Cable Management System Specific features and functions
From WireCAD Online Help
| Command Line Shortcut: ' User Permissions Level: All |
Contents
Before You Start
This section applys to the Cable Management System features of WireCAD.
WireCAD with CMS tools has introduced the ability to work in a different manner from previous versions of WireCAD.
The standard work flow for WireCAD users has been to create your Functional Block Diagrams first, then assign SysNames and Cable Numbers and lastly, generate reports based on this information.
WireCAD with CMS tools allows you to start by entering your SysNames and Cable Numbers into the database first, create Backbones and Circuits and then generate a Functional Block Diagram based on the information set in the database.
Cable Management System Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| To access the Cable Management settings, Click Project>Settings. | You will have one CMS setting under the User tab and two CMS settings under the Project tab. Note that the settings under the Project tab will not be accessible without a current project open. |
| User>CMS User>Use Stock WireCAD Starup Page | This setting will change from the LAWA startup screen to the Default WireCAD startup screen. |
| User>CMS User>Default New Circuit Strand Count | This setting will allow you to set how many strands you would like your New Circut to default to. |
| User>CMS User>Warn of Connector String Mismatch | This setting will pop up a warning anytime WireCAD detects that a connector is mismatched when creating a Backbone or Circuit |
| Project>CMS Basic>Default New Backbone Status | Here is where you will define the status of a newly created backbone such as "Proposed", "In Use", "Dead" etc. |
| Project>CMS Basic>Default Circuit Status | Here is where you will define the status of a newly created backbone such as "Proposed", "In Use", "Dead" etc. |
| Project>CMS Basic> IP Masking | This setting will allow you to select the type of IP Masking you are using. Select IPv4, IPv6 or No IP mask. |
| Project>Export Settings>Always Ask For Filename and Path | If this box is checked, WireCAD will always ask you to define where and what you would like to export your drawing or database as. If this box is checked, you will not be able to define any further settings in the Project>Export Settings |
| Project>Export Settings>File Format | If you have the above setting off, this is where you will specify what file format you would like to export your drawing or database as. |
| Project>Export Settings>Path | This is where you will define where you would like your exported drawings or databases saved to. |
| Project>Export Settings>Create Folders for Each IT System | This setting will create a new folder in your "Path" folder for each different IT System. |
| Project>Export Settings>Automatically Overwrite Files Of Same Name | This setting will allow you to choose if you would like to automatically overwrite files that have the same name as the new file you are trying to create. |
| Project>Export Settings>Append Date Stamp to File Name | This setting will place a date and time stamp into the file name for future reference. |
Accessing the 3 main CMS specific functions in WireCAD
| Command line shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Command Line Shortcut: ABS | This will open the "Add Backbone Segment" Window. This is where you will add multi core Cable types to create a Backbone between equipment/Patch Panels. |
| 2. Command Line Shortcut: NC | This will open the "Create Circuit" Window. This is where you will build Circuits between equipment using Jumpers. |
| 3. Command Line Shortcut: CMSCG | This will open the "Circuits Grid" Window. From here, you can view and edit information regarding pre-built circuits as well as create a visual preview of such circuits. |
Adding Equipment to Project Database
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Open your Equipment Library | For more information on accessing your equipment library, refer to Accessing Equipment Library |
| 2. Find your equipment using the "Find" bar or create a new equipment definition. | For more information on creating new equipment, refer to Create a New Equipment Definition |
| 3. After selecting the piece of equipment you would like to use and defining the port and display information, select the "Add to Project Database Only" button from the Quick Buttons on the right side of your equipment library. | A new window will pop up requiring some information fields to be filled in. |
| 4. With the New Sysname box open, enter all data you would like associated with this Equipment Definition. | WireCad will automatically choose the next available Sysname based on your Sysname format. You can also enter a Location, Elevation, Alias, Engineering and User data here. |
| 5. Select if you would like to add a single piece of equipment or many of the same type of equipment. | If you select add many, a new box will open asking you how many pieces of equipment you would like to add of this type. |
| 6. Press ok and if you are done in your Equipment Library, Close it using the X in the top right corner. | If you would like to add other equipment, return to step 2 and continue until finished. |
Creating a Backbone Segment
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1.Open the Backbone Segment Window using the Command Line Shortcut: ABS | This will open your "Add Backbone Segment" window. |
| 2.Select if you would like to create a new Backbone or use available remaining strands from an Existing Backbone Structure. | A new Backbone is required if there are no available strands in an Existing Backbone Segment. If you are using an available existing Backbone Segment, you will need to select which Backbone Cable you would like to use under the "Select Existing Backbone Starting Number" field. The Backbone ID will automatically populate with the next available number in the sequence. |
