Description of the Ranec Program

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2. Description of the Ranec Program

The layout of the desktop

At the upper edge there is a command bar which can be used to start part of the commands. The second part is started from the context menu on clicking the graphic symbols of the network with the right mouse button. Some of the commands are also available on the tool bar, and the menu also contains certain hotkeys. These hotkeys, e.g. Ctrl+W, are not included in the description and therefore it is useful to observe the open menus. In the lower part of the screen there is a switch on/switch off console window where messages about potential errors in the progress of work are written. Information about coordinates are written at the bottom on the left and on the right information about displayed networks and databases.

2.1. Control menus

The command bar contains the general control menus. The last of them changes according to the selected working layer, see section Section 2.2, “Desktop options”. Those commands which are used often also appear as icons on the toolbar. Here is an overview of the control menus and the functions they contain:

System menu

System menu

Fig. 2.1: System menu

  • Login – connecting Ranec to the database, see Section 4.1, “Database”.

  • Save configuration – saves the configuration to file ranec.cnp

  • Print – prints the active area on screen.

  • About – contains the stated version of Ranec, e.g. 5.0.6.53

  • Exit – ends work with the Ranec application.

Show menu

Show menu

Fig. 2.2: Show menu

Setup menu

Setup menu

Fig. 2.3: Setup menu

  • Alarm

  • Database

    • Database info – name of database, log database, name of server and user.

    • Select Main tablespace – selection of database for topology.

    • Select Log tablespace – selection of log database.

    • Remember password – helps if you forgot your password.

    • Privileges – changing passwords, access for new users.

    • Debug – for development purposes.

  • Program configuration…Ctrl+W

Alternative menu

This menu changes according to the selection Show>Map layers. See the links below for individual descriptions of work with them:

2.2. Desktop options

Using command Show>Map layers open the window Map list, which changes the further behaviour of the desktop and the alternative menu. The window contains a list of various types of map and network layers used:

Layers are drawn and overlap in order from the lower row to the upper row. The order of selected layers can be changed using the arrows Move row up and Move row down. In the column visible displayed layers are marked by a tick and invisible layers by a cross. The mark can be changed by double clicking or pressing the space bar.

In the column active only one symbol must be ticked. According to the type of layer selected in this way (rvm, rrm, rsm, topology, rss, log, loc) the offer of the command and tool bar and context menu changes. The active layer file appears at the bottom edge of the screen.

Layers can be added using the icons:

Topology

Network topology, insert or create a specific network in the next steps

Maps

Raster, vector, point maps, maps can also be added by clicking the icon

Rss

Map of signal coverage

Log

Route of movement of mobile stations

Loc

Immediate position

New layers can be added also using icon , the highlighted layer can be removed using icon .

First we will look at working with maps, and then with networks and mobile stations.

2.3. Setr in the Ranec system

It is possible to work with Setr at nodes drawn on the Ranec screen. This provides us with a wide range of possibilities for carrying out diagnostics and configuration within the network. Setr can be started by clicking the right mouse button on the node symbol: Node>Tools>Node>Service terminal.

Selection of the version of Setr

From version 6.0.0.12 and higher it is possible to automatically select the version of Setr based on the version of firmware in the called radio modem. The function can be switched on or off by selecting Setup>Program configuration>Diagnostic>check Ver.

Setr utility localization

Fig. 2.4: Setr utility localization

The parameter utilsDir is used to designate the folder in which Setr is launched without distinguishing between versions. Parameter checkVer is marked with a cross.

If checkVer is marked with a check then the version of Setr is ascertained. After the application of command Node>Tools>Node>Service terminal a packet is sent to the destination CU with a query for the version of firmware. Based on the ascertained main module fw a folder is defined in which Setr is searched for communication with the CU:

  • the first part of the address is determined by parameter utilsVerDir, here it is C:\Racom

  • the second part of the address is determined by parameter utilsPref, here it is Utils-, this parameter can also be empty

  • the third part of the address is formed from the received version of fw, for example:

    version of fwaddressSetr location
    7457.0.45.0C:\Racom\Utils-7.0.45.0\setr.exe
    10.0.90.010.0.90.0C:\Racom\Utils-10.0.90.0\setr.exe

These folders need to be prepared and the respective versions of Setr added to them. Setr selected in this way is launched and we can then use it to work with the selected CU, and where necessary with others too. For any further communication the version is not monitored again.

If we seek for Setr a missing folder, an error message appears and Setr is not launched. It is then possible to cancel the check mark in checkVer and try Setr from the folder according to utilsDir.

It is not necessary to have precisely the corresponding version of Setr in each of the folders. For example, Setr 745 will work well in folders Utils-7.0.30.0 and Utils-7.0.57.0. However, it is not a good idea to mix Setr and firmware between versions outwards the boundary 7.79 and 8.11. It is also advisable to add the respective VERSION.txt file to the folder with Setr.

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