Window: TCG Optic View (DWG)

Window  TCG Optic View (DWG) shows all the elements of the optical network that are in the site plan drawing.
The elements (cables, ODF, OTB, Patch Panel ...) are shown schematically.

Figure 1

We use this window to overview the infrastructure, analyze, detect errors, and to start the process of fiber splicing.
If we set all the elements of the network (with no splicing) in the site plan drawing, then almost all the work related to the FO network can be done in the schematic diagram.

Navigating through the schema

Navigating the schema is done using the mouse or the navigation tools in upper right corner of the schema workspace.
Mouse is used in a standard way:

• By scrolling the mouse wheel we can zoom in and zoom out
• By pressing the mouse wheel we can move the workspace (Pan)
• Double-clicking on the mouse wheel displays the entire schema (zoom extents)
• If schema elements are selected using rectangular selection area (pressed left mouse button while defining the area),
  then all the elements touched by the selection rectangle will be selected when dragging the cursor to the left.
  If the cursor is dragged to the right, only those elements completely encircled by the selection rectangle will be selected.
• Several elements can be selected at once using the left-click while the SHIFT key is pressed.

Toolbar

Schematic display has its own toolbar with the following tools:

• Drop-down list from which we select the schema display mode (explained in more detail below on this page):
  
  
• - Show Docker
  Displays the legend and additional tools if you are in the fiber display mode (more on the Docker page)
  
• - Increase space between elements
  Moves apart elements of the schema to improve the clarity, we use it if there are a lot of elements displayed
  
• - Reduce distance between elements
  Brings elements of the schema closer together.
  
• - Turn off filter
  Removes any applied filters, i.e. shows the full schema (with all elements)
  (Filtering is done using commands such as Show fibers of this cable and the like.)
  
• - Last loaded element
  Marks the element that was last loaded from the GIS database.
  (The command is only active in the DB Optic View window.)
  
•  - Export to block
  This command is described on the page Command: Export to block
  (Command is active only in the TCG Optic View (DWG) window.)
  
• - Manholes (display manholes mode)
  This command allows you to add manholes to the schematic diagram:
• Remove manholes
  Removes all manholes from the schematic diagram.
• Add only manholes with FO elements
  Only manholes containing some nodal element of the FO network are added to the existing schema.
• Add all manholes through which the FO cable is passing
  All manholes through which FO cables displayed in the scheme are passing are added to the existing schema.
• - Select the element you want to locate in the scheme:
  Allows you to locate the object in the schema by selecting that same object in the site plan drawing, i.e. navigating the schema using the site plan drawing.
  By clicking on an element in the site plan drawing, that same element is selected in the schema. This tool is fully operational in "Cables" and “FO Paths" modes (you can locate both cables and nodal elements), while in the "Edit schema display" mode you can locate only nodal elements. You cannot use this tool in “Fibers" mode .
  
• - Refresh
  Refreshes the schema according to the settings in the Docker (see details).
  
• - Refresh fiber connectiviry
  Refreshes information about the fiber splicing (see details).
  
• Draw mode: Analyze fibers by: [applied analysis]
  Indicator of applied analysis.
  
• - Check errors
  Checks fibers and displays only those with errors (if any) (more details on Errors page).

Display modes of schematic diagram

There are 4 display modes of schematic diagram.
In one of them, and that is:

• - Edit Schema Display.

we adjust (edit) the geometry of the schema,
and the other three:

• - Cables
• - FO Paths
• - Fibers

we use to navigate the scheme, for splicing, correcting errors, analysis, overview of infrastructure etc.

Mode: Edit Schematic Display

By selecting Edit Schematic Display from the drop-down list, enter the mode in which you can adjust the appearance of the schema according to your own needs.
Changes made in this mode will be reflected in other three modes (Cables, FO Paths and Fibers). In this mode, we change the geometry of the schematic diagram elements.
The procedure is described in detail on Edit Schematic Display page.

Mode: Cables

By selecting Cables from the drop-down list, enter the mode in which the schema displays the cables (Figure 2).

Figure 2

Each cable is displayed in a different color, and the legend window is initially displayed in the lower right corner (Figure 3)
(if we shut down the legend (Docker), we can re-open it by clicking on - Display Docker).

Figure 3

Commands of the context menu

By right-clicking on the cable item, you can run the following commands:

• Cable info
  Opens the Cable info window (see Mode: FO Paths in the text below)
• Load nodal elements of the cable
  This command loads nodal elements connected to the cable (splice points, ODFs, OTBs...).
  (The command is only active in the DB Optic View window.)
• Load all fibers of this cable
  This command loads all the fiber circuits passing through the cable. All elements through which the fiber circuits pass are loaded.
  (The command is only active in the DB Optic View window.)
• Select the cable in site plan drawing
  Selects and displays the cable in the site plan drawing. Use this command to easily locate the cable.
• Show fibers of the cable
  Displays only fiber circuits passing through the selected cable together with all nodal elements through which these fibers pass/terminate (thus entering the "Fiber” mode).
  Everything else gets hidden. (Return to the whole schema display by clicking on - Turn off the filter icon.)
• Show all fibers of the FO Path
  Displays all fibers of the selected cable’s FO path together with all nodal elements through which these fibers pass/terminate (thus entering the "Fiber” mode).
  Everything else gets hidden. (Return to the whole schema display by clicking on - Turn off the filter.)
• Remove selected cables from schematic diagram
  Removes selected cables from the schema (only cables, if other elements are selected too).
• Remove all selected objects from schematic diagram
  Removes all selected objects from the block scheme (cables, splice points, distribution frames etc.).

By right-clicking on any of the nodal elements,  you can run the following commands:

• Load all passing-through cables
  Loads all (direct) cables that pass through or terminate in the observed element.
  (The command is only active in the DB Optic View window.)
• Load fibers of this nodal element
  Loads all the fibers which pass through or terminate in the selected element.
  By loading the fibers, all cables and all nodal elements through which these fibers pass/terminate are loaded too.
  (The command is only active in the DB Optic View window.)
• Select nodal element in site plan drawing
  Selects and displays the nodal elements (ODF, OTB etc.) in the site plan drawing. Use this command to easily locate the nodal element.
• Display fibers passing through this nodal element
  Displays all fibers that pass through the selected nodal element together with all other nodal elements through which these fibers pass/terminate (thus entering the "Fiber” mode). 
  Everything else gets hidden. (Return to the whole scheme display by clicking on - Turn off the filter.)
• Remove element from the schema
  Removes selected nodal elements from the block schema.

Mode: FO Paths

By selecting FO Paths from the drop-down list, we enter the mode in which the schema displays the FO Paths (Figure 4).

Figure 4

Cables belonging to the same FO path are displayed in the same color.
Cables that do not belong to any FO path are initially shown in black (the user can change the colors using the legend (docker)).
The legend window (docker) is initially displayed in the right corner (Figure 5).
If we shut down the legend, we can re-open it by clicking on - Display Docker).

Figure 5

Commands of the context menu

By right-clicking on any of the cables, you can run one of the following commands:

• Cable info
  It opens Cable info window that we use to assign a cable to the FO path (see Assign cables to FO path).
• Load all nodal elements of the cable
  This command loads nodal elements of the selected cable (splice points, ODFs, OTBs...).
  (The command is only active in the DB Optic View window.)
• Load fibers of this cable
  This command loads all the fiber circuits passing through the cable. All elements through which the fibers pass are loaded together with the fibers.
  (The command is only active in the DB Optic View window.)
• Display cable in site plan drawing
  Selects and displays the cable in the site plan drawing. Use this command to easily locate the nodal element.
• Show fibers of the cable
  Displays all fiber circuits passing through the selected cable together with all nodal elements through which these fibers pass/terminate (thus entering the "Fiber” mode).
  Everything else gets hidden. (Return to the whole schema display by clicking on - Turn off the filter.)
• Show all fibers of the FO Path
  Displays all fiber circuits of the selected FO path together with all nodal elements through which these fibers pass/terminate (thus entering the "Fiber” mode).
  Everything else gets hidden. (Return to the whole schema display by clicking on - Turn off the filter.)
• Remove selected cables from schema
  Removes selected cables from the block schema (only cables, even if other elements are selected too).
• Remove all selected objects from schema
  Removes all selected objects from the schema (cables, splice points, distribution frames etc.).

