Working with Containers


Overview

Tasks

Included with

Tivoli Asset Management


Overview

About containers

When you edit information about an asset in the Edit Asset dialog box, you can designate the asset as a container. A container is an asset that contains other assets. When you designate an asset as a container, you select other assets to be included within it.

Containers work in a hierarchical manner. Any asset can be a container for other assets. One container's assets, in turn, can each contain other assets.

Suppose, for example, that you are editing an asset (a computer) whose asset category is "Workstation." The workstation has its own asset tag, but you can indicate that other assets reside within the workstation. The workstation, therefore, becomes a container that includes such assets as a keyboard, a mouse, a monitor, a CPU, and a multimedia kit. The multimedia kit may also be a container, including such assets as a sound card, speakers, and a microphone.

Note: When you add contents to a container, you can use only assets that already exist in the database.

Container window

To access the Container window:

Note: The Container window is an example of a hierarchy window.


Tasks

Adding an asset to a container

To add an asset to a container:
  1. Open the Container window.
    Result: The Container window appears. The current asset appears in the Container Hierarchy list.
  2. Select the asset, then choose Add.
    Result: The Quick Find Assets dialog box appears.
  3. Using the Quick Find Asset dialog box' search tools, specify search criteria to find an asset. (For instructions, see Finding Assets with Quick Find.)
    Result: If any assets match your search criteria, they appear in the Assets table.
    Note: If you enabled the Only items not in hierarchy check box, asset tags in the Container window are excluded from the search.
  4. In the Assets table, select an asset, then choose Select.
    Result: The Container window appears, with the selected asset added to the Container Hierarchy list. Notice that the new asset is indented below the first asset, indicating that it is now included in the container.
  5. To add more assets to the container, repeat steps 2 - 5 until you are finished.
    Note: You can select any asset in the Container Hierarchy list, and add assets to it. You are not restricted to adding assets to the original container.
  6. Choose Close.
    Result: The Edit Asset dialog box appears.

Viewing a member of a container hierarchy

You can view information about any asset that belongs to a container hierarchy. You cannot edit the information.

To view a member of a container hierarchy:

  1. Open the Container window.
    Result: The Container window appears. The current asset appears in the Container Hierarchy list.
  2. In the Container Hierarchy list, double-click the container to expand it.
    Result: If the container includes other assets, they appear in the Container Hierarchy list.
  3. Select an asset, then choose View.
    Result: The View Asset dialog box appears.
  4. View the asset, then choose Close.
    Result: The Container window appears.
  5. If you want to view another member of the container hierarchy, repeat steps 2 - 4 until you are finished.
  6. Choose Close.
    Result: The Edit Asset dialog box appears.

Removing an asset from a container

To remove an asset from a container:
  1. Open the Container window.
    Result: The Container window appears. The current asset appears in the Container Hierarchy list.
  2. In the Container Hierarchy list, double-click the container to expand it.
    Result: If the container includes other assets, they appear in the Container Hierarchy list.
  3. Select an asset, then choose Delete.
    Result: A Caution message box appears, confirming that you want to remove the asset from the hierarchy.
  4. Choose Yes.
    Result: The Container window appears, and the deleted asset no longer appears in the Container Hierarchy list.
  5. If you want to remove another asset from the container, repeat steps 3 - 4 until you are finished.
  6. Choose Close.
    Result: The Edit Asset dialog box appears.