What’s New in RAM Commander version 8.2
This document describes new features of RAM Commander 8.2. The document covers only the
features, which have been added to the RAM Commander 8.2 since 8.1 version. Please, see
RAMC_8_1_Release Notes and previous documents for earlier versions features additions.
Major Improvements and New Features

Component Library - 340,000 resistors and capacitors added

Improved Search in the Component Library

Active Directory Authentication using LDAP

Context-Sensitive Help by F1 linked to the new User Manual

Report Generator - Calculated fields
Reliability

Reliability Reports - "Processor FR Data" renamed to "Failure Rate Calculation
Details"

NPRD-95 - more clear names instead of primary/secondary

Reliability - finding same component with different FR

FIDES Guide 2009 Issue A

Assembly Composite report - FR(K) column between FR and FR(K, Qty) columns

Show LCN and ATA number (without library) on the top item screen

Import Wizard - from ASCII - add "text qualifier" field, as in Excel

Import Wizard - improvement – recognition of descriptions instead of abbreviations

Report - Export to plain CSV

RBD - MTBF limit set to max 1e15 (instead of 1e9 of old version)
FMECA

FMECA report - show all test types of the test, comma-delimited

FMECA - TAM - new report, Ambiguity by tests

FMECA - import/export Component / FB linkage for specific assembly

FMECA - EE Library - indication "Safety/FMECA": Both (default), "FMECA", "Safety"

FMECA - Copy Libraries - copy Phases library option

FMECA - Severity Classification Summary report - Probability per average hour

FMECA - Testability - Undetectable FMs - new column Item Function

Func.blocks FR calculation - in Operating mode too, not only in FMECA

FTA - Remove all unused Fault Trees
FTA
A.L.D. Headquarters
52 Menachem Begin Road, Tel-Aviv, 67137 ISRAEL
Phone: (972-3) 791-3200 Fax: (972-3) 791-3210
E-mail: [email protected]
Web : www.aldservice.com

FTA - new basic event type - "Periodical tests #2"

FTA - Batch copy FTA to another project, with sub-trees

FTA - Product-level Fault Trees with links to Fault Trees in System-level projects

FTA - Basic Events list - element type, event type fields in the grid

Possibility to display multiple parameters like W(t), Qmean, Q(t), Q(hour) on the tree
diagram
Markov

Markov - Transition rate - link to Product tree/FMECA

Markov - display name and code in different lines, not through '-' delimiter
Safety

Safety – unlimited size of End Effect description

Safety - Supporting Materials column in FC list (ARP 4761), Hazard Type column
in FC List (MIL-882)

