A product specification describes an amount of technical features of a particular component of the telecom network, and is used to extend and specify the information about individual network objects. In dpCom the product specification can be created and applied to the following objects; ODF, Converter frame, Switch, Card, Multiduct, Fiber cable, Copper cable and Distribution point.
•Product specifications are created using a predefined form where a user with administrative rights can enter, edit and save the data for the specification
• It is possible to create a set of different product specifications that can be used later on within an object type. For example: The administrator can create several different cable specifications which builds different types, manufacturers etc.
• When a product specification has been created it can be used by other users in the system and be applied to any other object in the network.
• A product specification is similar to a template; when applied to an object, the object is designed like the product specifications was designed at the time.
• If the administrator edits a product specification, the information about the objects that has that product specification is not updated automatically. This means that a revised product specification must be implemented again on the object.
• It is possible to implement a new product specification of an object that already has a product specification.
•It is possible to search for product specifications in the Query tool. It is also possible to search for objects that already have a specific product specification.
• Product specifications can be exchanged between different systems. The product specifications are saved as a zipped XML-file during export and import.
The options to create different kinds of product specifications is found in the Administration menu. This requires that the user have administrative rights in the system.
Edit product specifications
In addition to the section of the attribute form that contains attributes for the product specification itself, there are sections for defining direct children. Although the attributes may differ somewhat between components, the basic functionality remains the same.
To add new rows representing child components:
1.In the attribute form for a product specification, enter the relevant data in the top part of the section.
2.Press the Add button.
To edit an existing row:
1.Double-click on the row. This will populate the top section with the values from the row.
2.Make the necessary changes.
3.Press the Save in selected rows button to save the changes.
Mass update in tables
Editing can be done for multiple rows in the tables representing child components:
1.Select one or more rows.
2.Right-click on one of the selected fields in the column that contains the attribute and select Change value for column XXX.
Formulas in the Product specification
To streamline the process of creating product specifications, for some object types there is a field that can be used as an index. In this index field, instead of entering an integer, you can enter a syntax in order to create multiple rows at the same time. The index field is then used to enter values in other fields of the form.
The syntax for the index field is =X:Y where X is the starting digit and Y the ending digit of your desired range.
Other number fields will follow the index range, meaning, start at the same initial digit and count up until the rows reach the final digit. In these fields you can use the # character and either % or / followed by the desired digit value.
Syntax =#%X calculates the index value modulo the X value, meaning the remainder of the index value divided by the X value. When the remainder value is 0, the X value is set instead. For an index range starting at 1, the syntax =#%X means that the rows are counted up from 1 to the number X and then restart at number 1.
If the index is an integer, syntax =#/X calculates the index value divided by the X value and rounds up. For an index range starting at 1, syntax =#/X means that the rows up to the number X will have the value 1, the next X number of rows will have the value 2, and so on.
In fields with the prompt Use = to begin expression, use # as index placeholder, you can also specify, for example, a name that you want to be repeated. For example, if you enter ="Contact:"#%X in a field for ID, the ID will be named Contact: X where the rows are counted up to the number X and then restart at number 1.
If you only enter =#, these fields will follow the same range as the index field.
Example:
In the following example, we create a product specification for Fiber Cable with index range 1 to 48. The fiber number in the tube/ribbon should run from 1 to 12 and then start again at 1. The first 12 fiber numbers should be included in tube/ribbon number 1, the next 12 should be included in tube/ribbon number 2 and so on.
1.In the menu bar, select Administration > Create product specification > Fiber Cable. The form opens, the red fields are mandatory.
2.In section Fiber template, field FiberNo, enter syntax =1:48. 48 rows will be created and the index will have values from 1 to 48.
3.In the FiberNo in the tube/ribbon field, enter =#%12. Rows 1 to 12 will have values from 1 to 12. For row 13 it will start over at 1, as will rows 25 and 37.
4.In the Tube/ribbon in cable field, enter =#/12. The first 12 rows get the value 1, rows 13 to 24 get the value 2 and so on.
Using product specifications - example
This section describes the principles of working with the product specifications in dpCom. The example shows how to create, edit, apply and how to handle a specification for a cable. The work flow is basically the same whether you are working with product specifications for ODF:s, multiducts or any other available object types.
Create a product specification
To create a product specification for a cable that you are using or plan to use in your network,
1.Choose Administration > Create product specification > Fiber cable or Copper cable. The attribute form for the cable specification opens.
2.Enter the technical information that you want to apply to the cable specification. To the left in the attribute form, information about the cable qualities are displayed i.g. outer diameter, article no, cable type etc. To the right in the attribute form you can define the appearance of the fibers; color, number and how they should be distributed in fiberNo in tubes/ribbons or tube/ribbon in cable. In the section Create product specification > Fiber cable or Copper cable you can read more about how fiber templates work.
3.Click OK.
Applying a product specification on a cable
When a product specification is designed/created and saved, it can be applied to suitable objects in the network. You can choose to connect a product specification to a cable in two ways, either by right click on an existing cable object or directly from the attribute form for the cable e.g. when placing the cable in the map. Simply follow these steps:
1.Right click on a cable in the map (or from a table or tree view) and choose Related data > Select product specification
2.In the dialog that opens press the button Search to search for available product specifications for cables
3.Select a product specification and press OK. The product specification is now connected to the cable
4.To apply the product specification on the cable, you need to generate fibers for the cable. Right click on the cable and select Related data > Generate fibers for cable in the right click menu
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You need to re-generate the fibers even if the selected cable already has fibers, otherwise the product specification will not be applied. |
Select product specification in the cable attribute form
1.Open the attribute form for a cable and choose a product specification in the drop-down list on the left hand side in the dialog:
2.Generate fibers for the cable using right click and then select Related data > Generate fibers for cable in the right click menu. The product specification is now applied on the cable.
Searching for product specifications
Saved product specifications are stored as objects in the database and you can easily search for them in the query tool or in the Sidebar search tab.
1.Use the filter function to find the object type you want to search for.
2.Select the object type from the list.
3.Enter any search criteria.
4.To review or edit the cable specification, right-click the item and select "Show/change attributes".
More information
See also: