A virtual item is usually identified within a group concept which is a composite of many virtual items. This combination of virtual items can represent the context for AssetWise data and where this context is of a non-tangible nature, for example:

• Contractual Requirements for a project
• Hydraulic System Function of Aircraft XYZ
• Procurement Order Process of Company ABC.

The combination of these virtual items is called a Virtual Item Group. Once a virtual item group is created, the user may add various new or previously created virtual items to the group as members. A virtual item may be a member of many groups, but will contain unique attribute and relationship properties for each group that it belongs to.

Virtual items are used for the modeling of non-physical items (requirements, business processes and functions, definitions of a process or function breakdown or a service rendered), which is provided for or sold to customers. Virtual items are often satisfied or underwritten by physical items and / or documents by means of relationships to these other AssetWise objects. In addition, virtual items can be associated with a person or organization through the allocation of responsibilities.

Initially, a virtual item may only have one type of relationship which is its assignment to a virtual item group. Before being assigned as a member to a specific group, the user will only see field data that was entered when the virtual item was created. The system maintains an ungrouped version of the virtual item for this purpose.

When doing a quick search on the virtual item object, the following searches are supported:

• Grouped Virtual Items – only returns virtual items in a virtual item group.
• Ungrouped Virtual Items – only returns virtual items not in a virtual item group.
• Virtual Item Groups – returns virtual item groups.