Using BlockSim's PRISM Data Import Utility
ReliaSoft's BlockSim is integrated with the failure rate database from the System Reliability Center (SRC) PRISM® software. This document presents instructions for creating a new BlockSim Template with blocks defined with failure characteristics obtained from PRISM. Consult the BlockSim online help file for additional documentation on this feature. Please note that the windows presented next are from BlockSim 6 and will look slightly different in BlockSim 1.5 and BlockSim 7. However, the procedure for using the PRISM Data Import utility is the same for both versions of BlockSim.
To create a new Template that contains blocks defined with failure characteristics obtained from the System Reliability Center (SRC) PRISM application, do the following:
- If you are using BlockSim 1.5, select Import PRISM Components from the Template menu to open the Import PRISM Data window. If you are using BlockSim 6 or BlockSim 7, select Import Template from PRISM from the Project menu to open the Import PRISM Data window.

- In the Import PRISM Data window, click Load PRISM to launch the PRISM application.
- Within PRISM, open or create the system that you want to work with in BlockSim. From the Failure Rate tab, click Summarize.
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- You will be prompted to confirm that you want to export the data for the current system to BlockSim and close the PRISM application. Click Yes.
- You will be prompted to save any changes made to the PRISM file before closing the application. Once you have made a selection, the PRISM application will shut down and the system data will be loaded into BlockSim in the Import PRISM Data window.

- If desired, you can view additional details for each loaded component by selecting the component and clicking the Hide/Display Extended Description button in the bottom right corner of the window. This information will not be included in the BlockSim block.
- Click Add to New Template to create a new BlockSim Template with blocks representing the loaded PRISM components.
- In the New Template Selection window, specify which PRISM components you want to convert to BlockSim blocks and click Finish to create the new Template.

PRISM, RACRates and the PRISM logo are trademarks and/or copyrights of the System Reliability Center.


