Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Global Search, Dashboards, Assets, and other PTC Orbit features.
Global Search
Q: How do I search for specific records in PTC Orbit?
A: You can use the search box located in the header section of the application. Enter your query, such as list all open work orders, and press Enter. The results will appear on a results page.
Q: What happens if my search query relates to multiple types of objects?
A: If your search affects multiple objects, the result page will display all related objects in multiple cards. For example, separate cards for Assets, Locations, and Work Orders.
Q: Can I save a search query for later use?
A: Yes. Click the bookmark icon next to your search query on the results page to save it to your search history . You can access saved searches by clicking the search box or the bookmark icon on the right-hand side of the page.
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Dashboards
Q: What types of data can I see on the Dashboard?
A: The dashboard provides a visual interface for monitoring asset data through charts, graphs, tables, and numeric value summaries configured by your administrator.
Q: Can I see the detailed data behind a numeric summary on the dashboard?
A: Yes. Numeric value dashboards support drill-down functionality. Clicking on a specific numeric value will open the underlying data in a detailed list view.
Q: How do I switch to a different dashboard?
A: Click the My Dashboard drop-down menu on the Dashboards page to select and view a different dashboard.
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Assets
Q: What are the different ways I can view assets?
A: There are four distinct views available:
• Asset List View: A tabular display with filtering and search capabilities.
• Asset Group View: Organizes assets hierarchically by accounts or sites.
• Asset Location View: Focuses on geographic organization (regions, sites, buildings) .
• Asset Map View: A global, map-based representation with interactive markers and clusters.
Q: How do I set a specific asset view as my default?
A: Open the Asset List View, click the view drop-down menu to see the list of presets, click the three dots next to your preferred view, and select Set Default.
Q: How do I add a new asset to the system?
A: Navigate to the Assets page and click the Create button. You will need to provide details such as location, product, model, serial number, and relevant dates.
Q: Can I filter the asset list by specific criteria?
A: Yes. You can enter keywords into the Filter text box located at the top of each column in the Asset List View and press Enter to refine the list.
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Scores
Q: What is the purpose of the Scores feature?
A: Scores allow you to evaluate assets quantitatively based on weighted factors and conditions, helping you prioritize critical assets and assess performance. For example, failure risk or health scores.
Q: How do I create a new score?
A: Go to the Scores page and click Create Score. This opens the Score Builder, where you can define formulas, add conditions, and assign weights to different factors.
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Data Foundry
Q: What is the purpose of Matching Rules?
A: Matching rules define criteria to identify duplicate or related records from external systems. They group these records and determine which data values should be retained (survivorship) before syncing to production.
Q: What should I do if a record fails a matching rule?
A: You need to perform a Data Review. Navigate to Data Foundry > Data Review to see flagged records. From there, you can validate the data, correct missing details, reassign ownership, or resolve duplicates before syncing the record to production.
Q: How do I manually move a record to a different group during review?
A: In the Data Review screen, click the move icon on a record. You can then choose to Move to Existing Group or Remove and Create New Group.
Q: Do I need to manually create matching rules for Asset and Product?
A: Not anymore. When you enable Staging Review for Asset or Product, PTC Orbit automatically creates a pre-configured matching rule. The Asset rule matches on Serial Number; the Product rule matches on Product Code. Both start inactive; activate them when ready.
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Work Orders and Pending Items
Q: How can I view work orders that need attention?
A: The Work Orders page provides a list view where you can filter by priority, status, or assignee. You can also use Admin Presets like Open and Unscheduled Work Orders to quickly find specific tasks.
Q: What are "Pending Items"?
A: Pending Items are unresolved issues such as IoT alerts or operator requests that require attention but have not yet been converted into work orders.
Q: Can I create a work order directly from a pending item?
A: Yes. Open the detail view of a pending item and click Create New Work Order in the upper right corner. This links the new work order to the alert or request.
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Campaigns
Q: What is the difference between a Service Campaign and a Revenue Campaign?
A:
• Service Campaign: Focuses on maintenance or operational tasks, such as inspections, upgrades, and delivers Work Orders.
• Revenue Campaign: Focuses on sales or business development, such as upsells, renewals, and delivers Opportunities.
Q: How do I create a Service Campaign?
A: Navigate to Campaigns, click New Campaign, ensure Service is selected, and enter details like Campaign Name, Work Order Type, Priority, and Estimated Duration .
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AI Hub
Q: What can I do in the AI Hub?
A: The AI Hub allows you to generate charts and visualizations by asking questions in plain language. For example, create a pie chart showing assets by location.
Q: Can I customize a chart generated by the AI?
A: Yes. After a chart is generated, you can click Customize to modify details like the title, subtitle, field requirements, and legend colors before exporting it.
Q: How do I save a conversation in AI Hub for later?
A: You can add a conversation to your Favorites list by hovering over it in the Recent tab and selecting Add to Favorites from the menu options.
Q: How do I open a product in the 3D Product Explorer?
A: Ask the AI in AI Hub to visualize a product. For example: Show me the Galaxy VL UPS 200 in 3D. The AI finds the matching product and opens the Creo Viewer in the canvas area. You can also provide an asset serial number or part name; the AI resolves it to the correct product.
Q: Can I see which other assets use the same part?
A: Yes. Right-click any part in the 3D model, select Part Information, then click Parts Used in Other Assets. A drawer shows up to 200 assets and 200 products that share the same part.
Q: What is Spatial Search?
A: Spatial Search finds all parts geometrically adjacent to a selected component. Select a part in the 3D model, open the Spatial Search tab, and click View Spatial Parts Index. The system draws a bounding box around the part and lists all neighboring components.
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Demand Forecasting
Q: What is the minimum data needed to create a forecast?
A: You need at least 500 closed work orders within the specified historical date range. You must also provide at least one filter condition, a forecast period (up to 2 years), and a historical data range (up to 5 years back).
Q: Can I export a forecast?
A: Yes. Open a completed forecast and click Export. Choose PDF, CSV, or Excel. The file downloads to your local machine.
Q: What happens if the AI cannot parse my forecast request?
A: An error message appears: "We couldn't generate a suggestion based on your input." You can refine the prompt and retry, or click Skip, I want to enter manually to build the forecast without AI assistance.