Grass Valley NV9000-SE v.3.0 - Manual (Page 210)

190 Rev 3.0 • 25 Mar 10
10. Categories
Using Categories and Suffixes
Using Categories and Suffixes
A category is a broad classification of devices, such as monitors, VTRs, and so on. In NV9000-SE,
when a category is defined additional suffixes can also be added for that category to further define
device names. NV9000-SE allows a total of up to 8 suffixes per device and up to 4 characters per
suffix. The characters are limited because the typical control panel can only display up to 4 charac-
ters at any one time.
Example: There are 12 monitors in a facility, 6 for HD signals and 6 for SD signals. The moni-
tors can be named by category—MON for monitor. Within the category, each monitor is
assigned a unique number, 1 through 12. In addition to the category name and number, a suffix
is added to further define the category—HD or SD—indicating the signal type for each moni-
tor, enabling an operator to select the correct monitor more easily.
Compare:
The operator can press MON, and then press the monitor number, 1 through 12.
or
The operator can press MON, and then press SD (or HD), and then press, 1 through 12.
Notice that in the first comparison the operator presses only two buttons, but does not readily know
which of the 12 monitors is for HD or SD. Although there is one more button press, by adding the
HD or SD suffix, the operator does not have to remember which of the 12 monitors is HD and
which is SD.
Another use for suffixes is that devices may be more easily identified by something other than a
number. For example, a facility has 3 VTRs and 2 monitors in each of 20 rooms on 5 floors of 3
buildings. Suffixes can identify the device groups by building number, floor number, and room
number. (Then, VTRs and monitors can have the same device numbers in each room.)
Adding Categories
Adding as many devices as possible before creating categories ensures that the categories created
accurately define the devices in your facility. When adding a category you define the category’s
basic characteristics, such as a name (mnemonic) and description and to which devices the category
is being applied. When a device is added to a category, the category is listed in the ‘Category’ field
on the ‘Device’ page. A device can belong to multiple categories.
NV9000-SE saves all configuration changes to the database. Once changes are saved, there is no
“undo” function; the configuration is permanently altered. To implement configuration changes, the
NV9000 control system must write the configuration and then be restarted. For more information,
see the NV9000 User’s Guide.