| 3. Under the From column, select the Patch Panel ID (sysname) or use the Location Filter to narrow your results and find a specific Patch Panel in a specific location. | The location field will be empty if you did not enter in a Location when Adding Equipment to Database. |
| 4. Under the To column, select the Patch Panel ID (sysname) or use the Location Filter to narrow your results and find a specific Patch Panel In a specific location. | The location field will be empty if you did not enter in a Location when Adding Equipment to Database. |
| 5. Select the Cable Type you would like to use for your Backbone. | You will need to have a multi-core cable in your Cables Database to use as a Backbone Segment. If you have not created your Cable Type for your backbone, you can do so by clicking the [+] sign and following the "Create New Cable Type" steps. |
| 6. Under the From column, select the ports you would like to start you Backbone with. | Available ports will show in White while ports that are already used will show in Pink. Also note that you do not need to use all ports or all strands in the cable. If you decide to not use all ports or strands, they will show up as available and can be used in later assignments. |
| 7. Under the To column, select the ports you would like to end your Backbone with. | Again, available ports will show in White while ports that are already in use will show in Pink. |
| 8. Click Apply and this Backbone will be added to the project database. | Always make sure that you are not “overlaying” on used ports and that the ports coming in are not the same as the ports going out. Example: If you have a Patch Panel with 24 Ports in and 24 Ports out, you could use ports 1-12 as your incoming ports and 13-24 as your output ports. This allows the other 12 ports on each side to be used for jumpers to other equipment while maintaining a backbone infrastructure. |
The Backbones Grid
| Information |
|---|
| The Backbone Grid will show you a list of all the backbone segments in your project and allow you to modify their Status or delete the entire Backbone cable group at once. The Status will refer to wether the Backbone is In Use, Proposed, Dead ETC. New backbone status' can be created in the project settings menu. There are 3 default status' available. In Use, Proposed & Dead.
The Backbone Grid is easier to use than the Cables Database if you are looking for basic information about a Backbone such as Number or Origin and Destination information or if you are simply wanting to change the status of the backbone. To access the Backbone Grid, type "BBG" in the command line. With the Backbones grid open, a list of all created Backbones and cores will show along numerous columns of information about each backbone core. While a number of fields are shown in the Backbones grid, only the "Status" field & "Owner" field are modifiable. All other fields are simply shown for reference. |
 Note: When marking a Backbone as "Dead" you must make sure that this cable is no longer used in an active Circuit. If WireCAD detects that this backbone is still in use, you will be presented with a warning message stating "Cannot mark a cable as DEAD that is part of an existing Circuit. Please remove the Cable from the Circuit, then change its status.
|
| Note: You will also receive a warning message if you try to delete a cable that is part of an existing circuit. You must remove the cable/backbone from the circuit before deleting. If you wish to delete individual cores, you can do so from inside the cables database however this information will not persist back into the CAD drawings.
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| Note: When deleting a Backbone in the Backbone Grid, the entire group of cables will be deleted even if you have only selected a single core. Make sure that you want to delete the entire backbone segment before selecting delete.
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| Note: Deleting Backbones in the Backgones grid, does not adjust number sequence. If you wish to reuse deleted Backbone numbers, you will need to manually access the Next Numbers Grid and change the Next available number to the one you would like to use. Example, you have created backbones 1001,1002,1003 & 1004. The next number in the sequence would be 1005. If you then delete 1002,1003 &1004, the Add Backbone Segment Tool will label the next backbone as 1005. To reuse 1002, 1003 & 1004, you need to manually select these as next in the sequence by doing so in the Next Numbers Grid.
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Creating a New Circuit
Before You Start
The use of this tool assumes the following:
That you have added Backbones to the project.
That you have added the necessary Cable Types to the global Cable Types database.
That you have an idea of what you want to connect together and that you know the first bit of infrastructure that you will attach to.
That you have created equipment definitions in the global Equipment Library for the originating and final destination equipment devices and that SysNames have been created for each individual piece of equipment to which you will attach.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1.Verify that you have created all your equipment and Cable Types needed for this circuit. | If you have not created these items, please revert back and complete them before continuing. |
| 2. Select your Origin System (Field End Equipment) from the drop down menu on the left. | This field will be populated with all available systems. |
| 3. Enter the cable Strand Count that will connect your equipment throughout the circuit. | Remember the strand count will persist all the way through your circuit. |
| 4. Select your Destination System (Head End Equipment) from the drop down menu on the right. | This field will be populated with all available systems. |
| 5. |
