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Quic-T User Guide

Congratulations on the purchase of your new QUIC-T solution. QUIC-T is built on AutoDesk Map® software to allow you to create and maintain intelligent maps of your telecommunications system.

QUIC-T allows greater accessibility to your data by allowing multiple workstations to access and edit the information simultaneously. QUIC-T also connects to your customer database through your maps so that field services and accounting are working with current customer information at all times.

QUIC-T has been customized for you specifically, we have created forms and functionality based on your needs. As a result of this customization practically anyone in your organization can be trained quickly on use of the software without the need for extensive CAD training. The way your maps are used has also been created for you. Through QUIC-T you can easily view and update maps, create large plots, staking sheets or even trouble tickets all within the same environment.

This user Guide is designed for the QUIC functionality of the product only, it is not intended to replace the AutoDesk® manual that came with your MAP® software. If you have specific CAD or MAP® questions we recommend that you refer to the authorized manual and AutoDesk MAP® help files first. If you are unable to find answers there feel free to contact us. For questions regarding the use of the QUIC-T functionality refer back to this manual or contact us via email or phone and we will be happy to answer your questions.

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3601 N. Classen Blvd. Suite 202
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
(405) 605-1175
(405) 605-1177 FAX

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Section 1. Welcome to QUIC-T

QUIC-T is a set of customized controls for use with AutoCAD Map® that allow you to use your maps to connect to an external database. This will allow you quick and easy access to information regarding your Outside Plant and Customer Data. Not only will QUIC-T make it easier to retrieve data about these areas of your telephone system, it will allow you to keep that data up to date more efficiently saving you time and money.

Section 2. Explanation of Buttons and Menus

quictLaunch QUIC-T:

On your desktop you will see an icon for QUIC-T, double click on the icon to launch QUIC-T. You will see the workspace and toolbars for AutoDesk Map® launch. You will also see the customized QUIC-T toolbars on your screen.

map viewMAP VIEW:

By picking the MAP VIEW button you will see a key map of your entire telephone system. To work in an exchange pick the desired exchange and a view of the exchange will appear in the workspace. This is just a view of the entire exchange you cannot edit this view; you can however plot this view.

map inMAP IN:

Once the exchange has been brought into view, zoom to the area of the exchange where you want to work. Pick the MAP IN button and starting at the lower right corner of the workspace, left click/drag a crossing window to the upper left corner of the workspace and release the mouse button. If you zoom out you will see that the rest of the exchange is gone. In reality it is just hidden. If you need to bring in more of the map pick MAP IN again and draw another window around the area you want to bring in. At this point you may edit, update, or manipulate the map in any way you need. Whatever part of the map you have “MAPPED IN” is the only part of the source drawing that you are dealing with. Meaning if another workstation needs to work in the same exchange but a different area of the map then there is no sharing violation. By “MAPPING IN” you also avoid slowing down your computer by bringing in an entire map when you only need a small area of it.

map outMAPOUT:

After you have made your changes to the map you will MAP OUT This action takes the changes you have made at your workstation and adds them to the source drawing so that your changes are available to all members of your team.

locateLOCATE:

Another tool is the LOCATE button. This allows you to find a customer in the database or on the map based on information you may already have i.e. a phone number, Pair Number, or Address.

editEDIT #:

The Edit Number button allows you to change or edit the unique ID number assigned to a cable on your map. This allows you to break a cable at an exchange boundary and assign that ID to the continuation of that cable in another map.

browse dbBROWSE DB:

The Browse DB button allows you to see your Data Base in its original format within the QUIC-T environment. This button also allows you to filter records based on prefix or Exchange.

scale factorSCALE FACTOR:

The Scale Factor button sets the scale for the insertion of symbols, and labels into your map. This can be changed at anytime when working in rural or urban areas. The larger the scale factor the larger the symbols. The default scale factor is 660 or 1”=660’ in urban or densely populated areas the default scale factor is 200 or 1”=200’. Pick the SF button when you need to change the scale factor and enter the value when prompted. Some functions or symbols may ask you for the scale factor each time you pick them. All of these are set to a default value so that you simply press the ENTER key to use the default value without having to type in the value each time

right of wayRIGHT OF WAY:

The Right of Way button allows you to create offset lines from roads to show the right of way easement. The default is set to 150’ and 75’ depending on the scale factor

text alignTEXT ALIGN:

The Text Align Button allows you to move the label text of some inserted symbols so the orientation of the text is easy to read.

insert pedsINSERT PEDS:

This button will insert peds into your map.

insert polesINSERT POLES:

This button will insert poles into your map

insert cableINSERT CABLE:

This fly-out menu allows you draw any type of outside plant cable you have in your system. This button allows you to draw fiber and drops also.

insert arrowINSERT ARROW:

The Insert Arrow button allows you to indicate on your cable the direction of the cable.

insert cable spanINSERT CABLE SPAN:

Use this button to label your cable distances on your map.

insert spliceINSERT SPLICE:

This button will insert splice locations on your cable in the map and allow you give the splice an ID you choose.

insert gateINSERT GATE, CULVERT, BRIDGE, CATTLE GUARD, SLAB, STOCK TANK:

This fly-out menu allows you to insert these symbols into your maps to provide extra information or landmarks.

insert houseINSERT HOUSE:

This button will insert a house symbol on your map to represent the customer and act as the link to the customer data in your Data Base from your map.

insert no serviceINSERT NO SERVICE:

This button will insert a No Service symbol into your map.

insert coINSERT CO, HAND HOLD, DLC, FUTURE DLC, CSA, CXR, FOC:

This button will insert these symbols into your map as blocks.

insert load coilINSERT LOAD COIL, REPEATER, CUT COUNT, MARKER SIGNS, ANCHOR:

This button will insert these symbols into your map as blocks. And display information about this equipment.

insert highwayINSERT STATE HIGHWAY, INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, US HIGHWAY SIGNS:

This button will insert symbols to allow you to label the various roads you may have in your maps or land base.

insert roadsINSERT ROADS:

This button allows you to easily draw in roads as a two parallel lines.

explode roadEXPLODE ROAD:

This button explodes the road so that a Right of Way Easement can be inserted.

query houseQUERY HOUSE:

Use this button to select a house in your map and have instant access to the customer data associated with that house. This button allows you to simply view or edit the record in the Data Base. This button also allows you to add new records to the database as soon as the new symbol is drawn on the map.

insert customer labelINSERT CUSTOMER LABEL:

This button will insert a label next to a customer house symbol on the map by pulling the information from the database.

block cableBLOCK CABLE:

Use this button to automatically assign a unique ID number to any cable on your map.

query cableQUERY CABLE:

Use this button to select a cable in your map and have instant access to the data associated with that cable. This button allows you to simply view or edit the record in the Data Base. This button also allows you to add new records to the database as soon as the new symbol is drawn on the map.

insert cable labelINSERT CABLE LABEL:

This button will insert a label next to a cable on the map by pulling the information from the database.

insert hunt labelINSERT HUNT TABLE:

This button will open a dialog box where Extensions within the same location can be entered and then transferred to the map in a table format. Note: Currently this does not create individual records for each number (Coming Soon)

insert leaderINSERT LEADER:

This button will insert a donut on the desired cable and underline the label for that cable to provide and easy way to identify the proper label with its cable.

move customerMOVE CUSTOMER ON MAP:

This button will update the coordinates in customer record if the house is moved on the map

xrefXREF:

Occasionally you may need to view another exchange for reference only. This will attach an external reference of an exchange map. It is not possible to edit or query against this reference.

detach mapDetach Map:

This button will remove all the maps from the drawing and remove all of the objects from Model Space.

Section 3: Opening a MAP to Edit

To open a map to edit, view or query, follow these steps.

  • Launch QUIC-T
    • From your desktop double click on the QUIC-T icon.
    • Once the application has loaded you should see a screen similar to this fig. 2

    figure 2fig 2.

