RollCall is a feature recently added to ControlSoft It allows you to have groups of devices checked periodically to see if they are working. The results

RollCall is a feature recently added to ControlSoftRollCall is a feature recently added to ControlSoft

It allows you to have groups of devices checked periodically to see if they are It allows you to have groups of devices checked periodically to see if they are working. The results of this test can be emailed to an engineer or Dynalite working. The results of this test can be emailed to an engineer or Dynalite Dealer and optionally ControlSoft can run a macro in response to a box not Dealer and optionally ControlSoft can run a macro in response to a box not responding.responding.

ControlSoftControlSoftuseable control technologyuseable control technology

RollCall is found under the edit menu. It may be greyed out. To turn it on you RollCall is found under the edit menu. It may be greyed out. To turn it on you must ensure that you are least running ControlSoft ‘Advanced Version’ and that must ensure that you are least running ControlSoft ‘Advanced Version’ and that Rollcall option is ticked on the Config screen.Rollcall option is ticked on the Config screen.


ControlSoftControlSoft

The screen which appears may be slightly daunting at first glance but a quick The screen which appears may be slightly daunting at first glance but a quick tour should prove it to be fairly simple.tour should prove it to be fairly simple.

useable control technologyuseable control technology


Starting at the top - you can name the RollCall or select from the list of RollCalls Starting at the top - you can name the RollCall or select from the list of RollCalls that you may have saved.that you may have saved.



The busy looking listbox here simply lists all Dynalite Devices. This has been The busy looking listbox here simply lists all Dynalite Devices. This has been put in for you. When you are adding a box to a rollcall, you select the device put in for you. When you are adding a box to a rollcall, you select the device type from this listtype from this list



I have selected ‘CE12 Channel Dimmer’. I have entered the Box number as 5 I have selected ‘CE12 Channel Dimmer’. I have entered the Box number as 5 and given the box a description/location.and given the box a description/location.



Pressing the Enter key, puts that device/box in the list of “Rollcallable Devices” Pressing the Enter key, puts that device/box in the list of “Rollcallable Devices”



I have some UPAN’s in our office also. I’ll select Universal Panel - notice the right list I have some UPAN’s in our office also. I’ll select Universal Panel - notice the right list box has gone blank - because we haven’t entered any devices of this type yet.box has gone blank - because we haven’t entered any devices of this type yet.



I will enter three into here like this.I will enter three into here like this.

What about our 12Channel 902 though.. And anything else..What about our 12Channel 902 though.. And anything else..



Selecting “All Devices” at the top of the left-hand list, will show all “Rollcallable Selecting “All Devices” at the top of the left-hand list, will show all “Rollcallable Devices” that we have entered.Devices” that we have entered.



Unticking the “Show All Devices” checkbox, limits the list on the left to only Unticking the “Show All Devices” checkbox, limits the list on the left to only Device types that we have entries for.Device types that we have entries for.



Ok, so we go in and enter as many of the important devices on the network as Ok, so we go in and enter as many of the important devices on the network as we like. But we may not really want to rollcall all of them - or we may want to we like. But we may not really want to rollcall all of them - or we may want to rollcall some more often than others.rollcall some more often than others.



First we need to give our Rollcall a name. For this example - we’re going to First we need to give our Rollcall a name. For this example - we’re going to rollcall all UPANs in this huge job.. ( all three of them..)rollcall all UPANs in this huge job.. ( all three of them..)

Lets give the RollCall a meaningful name: Check all UPANsLets give the RollCall a meaningful name: Check all UPANs



Then we just check the check boxes we want to include in the RollCall. We can Then we just check the check boxes we want to include in the RollCall. We can check any device we want - but given the name we picked - we’ll just select all check any device we want - but given the name we picked - we’ll just select all the UPANs, and leave the 902 out of it.the UPANs, and leave the 902 out of it.



In practice we may have many many boxes listed, so we might select Universal In practice we may have many many boxes listed, so we might select Universal Panel in the left window to limit the choices in the right window and make Panel in the left window to limit the choices in the right window and make finding things a whole lot easier.finding things a whole lot easier.



So that’s pretty easy so far. Lets assume a box wags school one day though. What Action So that’s pretty easy so far. Lets assume a box wags school one day though. What Action do we want to take? If it were an important dimmer, we may want to run a macro to turn on do we want to take? If it were an important dimmer, we may want to run a macro to turn on lights from other dimmers? Either way we want to know that a box is not responding...lights from other dimmers? Either way we want to know that a box is not responding...