Safety – customizable field names + user-defined fields
MMEL

MMEL - Approved and Rejected statuses
Process & Design FMEA

FMEA - 2 new MS Word reports
MSG-3

MSG-3 Structural Analysis

MSG-3 Zonal Analysis

MSG-3 L/HIRF Analysis
Other

Backup 8.2 project as 8.0 or 8.1 project

many more small improvements and fixes
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Installation of RAMC 8.2
For the local stand-alone installation: just run the RAMCW82.EXE downloaded from the
A.L.D. web site (www.aldservice.com), or run RAMC\setup.exe from the installation CD. If it is
upgrade, choose the same folder as previous version folder.
For client-server installation – see User Manual - Installation Guide (Getting Started
Chapter). If you wish to upgrade the older RAM Commander version to 8.2 version in
Client/Server model: RAM Commander version to 8.2 may be installed only over RAM
Commander 8.0 or 8.1. If you have earlier version, upgrade it to 8.0 first. If you wish to
upgrade 8.0 or 8.1 to 8.2, you may upgrade only the Server PC: run RAM Commander
installation on the server, choose "Server" configuration. Workstations will be upgraded
automatically on first RAM Commander run – it will save your IT a lot of work.
For additional instructions, see User Manual - Installation Guide (Getting Started Chapter).
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RAM Commander version 8.2 Release Notes
Component Library - 340,000 resistors and capacitors added
RAM Commander's Component Library has been updated with about 340,000 most widely used
resistors and capacitors, and now the total number of components in the library is 411,000.
Among these 411,000 components, the library contains:
IC Digital
25,228
IC Memory
7,750
IC Analog
26,566
Resistors
229,000
Array
15,507
Chip
156,895
Through Hole
51,144
Chassis Mount
3,771
Capacitors
119,650
Ceramic
65,381
Tantalum
14,991
Film
10,490
Aluminum
23,798
MICA/PTFE
2,994
Trimmers
504
Arrays
469
Connectors
650
LF Diode
1,000
LF Transistor
1,160
Optoelectronic
251
Inductive
286
Crystal
361
Users, who have the library license, may download the new library from web using the following
information:
Download link: http://www.aldsoftware.com/download/downform.aspx?id=57
Improved Search in the Component Library - Partial Recognition, delimiters ignore
option
"Load from Library" function now supports a number of additional options allowing partial Part
Number recognition. It allows to find part data in the library even if PN, as stated in the
BOM/product tree, differs from PN stated in the library, as shown in the examples on the
screenshot below:
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Active Directory Authentication using LDAP
The new RAM Commander version provides optional user authentication using Active Directory
(through LDAP).
Authentication is performed against selected active directory server, using regular LDAP or LDAP
with SSL encryption (LDAPS).
By default, RAM Commander uses built-in users database for authentication. In order to switch
to LDAP authentication ramc.ini file located in the RAM Commander installation folder, BIN subfolder should be updated. The [Authentication] section of the file contains authentication-related
parameters, which should be defined to enable LDAP authentication:
Parameter name
Description
AuthType
LDAPPath
Authentication type. Set LDAP for LDAP or RAMC for build-in users
database (default is RAMC).
The full LDAP path to Active Directory, for example:
LDAP://<server address>:port. By default, ports are 389 for regular
connection and 636 for SSL.
LDAPSSL
LDAP Connection encryption: 0-regular or 1-SSL
LDAPCheckGroup
Group Check - if set to 1, login will be allowed only if user belongs to
the specified group
AllowedUserGroup
Group name - login will be allowed only if user belongs to the specified
group, case-sensitive
DomainSuffix
Constant Domain name suffix - the defined string will be added as
suffix to user domain
Possibility to offer current MS Windows user name as default in RAM
Commander login dialog:
0-no (user login field is empty),
1-Windows user name,
2-Windows domain\user
DefaultUserNameMode
See the sample part of ramc.ini file with authentication set to LDAP with SSL:
[Authentication]
AuthType= LDAP
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LDAPPath=LDAP://DC001.NorthWoods.com
LDAPSSL=1
LDAPCheckGroup=0
AllowedUserGroup=RAMCUsers
DomainSuffix= NorthWoods
DefaultUserNameMode=1
Context-Sensitive Help by F1 linked to the new User Manual
Context – sensitive help (F1) in the new version is updated and connected to the new user
manual.
Report Generator - Calculated fields
Report generator now allows creation of user-defined calculated fields. User need to specify a
formula for such field, using different available functions, mathematical operations, and list of all
numeric RAM Commander product tree data fields.
In order to create calculated field, add a field with Group="CA" and Field="Formula" in the
Report Generator. Then select this newly added field in the list and press Edit button.
Field data dialog will appear with the formula field available:
You may enter formula manually, however, it is recommended to use formula editor instead –
press the "Edit Formula" button to get the formula editor:
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Compose the formula by double-clicking on fields list, functions, and operators lists to insert
them into the formula at current cursor position. The generated report will contain column with
values calculated for each item according to the defined formula. Each report definition may
contain multiple formulas.
Reliability Reports - "Processor FR Data" renamed to "Failure Rate Calculation Details"
Report name has been changed.
NPRD-95 - more clear names instead of primary/secondary
"Primary" selection name has been changed to "Automatic search in library"; "Secondary"
selection name has been changed to "Manual record selection".
Reliability - finding same component with different FR
There is a new report available in the Operating/Non-Operating modes of reliability prediction
module. This report provides indication about possible inconsistencies in the product tree, where
components with the same part number appear multiple times in the product tree, they have
the same ambient temperature and environment but have different failure rates. All such cases
will be listed in the new report as indication of possible problem or error.
Choose "Identical conditions configuration control" to run the report:
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FIDES Guide 2009 Issue A
Update (Issue A) of the FIDES Guide 2009 is implemented in the new RAM Commander version,
together with multiple improvements and fixes.
Assembly Composite report - FR(K) column between FR and FR(K, Qty) columns
The new column has been added to display FR after application of different coefficients like duty
cycle etc. but before application of quantity:
Show LCN and ATA number (without library) on the top item screen
It is possible now to define the ATA Number and LCN number for the top element in the product
tree:
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Import Wizard - from ASCII - add "text qualifier" field, as in Excel
The text qualifier selection possibility adds even more customization to Import Wizard facility,
including possibility to import CSV files with double quote text qualifier:
Import Wizard - improvement – recognition of descriptions instead of abbreviations
Import Wizard recognizes full item code and levels of replace/repair and not just their codes. It
means that in addition to recognition of item codes like "CAPA" and level of replace/repair like
"OR" RAM Commander now recognizes also full names like "Capacitor" or "Organizational" as
they are exported by Rep.Gen. in order to allow smooth export to Excel and then import back of
BOMs.
Report - Export to plain CSV
New option ("Export to CSV" in the Report menu of report viewer screen) allows exporting any
simple report (report with regular table without merged cells) into CSV file format for an easy
integration with other applications. User may select resulting file fields delimiter and text
qualifier:
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RBD - MTBF limit set to max 1e15 (instead of 1e9 of old version)
Old versions of RAM Commander had limitation for MTBF of RBD item and did not allow MTBF
value higher than 1e9. The new version allows input of value in limits [0; 1e15].
FMECA report - show all test types of the test, comma-delimited
Previous RAM Commander version's FMECA report has presented only one type of a relevant
test, even if the test belongs to multiple types. The new RAM Commander version will display
the full comma-delimited list of all test types of the relevant test.
FMECA - TAM - new report, ambiguity by tests
The new report will present all the tests and test indications, and for each test / test indication
pair it will present a list of all failures this test/indication is able to detect. Choose "Detectable
FM by Tests and Indications" report from the "Testability" group of FMECA reports:
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FMECA - import/export Component / FB linkage for specific assembly
RAM Commander allows creation of functional blocks and assignment of components for each
functional block:
In the new RAM Commander version this assignment and the list of the functional blocks for
each specific assembly may be imported from or exported to MS Excel file.
The file should have the following structure:
It should have a worksheet called FB with two columns: ItemFBRefDes with function name and
ItemRefDes with component reference designator. All the referenced components should be
presented in the specified assembly.
Select the required assembly in the product tree and use one of the following functions of the
"Tools" menu:
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FMECA - EE Library - indication "Safety/FMECA": Both (default), "FMECA", "Safety"
FMECA End Effects library is common for both FMECA and Safety modules. Sometimes it grows
to be a large list of hundreds of End Effects; part of them is required for FMECA analysis, and
part of them for Safety analysis, with couple of common End Effects. The new column of EE
