This tutorial explains how you can perform the same action with multiple Devices with just a few mouse clicks using Favourites.
Let's assume you have many Devices that support Self-Test operation. This operation may cause each Device to diagnose its internal state. Every device may output self-test results to its LCD or report it to AggreGate.
Since system operators should initiate device self-test frequently, it must be conveniently initiated using just several mouse clicks. Moreover, it will be very convenient to self-test several devices at once. The Favourites facility is ideal for that task.
This article shows how to configure a self-test operation to be called from the favourites list in AggreGate Client. The same method may be also used to perform any other common operation with your Devices.
Here is what a Self-Test action may look like in the Device context menu:
1. Putting Self-Test Action To Favourites
Drag a Device System Tree node (
) and drop it on the Favourites node (
). Select the Self-Test action from the drop-down list and click OK:
The newly created favourite will appear in the Favourites table:
2. Editing The Favourite action to initiate Self-Test of multiple Devices
Expand the Favourites System Tree node and right click the new "Perform Self-Test" favourite. Select Configure from the context menu:
Change Description to a new meaningful name, e.g. Self-Test My Devices.
Next, modify the Context Mask so it encompasses a number of Device contexts to call the Self-Test action from. Change Context Mask to users.*.deviceservers.*.devices.* to make this Favourite initiate self-test for all Device in the system.
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In fact, only Devices that are accessible with your user permissions will be put into self-test. |
To self-test only your own devices, e.g. devices that belong to your user account, change Context Mask to users.YOUR_USER_NAME.deviceservers.*.devices.*.
3. Initiate Self-Test
To perform the self-test, just click the Self-Test My Devices favourite in the Favourites table. This will cause AggreGate Server to perform the requested procedure immediately. Depending on the Device type, test result and any failures may be reported on Device LCD, in Event Log or using the Show Message/Show Error UI procedure.