And both of those things can be done. Either run a macro (only if a box does not respond) And both of those things can be done. Either run a macro (only if a box does not respond) and/or we can email someone a report of the results whether everything is ok (for peace of and/or we can email someone a report of the results whether everything is ok (for peace of mind) or if one or more devices did not respond.mind) or if one or more devices did not respond.



It just so happens I have a macro named: “UPAN not operative” which brings lights to full in It just so happens I have a macro named: “UPAN not operative” which brings lights to full in Area1 (to wake the engineer up?) and play a .WAV file on the computer as a warning.Area1 (to wake the engineer up?) and play a .WAV file on the computer as a warning.

I also want to know about it so I have it email me the details of which panel is the culprit.I also want to know about it so I have it email me the details of which panel is the culprit.



Now we have the RollCall saved as a component. You probably know what to do with it.Now we have the RollCall saved as a component. You probably know what to do with it.

Put it in a macro and assign it to a button or have the Scheduler do it once a day, once a Put it in a macro and assign it to a button or have the Scheduler do it once a day, once a week or whatever you like.week or whatever you like.

Remember too, a RollCall can include any combination of devices.Remember too, a RollCall can include any combination of devices.



When a RollCall is activated - it produces a ‘progress screen’ like the one above.When a RollCall is activated - it produces a ‘progress screen’ like the one above.

Notice it will attempt to find each box up to three times. If the Box responds, the version Notice it will attempt to find each box up to three times. If the Box responds, the version number will be returned for that box.number will be returned for that box.



In this example - we find all the boxes ok. So the version numbers are returned and “tries In this example - we find all the boxes ok. So the version numbers are returned and “tries left” only gets down to 2.left” only gets down to 2.

You can see what ControlSoft is doing when you look at the Monitor window.You can see what ControlSoft is doing when you look at the Monitor window.



To demonstrate what happens when a box does not respond, I’ll add another UPAN to our To demonstrate what happens when a box does not respond, I’ll add another UPAN to our RollCall that doesn’t exist in our office. (saves me getting out of my chair to disconnect RollCall that doesn’t exist in our office. (saves me getting out of my chair to disconnect one..)one..)

So we’ll run this again with a UPAN box 3 included..So we’ll run this again with a UPAN box 3 included..



Notice that it never responded with a version number and that “tries left” has fallen to zero.Notice that it never responded with a version number and that “tries left” has fallen to zero.

That UPAN did not respond.That UPAN did not respond.



Looking at the monitor you can see that Box 3 was tried 3 times.Looking at the monitor you can see that Box 3 was tried 3 times.

Notice also our “RollCall Action” took place and set Area 1 to Preset 1 ( to wake our Notice also our “RollCall Action” took place and set Area 1 to Preset 1 ( to wake our Engineer! ) Engineer! )

My email just made a “you have mail noise” also.My email just made a “you have mail noise” also.



We have a new message and it has an Attachment. The Subject summarizes that one box did We have a new message and it has an Attachment. The Subject summarizes that one box did not respond correctly.not respond correctly.



When we open the attachment in Microsoft Access, we see the results tabulated for us and When we open the attachment in Microsoft Access, we see the results tabulated for us and of course the description/location of the UPAN at fault.of course the description/location of the UPAN at fault.


Murray and the lads at Dynalite Queensland have sold RollCall as an important feature for Murray and the lads at Dynalite Queensland have sold RollCall as an important feature for the Engineers at the Versace Hotel in Queensland.the Engineers at the Versace Hotel in Queensland.

RollCall offers a new way of guaranteeing reliability of Dynalite Systems.RollCall offers a new way of guaranteeing reliability of Dynalite Systems.

Use of Actions by Macros and/or Email also give ‘quick response’ to problems before they Use of Actions by Macros and/or Email also give ‘quick response’ to problems before they become apparent.become apparent.

Comments and suggestions are as usual, always welcome.Comments and suggestions are as usual, always welcome.

Best Regards,Best Regards,

Matt.Matt.

[email protected]@lightapplication.com.au


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RollCall is a feature recently added to ControlSoft It allows you to have groups of devices checked periodically to see if they are working. The results