure
- Open the Structure Widget.
- Go to the Structure Options panel.
- Under the Direction setting, select Reverse.
Once activated, the widget header turns orange to clearly indicate that you are working in Reverse Structure mode.
Navigating in Reverse Structure
- You can explore multiple levels up, depending on how many parent levels exist for the selected object.
- Each expansion shows you the higher-level objects where the current item is used.
- You can continue expanding until all possible “where used” paths are displayed.
Example Scenario
Imagine you have a battery module that is used in both Product A and Product B.
- In Normal Structure mode, you would only see the children of the battery module (cells, casing, wiring, etc.).
- In Reverse Structure mode, you immediately see that this same battery module is included in two different parent assemblies (Product A and Product B).
If you plan to change the battery module, the Reverse Structure view makes it easy to assess the impact of that change across all affected products.
Key Notes
- Reverse Structure does not alter the original data or the forward structure view.
- Switching back to Normal Structure will restore the standard top-down hierarchy.
- This view is helpful when determining the impact of changes to a part, document, or component across multiple products or assemblies.
