Backstage
The Backstage provides high-level options and settings for the design. It is also where you perform basic functions such as creating a new design or opening an existing design.
Current
This tab displays parameters for the current design. These parameters are set in Solution Center > DHFC > Project Files.
New
This tab is used to name and initiate a new design. If you are currently working on a design and have not saved changes recently, you are prompted to save or discard the current changes before a new design can be started.
New Project Overview and Components
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Design Name (required): Type a name for the design. There are no restrictions on the length or characters you may use.
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Architecture (required): Select an available architecture from the drop-down list. The architecture you select populates the Select Project File section with relevant project file names.
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Search Project Files: If the list of available project files is lengthy, you can use this box to filter the results. DHFC filters the list of project files as you type, with your search term appearing anywhere in the project name. Deleting all characters will return an unfiltered list.
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Select Project File (required): Click a project file from the available options that match the architecture and any search criteria you entered. Selecting a project file will populate the Parameters box with the project's details.
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Description: Type a description for the design.
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After you select a project file on the Overview page, you can click on names in the list on the Components page to view the associated equipment for the project, which is grouped by manufacturer. The components and associated equipment are set in Solution Center > DHFC.
Open
When you click this tab, you are prompted to browse to and open a previously-saved design file in DHFC format.
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You can select a new project file and open your design. But, do not begin design work, because if you save the design and then re-open it, you receive an error stating, “Project file is missing or invalid.” This error prohibits the use of that design any further.
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Thus, the ability to select a new project file and open the design is really to give you a chance to document your design locally (take screenshots, copy information into a local document, etc.) with the intention of creating it anew with a new project file.
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In short, the larger take away is administrators and end users should always communicate before any project file is deleted. Ensure all designs associated with the soon-to-be deleted project file are either complete or discardable prior to deletion.
Recent
This tab provides you with a list of designs that you have recently accessed. A design file with a red X next to it indicates that the file has been moved in the system.
Save and Save As
These tabs prompt you to name and save the current design file.
Select the Print option to open a print preview of your design. You can set the zoom level of the map using the zoom buttons in the bottom-right corner. Select the Sections you want to include: MDU, Tombstones, or both. Once you have the desired extent of your map in the window and the correct settings chosen, click the Print button to output your map to the default printer or one you select.
As you can see in the following example, printable tombstones provide concise information about the components in the print selection, including cable simulators:
In the image above, you can also see that the amplifier tombstone lists the powering mode with a T, denoting "through." There are three possible powering modes: T for through, I for input, and O for output.
If you are using a Segmentable Node, each segment receives its own tombstone:
Tombstones are configurable in Solution Center > DHFC > Application Settings. Based on those selections, available tombstones are displayed in the DHFC application under Print.
Close
When you click Close, you are prompted to save any recent design changes.
Settings
Layout Scale: This value represents the scale at which you want to view components relative to the map.
Building Layout Scale: This value represents the scale at which you want to view components in buildings relative to the map.
Guide Offset: This value applies to the editing of cables in a design. When you right-click a cable and select Edit, this value represents the offset of the grid lines that the tool provides for editing.
Default Structure Type: This toggle allows you to set the default structure to either Underground or Overhead. This setting is respected when you sketch stranding. It only applies to future or upcoming work. In other words, changing the default does not change all the existing structures.
Prompt if “Publish to GIS” will overwrite nodes?: When you Publish Design, this option produces a dialog where you confirm if it is OK to overwrite nodes in your GIS.
Exclude nodes in the design from prompt?: This option is visible only if the first prompt is checked. Check this option to turn off overwrite prompts for nodes in the current design. This means nodes in the design can overwrite GIS nodes without the confirmation prompt. If left unchecked, a prompt appears if the design will overwrite any GIS nodes, including nodes in the design.
Show project file info for devices?: This displays project file information for selected devices. This is useful for troubleshooting, but it is not recommended for regular use.
User
This displays the current user and organization tenant, which is typically your company name You can also logout and exit from here.
About
This tab displays the application version and the supporting licenses.