library called "Show for" allows definition of relevant module for each EE. Then End Effects
marked with "FMECA" will not appear in the Safety module and vice versa, improving usability of
the library:
FMECA - Copy Libraries - copy phases library option
The "Copy Libraries" of FMECA module now allows copying the phases library from one project
to another:
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FMECA - Severity Classification Summary report - Probability per average hour
The severity classification summary report now presents failure probability per average hour
(equal to probability of failure in the current phase divided by the phase duration as defined in
FMECA phases library).
FMECA - Testability - Undetectable FMs - new column Item Function
The report output has been extended with the "Item function" column.
Func.blocks FR calculation - in Operating mode too, not only in FMECA
FR of functional blocks is calculated from failure rates of components belonging to each
functional block. Previous RAM Commander version executed functional block's FR recalculation
only in the FMECA mode. The new version recalculates the FR of functional blocks in the
Operating mode as well.
FTA - Remove all unused Fault Trees
The new function analyses all the fault trees and removes fault trees, which are not linked
directly or indirectly (as sub-trees) to the Safety module Failure Conditions. This function is
helpful for customers building fault trees only for the Safety Assessment purposes.
The new function is available from the "FTA Diagram" menu of the Fault Tree module:
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FTA - new basic event type - "Periodical tests #2"
The new model for basic event probability calculation extends the "Periodical tests/latent"
model. It is much more advanced, giving a solution for large number of cases. The model
provides a solution to unavailability Q(t) and Q(mean) calculation for event representing failure
of repairable component with known failure rate FR and time to repair MTTR, with latent failure
mechanism, being inspected periodically with test interval Ti and time to first test Tf, assuming
that repair is done directly after test if test indicated component failure.
Model input parameters:
Name
Description
FR
Failure Rate
Ti
Test/inspection interval (constant)
MTTR
Repair Time (constant)
Tf
Time to first inspection/test
q
Initial unavailability (probability that event occurred before mission start at time t=0
t
Current time to calculate Q(t)
The old "Periodical tests/latent" is left for backwards compatibility. The new model is
recommended for newly created fault trees.
FTA - Batch copy FTA to another project, with sub-trees
The new option allows copying multiple selected fault trees with their sub-trees from the current
project to another specified project:
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FTA - Product-level Fault Trees with links to Fault Trees in System-level projects
The new version allows establishing parent/child relationships between multiple projects in RAM
Commander. It is required for cases when multiple system composing some complex product
are defined as separate projects and it is required to perform some operations on the product
level. For example, projects for aircraft safety assessment are usually organized in such a way
that each aircraft system is defined as separate RAM Commander project, and all the analysis
types (reliability, FMECA, FTA and Safety) are performed in these separate projects (e.g.
Hydraulic system, Flight controls system, Landing Gear system, etc.). Then there is a need to
perform safety assessment and additional analysis cases on an integrated aircraft level:
System-level projects
Aircraft-level
project
AIR CONDITIONING
AND
PRESSURIZATION
AUTOFLIGHT
...
HYDRAULIC POWER
COMMUNICATIONS
FUEL
ELECTRICAL POWER
EQUIPMENT/
FURNISHINGS
FLIGHT CONTROLS
FIRE PROTECTION
The new RAM Commander version provides such possibility.
First, all the system-level projects should be placed on the same local/network drive, appearing
in the RAM Commander's projects list of that drive. Then product-level project needs to be
created. Product-level project will provide possibility to define the list of system-level projects
linked to it – see project data screen, "Linked projects" button:
15
Press this button to enter the list of linked projects. Then use Add and Edit buttons to add all the
relevant linked projects to the list.
When the linked projects are defined, it is possible to create and use the fault trees from linked
system-level projects during creation of fault trees of product (aircraft)-level project.
FTA - Basic Events list - element type, event type fields in the grid
Basic events library presents additional fields like element type and event calculation type in the
list:
Possibility to display multiple parameters like W(t), Qmean, Q(t), Q(hour) on the tree
diagram
User may select any combination of calculated parameters to be displayed directly on the FT
diagram after the calculation. Selection is performed on fault tree diagram properties screen:
