When the failure rate of a part is calculated, built-in default values are used for all required parameters in the Prediction Data pane that are either left blank or display #.# signs (for numeric fields). If custom default values are inserted in the Project’s Prediction Defaults files, these custom values replace the built-in values. For more information, see Prediction Defaults Files.

Using the built-in default values provides the equivalent of a Parts Count prediction. You can view the default values for required parameters by clicking Defaults in the Prediction Data pane. Default values appear highlighted and/or in a bold font.

Default values are used in calculations until actual values are entered. If you wanted to save default values as actual values, you would leave the default values on. Otherwise, you would click Defaults again to hide them.

If default values are visible when you leave the Prediction Data pane, they are saved to the record. When you return to this pane, no values appear highlighted or in a bold font because all values are now entered as actual values

In the Options window, Prediction > Defaults used color specifies the color in which you want to display a part in the System Tree Items table that uses default values for parameters that are required in failure rate calculations. The default is black so that all parts in a new tree are not highlighted. However, after parameter values are entered for most parts, you can select some color other than black so that parts that still use default values are highlighted after prediction results are calculated. Then, instead of reviewing all parts in the tree, you need only to review highlighted parts. To make this task even easier, you can use the Format Builder to insert the display-only Defaults Used field in the System Tree Items table. After prediction results are calculated, this field shows the required parameters that still use default values.

If desired, you can configure the Prediction module so that default values for required parameters are saved as actual values when a part is inserted in the Parts Table. In the Options window, Prediction > Enter default values for new parts indicates whether you want to save default values as actual values.