FMEA Modes Library files store the failure modes associated with a specific part definition so that these modes can be copied into the System file when the part is inserted in a component FMEA. A part definition always consists of a part classification, category, and subcategory. For an RDF 2000/IEC part, the part definition also consists of a fourth level for the IEC 62380 failure mode type.

You can create any number of FMEA Modes Library files in the Project. Additionally, you can copy the FMEA Modes Library files that you create into other Projects or into the Common Library. All FMEA Modes Library files in the Project area automatically enabled. When the Project is open in the Project Properties window, the Common Library and File Search Order panes for this file type provide for enabling and specifying the search order for these files. For more information, see Project Properties Window.

When you insert a part in a FMEA, enabled FMEA Modes Library files are searched for part matches based on the specified order. When a part match is found, the items and failure modes for that part are inserted in the FMEA. For more information, see Failure Mode Searches.

By default, a FMEA Modes Library file has two panes in which to insert part definitions and specify the failure modes associated with a part. If you select General > Display Causes in the properties for this support file, it also shows the Causes pane. The following table describes all three panes: