Appendix B: Using The Configurator - Mircom Flex-Net Phase II Application Manual

Appendix B: Using the Configurator

Appendix B: Using the Configurator
Overview
In order to operate as a fire alarm, a fire alarm panel must be loaded with firmware and
configuration data. A set of configuration data, to uniquely describe and control a given set of
hardware, is called a Job. The Configurator allows the user to create and manage jobs. It also
allows the user to send firmware to a panel and all its related nodes and CPUs
On the first use of the configurator the user is prompted for the paths and file names where
jobs, backups, the database, etc. are to be stored. Registry entries remember many of the
user's preferences.
The configurator is typically run on a portable notebook or lap top computer that is taken to the
job site and connected to the panel. The technician prepares a job using the configurator's
Graphical User Interface. The job can then be sent to the panel. The same or a different
authorised technician can later retrieve the job from the panel, modify it and send it back.
The job repository is a Relational Database (MS-Access). Jobs can be imported or merged
from another database, copied, deleted, and archived in various formats. A job can be printed,
or two versions of a job can be compared.
GUI - Major Components
The configurator uses a familiar Microsoft Windows Graphical User Interface (GUI) to present
a job. The screen is divided into (max.) three panes.
On the left of the screen, the job is represented as a tree, similar to a file explorer. At the
highest level in the tree are the Nodes and CPUs. Under each node are its components -
Annuniciators, Loop Controllers, etc. Some items are further subdivided, for example, an
annunciator into display adders and a loop controller into loops.
Some items in the tree do not directly represent a physical component. For example, tree
nodes exist for input and output summaries and for common controls.
The top right pane is used to display the details of the currently selected tree node. This can
be a form view or a list view. For example, this pane is used to list the devices on a loop
controller (list view) and to display the options and messages of a main display (form view).
The third, bottom right pane is used to show correlations from an item selected in the top right
pane, where appropriate. For example, when a loop is selected in the tree, the top right pane
would show all of its devices or circuits. When one or more input circuits are selected in the
list, then the bottom pane would show the output circuit(s) to which this is correlated.
In addition to standard menus (File, Edit, etc), a specialised menu hierarchy (Job, Panel,
Tools) is provided for such functions at Create New Job, Delete Job, Connect to Panel, etc.
A tool bar provides convenient short cuts to the more frequently used functions
Standard keyboard short cuts and mouse operations are supported for such oprations as copy
and paste, drag and drop, etc.
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