(2024.2) Cable Maintenance
- David Engblom
Navigate to the Cable Maintenance Grid. Main > Cable > Cable Maintenance (see Cable module navigation).
On the Cable Maintenance Grid, Users can add new cables, edit existing cables, transfer existing cables to new locations, and delete existing cables.
Adding a Cable
To add a new cable to the Cable Maintenance Grid, click the button on the Grid Toolbar above the Grid. This opens a Cable Maintenance data entry form.
The User must first input data into the Required fields. In this case, the User must input the Cable Name and choose a Cable Type from a drop-down list of default options. At this point, the User can choose to add in-depth identification information, including Length (feet) and Signal Loss (decibels). The greyed-out data fields are automatically generated when the User adds specific Pairs/Strands to the newly created cable.
Saving a New Cable
Upon fulfilling all the Required fields, click at the bottom of the Cable data entry form. This action results in three distinct outcomes. First, the new Cable is visible in the original Cable Maintenance Grid. Second, the PCR-360 application automatically generates inputs for the greyed-out data entry form data fields referenced in the Adding a Cable section. Most importantly, the PCR-360 application automatically generates the new cable's pairs/strands information in a previously absent data entry form tab entitled Pairs and Strands (see Managing pairs and strands below).
Bulk Adding Pairs/Strands to a Cable
Considering the high volume of Cables employed by a modern business, it is typically much easier to manage Cables in bulk. To bulk Create or Edit Pairs/Strands, select the cable in the Cable Maintenance grid, and click the button. Then use the section labeled Pairs/Strands.
In this section, the User can input the new cable's origination and destination equipment – that is, what the cables are plugged into on either end. To select a piece of origination or destination equipment, click on the Search Icon () in the 'Equipment' data field. This opens a list of the User organization's Equipment from which the User can select the appropriate equipment.
Once the User has defined the appropriate origination and destination equipment, the next step is to define the number of Pairs/Strands and add further identification information. In the data field labeled Low, enter the '1' to indicate that there is at least one strand/pair in the cable. In the data field labeled High, enter the maximum number of strands/pairs that is applied to the cable. For example, if a User wants to input 10 strands/pairs, the appropriate Low/High input would be 1/10.
Note: Though this function allows Users to input Pairs/Strands in bulk, Users can also input single pairs/strands. To input a single pair or strand, input 1/1 as the Low/High ratio.
After the User indicates the number of Pairs/Strands applied to the cable, the Cable data entry form automatically updates to reflect the changes. The 'Status' drop-down menu, for example, becomes a Required field as well as the Origination Equipment from which the pairs/strands begin. Critically, the tab labeled 'Pairs/Strands' also appears and lists each pair/strand in a Grid format (see Managing pairs and strands below).
Status
More information on Pair/Strand statuses is available here
Transfer Pair/Strand Range
This button allows the User to Transfer a range of existing Pairs/Strands from one Cable to another.
To access this form, from the Cable Maintenance grid, click the
button.
This brings up the 'Manage Cable' dialog.
Select the Cable to transfer to.
4. Select the Low range to be associated with the moved Cable.
5. Click the button.
All Pairs/Strands in the range will be transferred from the Origination (Transfer from) to the Destination (Transfer to) Cable.
Managing Pairs and Strands
Using the Grid within the 'Pairs/Strands' tab in the Cable data entry form, Users can add more pairs/strands to the cable, edit individual pairs/strands, view, and edit the paths that the pairs/strands follow, and delete existing pairs/strands.
More Information
More information on Pairs/Strands is available here
View and Edit Paths
Path building and editing are covered in the Cable article, Paths. However, in this section, a User can view the path(s) for one or multiple pairs/strands by highlighting each Grid item and clicking the button on the Grid Toolbar above the Grid.
Adding Conduits and Access Points
The roles of Conduits and Access Points are examined in Cable articles Conduits and Access Points, respectively. However, in this section, a User can add new or existing Conduits and Access Points by navigating to the appropriate tabs and selecting either 'Add New' or 'Add Existing'.
Access Points
The 'Access Points' tab allows the User to associate Access Points with a Cable. The User can 'Add' a new Access Point from this tab or 'Add Existing' Access Point(s) from the Access Points Grid.
Add
Click the
button.
This opens the 'Add New Access Points' form.
Enter the information into the fields if desired.
Click the
button.
The Access Point is added to the 'Cable' as well as the Access Points Grid.
Add Existing
Click the
button.
This opens the 'Existing Access Points' form.
Select the Access Point(s) desired.
Click the
button.
The Access Point is added to the 'Cable' from the Access Points Grid.
Conduit
The 'Conduit' tab allows the User to associate Conduit with a Cable. The User can 'Add' a new Conduit from this tab or 'Add Existing' Conduit from the Cable Maintenance Grid.
Add
Click the
This opens the 'Add New Cable' form.
Click the
The Conduit is added to the 'Cable Maintenance' as well as the Conduits Grid. When Conduit is deleted from the Cable Maintenance Grid, the Conduit remains on the Conduits Grid since there is only an association record on the Cable Maintenance Grid.
Add Existing
Click the
This opens the 'Existing Conduits' form.
Select the Conduit(s) desired.
Click the
The Conduit is added to the 'Cable Maintenance' from the Conduits Grid.