What are Cross Reference Tables?
Quickly Find Items Based on Text
Tips for Linking Cross Reference Items
Link cross reference items to hierarchy components
View Linked Cross Reference Items
What are Cross Reference Tables?
You can think of Cross Reference Tables as libraries of cross reference items. You define a new table (or library) in this window, then you open the table and add the items.
Example
An example of a Cross Reference Table might be a list of ‘Critical Equipment’ used by the learner. In the Critical Equipment table, you add an item for each piece of equipment that you deem critical to your organization. See How to add a new item.
As you work in the project, you can link the items to the various records (analysis, objective, program and questions) in the database.
Example
You might have a task that outlines the steps for using a piece of equipment under the ‘Critical Equipment’ table. To show their relationship, you would link the item to the task.
VISION will utilize the links between table items and data records when you generate certain reports and documents. In addition, if a piece of equipment changes, you can run a query on the cross reference item to find all data records that have been linked to that item.
Example
Continuing from the previous example, let’s say your organization upgrades a piece of equipment that is represented by an item in the ‘Critical Equipment’ table. What you want to do is find the impact on training due to the upgrade. To do this, you would run a query on that item to show all data records linked to the item (in this example we are using a ‘task’). You could then evaluate the task analysis for that task to update the training as needed to reflect the equipment upgrade.
Cross Reference Table Columns
The Cross Reference Table window is where you maintain the table’s items and where you link items to data records. Shown in this window are the following columns:
Linked |
A checkmark here means the item is linked to the data object currently selected in another window. |
Used |
A checkmark here means the item is linked to some data object. |
Show Linked to Document |
If checked, the item is linked to one or more external documents. |
Show Linked to Unapproved Document |
If checked, the item is linked to one or more external documents that have not been approved. |
User ID |
The User Defined ID of the item. It will be blank if no User Defined ID was entered for an item. |
System ID |
The unique system ID of the item. |
Text |
The text of the table item. |
The Cross Reference Table window was designed to work with a Workbench window. If a Workbench window is open and a node is selected, a check will appear in the Linked column if the item is linked to that node.
Tips:
•Initially, the Used, User ID and System ID columns are not displayed. To display any of these columns, click the Show/Hide Columns button.
•If you highlight one or more rows in the list, you can press <Ctrl+C> to copy the list to the Windows clipboard. You can then use <Ctrl+V> to paste the contents of the clipboard into another application such as Excel.
Quickly Find Items Based on Text
To find an item based on its text, do one or both of the following:
Sort
Click the "Text" column header to sort the items by text. (When a table is opened, the items are already initially sorted this way, by default.) Then scroll to the item of interest.
This is only useful if the text you're looking for is at the start of a table item.
Filter
Type some text in the "Filter" box, and then press <Enter>. The table will respond by showing only the items that contain that text.
To clear a filter, delete the text in the "Filter" box and press <Enter>. Or select the blank choice in the drop list. The table will again show all items.
Tips for Linking Cross Reference Items
Use the Insert Key to Add Items
You can link multiple components all at once
How to use Query
Link cross reference items to hierarchy components
To link cross reference items to hierarchy components:
1.Open the list of Cross Reference tables by selecting Open from the Cross Reference menu located on VISION's main menu bar.
2.Highlight the tables that you want to open (you don't have to highlight all of the tables). Then click the Open button.
3.VISION will open the selected tables and offer to neatly arrange them if a workbench is open.
4.Be sure the correct screen configuration for linking cross reference items is displayed. Specifically, if a workbench isn't open, now is a good time to open one.
a.To link cross reference items, you'll need to open the right Workbench screen (Analysis, Objective or Program) and the Cross Reference Table windows.
b.If the display you see is confusing and you don't know what to do from here, select 'Tips' from the options along the top of the Steps help window. Then choose a tip that matches what you want to do.
5.Expand the hierarchy to reach the hierarchy entries that you want to link to the table items. For example, if you want to link Tasks, then expand the Analysis Hierarchy to find those Tasks.
6.In the Cross Reference Table that you want to link, click on the specific items you want to link to a hierarchy component.
7.Now click and drag the hierarchy component to be linked from the hierarchy to anywhere in the area of the active Cross Reference Table.
8.A prompt will ask if you want to link the items to the selected nodes. Click OK. The link will be made according to which specific item you highlighted in Steps 4 and 5.
9.Repeat the process to link each hierarchy component to the items in the Cross Reference Tables until all of the components have been linked that you want to link.
10.Do the same with any other Cross Reference Tables until all hierarchy components are linked to all tables as needed.
View Linked Cross Reference Items
Normally, when you open a cross reference table, you see all of the items for the table. When you select a node in a Workbench, a check appears in the Linked Items column for each item that is linked to that node. However, if your table has more items than those appearing on the screen, it can be difficult to see which items are linked to the selected node. To overcome this, use one of the following methods with an open Workbench:
Method 1: The Main Menu
1. Select Cross Reference on the Main Menu and then View Linked Items Only or right-click your mouse button in the Cross Reference window and select View Linked Items Only.
2.What this feature does is show you only those items that are linked to the selected node in the Workbench. You will see different items (or none at all) as you change the selection.
Method 2: Workbench Node
1.Double-click on the node in the Workbench.
2.Select the Cross References menu item. This tab will show all cross reference items linked to that node. The items will be organized by the cross reference tables to which they belong.
Method 3: Links Window
1.View the linked items in the links window below the hierarchy–the "Cross References Linked To" links window.
Unlink Cross Reference Items
There are three different methods you can use to unlink a cross reference table item from a node in a Workbench:
Method 1: Cross Reference Table
1.In the Workbench window, highlight the node from which the item should be unlinked. In the Cross Reference Table window, highlight the item(s) you want unlinked. Remember that if a check does not appear in the Linked column for an item, the item is not linked to the selected node.
2.To unlink each highlighted item from the node, follow one of these procedures:
a.click the Unlink button 
on the Cross Reference Table toolbar.
b.Select Cross Reference and then Unlink from the Main Menu.
c.Right-click your mouse button and choose Unlink.
3.Click the OK button to confirm that you want to unlink the items from the hierarchy component.
Notice the check marks no longer appear beside the now-unlinked items.
Method 2: Workbench Node
1.Double-click on the node in the Workbench.
2.Select the Cross References menu item. This menu item will show all cross reference items linked to that node. The items will be organized by the cross reference tables to which they belong.
3.Highlight the items in the window that you want to unlink. Click the Unlink button.
Method 3: Links Window
1.Right-click the linked item in the "Cross References Linked To" links window and select Unlink from the popup menu.
How to Delete an Item
To delete an item, follow these steps:
1.Select the item(s) you want to delete.
2.Press the <Delete> key or select Cross Reference 
Delete from the Main Menu.
Warning: Please note that this operation is permanent and irreversible.
Note: If any of the items you are deleting is linked, a message box will be displayed informing you of this.
What’s next?
If you have been working toward producing special documents, such as Job Qualification Cards, Task Performance Evaluations and Procedures, now is the time you can get them.
From Outcomes on the Main Menu, select VISION Documents. Click the button that describes the category you want (Qualification or Procedure are the most likely at this point). Then highlight the document and click the Generate Document button.
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