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After tree recalculation, the diagram will be updated to display the requested information:
Markov - Transition rate - link to Product tree/FMECA
The transition element of Markov diagram may now be linked to the product tree item or FMECA
failure mode. The name and description of product tree item or failure mode, Failure Rate (in
case of failure transition) or MTTR (in case of repair transition) will be taken from the product
tree/FMECA automatically.
In order to link transition to the product tree item or FMECA failure mode, use Select/Clear
buttons on the transition data screen:
17
If the linked product tree item/failure mode is updated, this update does not affect the linked
Markov diagram transition automatically. Use option "Update from RAM/FMECA" function of
Markov diagram "Diagram" menu in order to update the current diagram.
Markov - display name and code in different lines, not through '-' delimiter
Code and Name of Markov diagram states is now displayed in different lines:
FMEA - 2 new MS Word reports
The reports list of RAM Commander FMEA module has been extended with two new
customizable reports generated on a MS Word template basis: "Failures by RPN" and "Corrective
Actions":
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Failures by RPN report provides a list of all failures in RPN descending order:
Corrective actions report provides list of all process steps and their failure modes and causes,
with list of corrective actions for each cause:
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Template in both English and Hebrew languages are available for both reports.
Safety – unlimited size of End Effect description
RAM Commander limits the length of End Effect description to 800 characters (for both FMECA
and Safety modules). For the cases when longer End Effect description is required for the needs
of Safety module (usually for cases when detailed specification of failure effect on
aircraft/vessel/vehicle/product/crew/passengers/environment is required), users may define
additional full End Effect description, which does not have length limitation at all.
During the definition of a new End Effect, users can define the short (800 characters max) name
in the first field and then the full description in the second field as appears on the image below:
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For definition of description of existing End Effects, open the "End Effects" tab of the Safety/FMECA Library,
locate and select the desired End Effect record and press the "…" button next to "Safety Effect" field.
Safety - Supporting Materials column in FC list (ARP 4761), Hazard Type column in FC
List (MIL-882)
New column "Supporting Materials" has been added to the failure conditions list of the Safety
module. This column is referenced by SAE ARP 4761 standard and is designed to store the
identification (documentation, analysis/studies, tests etc.) of supporting materials required to
determine the failure condition effect and justify its classification. Additional column added to
Failure Conditions list, is "Hazard Type" text field, required by SHA/O&SHA according to MIL882.
Safety – customizable field names + user-defined fields
Possibilities of safety module customization have been improved by providing an option to
change the title of any column of failure conditions table and by increasing a number of userdefined fields from 5 to 8.
In order to change column title, right-click the column in the failure conditions list – popup
menu will appear:
21
Choose the "Change column title" option and write down the new title:
Press Ok – the column title will be updated:
MMEL - Approved and Rejected statuses
MMEL candidate statuses list has been increased to give better support of MMEL decision making
process. Now user may define an item as Candidate, Approved MMEL item, or Rejected:
MMEL Reports provide an option to apply filter by MMEL Item status as well:
MSG-3 Structural, Zonal and L/HIRF Analysis
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3 new MSG-3 modules have been added to the existing System & Power Plant Scheduled
Maintenance Development module of RAM Commander – Aircraft Structural Analysis, Zonal
Analysis, and L/HIRF Analysis.
All 4 available analysis types use the same database, sharing common information and
supplementing each other; however, any type of analysis may be performed separately.
Backup 8.2 project as 8.0 or 8.1 project
"Backup as 8.1" and "Backup as 8.0" options in "Project" menu of the list of projects window is
created for backward compatibility with previous RAM Commander version. Use this option if
you need to transfer your project to somebody still using 8.0 or 8.1 version. Please note that
some new features (SHA by MIL-882, FTA CCF groups, Siemens prediction parameters, GJB
prediction parameters, FIDES 2009 parameters) will be lost during this operation.
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52 Menachem Begin Road,
Tel-Aviv 67137,
ISRAEL
Phone: + 972-3-7913200
Fax: +972-3-7913210
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.aldservice.com
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