By right-clicking on any of the nodal elements, you can run the following commands:

• Load all passing-through cables
  Loads all (direct) cables that pass through or terminate on the selected element.
  (The command is only active in the DB Optic View window.)
• Load all fibers of this nodal element
  Loads all the fiber circuits which pass through or terminate on the selected element.
  By loading the fiber circuits, all cables and all nodal elements through which these fibers pass/terminate are loaded too.
  (The command is only active in the DB Optic View window.)
• Display nodal element in site plan drawing
  Selects and displays the nodal elements in the site plan drawing.
• Display all fibers passing through this nodal element
  Displays all fiber circuits that pass through the selected nodal element together with all other nodal elements through which these fibers pass/terminate (thus entering the "Fiber” mode).
  Everything else gets hidden. (Return to the whole schema display by clicking on - Turn off the filter.)
• Remove element from the block schema
  Removes selected nodal elements from the schematic diagram.

Mode: Fibers

By selecting the Fibers item from the drop-down list, we enter the mode in which the scheme displays fiber circuits (Figure 6).

Figure 6

When we are in the Fibers mode, in the schematic diagram we see fibers of cables that are in the site plan drawing
(or fibers of cables loaded into the schema if we work with the DB Optic View window).

Ways in which the fibers are displayed are defined on Docker ("Settings” tab).
At the same time, the docker is a powerful tool for analyzing the FO network (make sure you study it).

Commands of the context menu

By right-clicking on the line representing the fiber circuit or fiber circuit group, you can run the following commands:

• Fiber Info
  Opens the Fiber Info window which contains two tabs: "General" and "Fiber Details".
  "General" tab displays the circuit name and allows the assignment of new or change of existing circuit names.
  There’s also is a list of errors on this tab, if there are any (detailed on pages Errors and  Circuit Name).
   „Fiber Details" tag displays various data asociated with the fiber circuit (detailed on page describing the “Fiber Details” tab).
  (You can run this command by double-clicking on the line representing the fiber circuit or fiber circuit group)
• Load complete fiber circuit(s)
  Command loads the selected fiber circuit (or group of fiber circuits). All elements through which the fiber circuits pass are loaded together with the fibers.
  (The command is only active in the TCG Optic View window.)
• Display only selected fibers
  Displays only selected fiber circuits and all nodal elements through which the fibers pass/terminate.
  Everything else gets hidden. (Return to the whole schema display by clicking on the icon - Turn off the filter.)
  Multiple fiber circuits can be selected at once using the SHIFT key or by dragging the cursor to the left (you only need to touch the fiber to select it).
• OTDR Trace
  Opens OTDR Trace tool for working with the selected fiber circuit (described in detail on the OTDR Trace page).

By right-clicking on the nodal elements, you can run the following commands:

• Display nodal element in site plan drawing
  Selects and displays the nodal elements in the site plan drawing. Use this command to easily locate the nodal element.
• Display all fibers passing through this nodal element
  Displays all fiber circuits that pass through the selected nodal element together with all other nodal elements through which these fibers pass/terminate.
  Everything else gets hidden. (Return to the whole schema display by clicking on the icon - Turn off the filter.)
• Edit Element
  Opens a detailed view of the selected nodal element (splice point, distribution frame etc.) and allows additional actions (primarily the splicing).
• Route Trace - Additional commands related to Fiber Trace tool
  • Add to Route - Adds a nodal element on the list of points between which the route is searched ("Route" list)
  • Avoid Node - Adds a nodal element to the avoidance list ("Avoid" list)
  • Remove Node - Removes the element from the list, whether it’s the "Route" or "Avoid" list

Splicing

When we are in the window TCG Optic View (DWG) (in any of the modes: cables, FO paths, fibers), double-click on the nodal element opens a window in which we perform the splicing.
(Exactly the same as when we run Fiber Splicing command in the site plan drawing, and then click on the nodal element).

Double-click on distribution frame to open Fiber Splicing window and perform splicing in it, (explained in detail on Fiber Splicing in FDB page), and
double-click on the FO splice point to open the window Fiber Splicing and continue with the splicing process (explained in detail on Fiber Splicing in Splice Point page).

After the splicing, accept the changes and return to the schematic display (splicing window turns off).
Schematic display is automatically updated and displays the new state. Schematic display is further used for navigation and filtering i.e. extracting fibers that interest us, isolating errors, etc.

Differences between windows:
"TCG Optic View (DWG)" and schematic display in "DB Optic View" window

The main difference:

• TCG Optic View (DWG) window gives a schematic display of the optical network infrastructure that is located on the site plan drawing.
• Schematic display of the DB Optic View window refers to the infrastructure that is in the GIS Database (a direct view into the GIS Database).

The difference in toolbar commands

• - Last loaded element - (The command is only active in the window DB Optic View.)
  Highlights the element that was last loaded from the database.
  
•  Export to block - (Command is active only in the window TCG Optic View (DWG).)
  This command is described on page Command: Export to block

The difference in the commands that are opened by right-clicking on a linear infrastructure element (cable or fiber) in the schematic display

• Load all nodal elements of this cable - (The command is only active in the window DB Optic View.)
  This command loads nodal elements of the selected cable (splice point, ODF, OTB).
• Load all fibers of this cable - (The command is only active in the window DB Optic View.)
  This command loads all the fiber circuits which pass through the cable. All elements through which the fibers pass are loaded together with the fibers.
• Load complete fiber circuit(s) - (The command is only active in the window DB Optic View.)
  This command loads the selected fiber circuit (or group of fiber circuits). All elements through which the fibers pass are loaded together with the fibers.

The difference in the commands that are opened by right-clicking on the nodal element (splice point or distribution frame) in the schematic display

• Load all passing-through cables - (The command is only active in the window DB Optic View.)
  Loads all (direct) cables that pass through or terminate in the selected element.
• Load all fibers of this nodal element - (The command is only active in the DB Optic View window.)
  Loads all the fibers which pass through or terminate in the observed element. By loading the fibers, all cables and all nodal elements through which these fibers pass/terminate are loaded too.

Difference: Splicing

Double-clicking on the nodal element (splice point, ODF, OTB etc.) shown in the schema shall open that element.

If the nodal element is opened by window TCG Optic View (DWG) then we can perform the splicing (described earlier on this page).

If the nodal element is opened by the window DB Optic View window, then we have only the overview, splicing cannot be performed (it appears as if you can perform splicing, but nothing is saved after you click Accept).

The difference in "incomplete fibers" display

Window: DB Optic View

When we are in the DB Optic View window, fibers that are not fully loaded into the schematic display are displayed using dashed line.

This is possible because the program looks directly into the database and has information on whether all elements of the fiber are loaded from the database or not.

Window: TCG Optic View (DWG)

When we are in the window  TCG Optic View (DWG), the schema shows only those elements of the FO infrastructure that are in the site plan i.e. DWG drawing. In this case, since it only observes the drawing, the program has no information from the GIS Database, thus all the fibers are displayed in full lines.
Even incomplete fiber circuits (loaded from the database) are displayed in full lines.