  • To bring in a map pick the MAP VIEW BUTTON
    • This will bring in a view of a key map of your entire telephone system.
    • From here you pick on the exchange you need to work in.
    • The next screen you see will be a view of the entire exchange you have chosen.
  • From here zoom into the area of the map where you need to work
  • Pick the MAP IN BUTTON and draw a crossing window around the area you need to edit.
  • You can now query houses and cables, edit data and insert new symbols into the map.

Section 4: Draw and Link Cable

To draw cable pick the INSERT CABLE fly-out menu and select the type of cable you want to draw (i.e. 25 pair)

  1. Pick the point on the screen where you want the cable to start.
  2. Move the mouse in the direction you want the cable to go.
  3. To change direction left click and continue moving the mouse in the desired direction.
  4. When you are done drawing the cable press ENTER.
    (Hint: to connect cable to peds or houses use the ACAD OSNAP feature)

To add cable data to the database each cable must be assigned it’s own unique ID number. QUIC-T assigns this number automatically when you link the cable.

To Link the cable to the database, pick the BLOCK CABLE BUTTON. The command prompt will ask you to “SELECT OBJECTS:” Move the cursor over the cable you want to link and left click. A message box will appear if the ID number was successfully attached. Fig 3.

figure 3Fig 3.

Now that the ID is attached to the cable you can create a record of it in your Data Base. To do this, pick the QUERY CABLE BUTTON. The command line will read “Macro name: getcableID Select an object”. Move the cursor over the cable you just linked and left click. You will see a message box informing you that the cable is not in the Data Base and asking you if you would like to add it, select the YES button. You should now see a form on your screen with the cable information your Data Base needs (Fig.4). Simply click on the first field and begin typing. To move from field to field you may press TAB, ENTER or left click in the desired text box. Once you have entered all of the information select the UPDATE CABLE BUTTON at the bottom of the window. When the record is created you will see a message box informing you that the “Cable Data Updated Successfully”(Fig. 5). Click on the OK button to continue.

figure 4Fig.4-Cable Data Form

figure 5 Fig. 5-Update Successful

To edit cable at a later date, MAP IN the area of the map where the cable was drawn, and select the QUERY CABLE BUTTON. Pick the cable and make the necessary changes to the form. Select the UPDATE CABLE BUTTON. A message box will let you know that the record has been updated.

Section 5: Inserting Peds, Remotes, CO’s, Load Coils, etc. and Using Text Align

Inserting Peds into your drawing is a simple procedure. Pick the INSERT PED fly-out menu and choose which direction you would like the ped to point. At the command line you will be prompted to “Pick Insertion Point for Ped Symbol”. Click the point on the map where you would like the ped to appear. You will then see a text box asking for information regarding that ped, (Fig. 6) enter the information and click OK. You will be prompted a few more times for information about the ped, continue to enter the information and click OK. Once all of the information has been entered The Ped will appear on the map with its label next to it. (Fig. 7)

figure 6Fig. 6-Ped Information text box

figure 7Fig. 7-Ped with Label

The process is the same for inserting any outside plant equipment. Some symbols do not require as much information so you will not be prompted as frequently to enter data on for the symbol, others require more.

For some symbols, i.e. DLC’s, you will enter the symbol information on the command line rather than in a text box window. After you have entered the information press ENTER to move to the next information line. You will also set the rotation of the symbol on the screen. To do this move the cursor away from the symbol a short distance once it appears on the screen and move the cursor to set the rotation angle in real time. Once the symbol is at the proper angle left click and you are done

WARNING: If you do not set the Scale Factor before inserting some symbols, you will be prompted to do so. You will have to pick the button again once the Scale Factor is set

When Inserting Load Coils you will be prompted to attach the LC to a ped. To do this, move the cursor to a corner of the ped symbol where the LC is located and click. If the line does not attach to the LC where you would like, click on the line and move the line to another corner of the LC using the “end point grip”.

Hint: to connect lines to corners use the ACAD OSNAP feature {F3 Button}

Now that you have symbols with labels on your map you may have noticed that not all of the labels for the symbols are oriented in the proper direction for reading. To fix this use the TEXT ALIGN BUTTON. Pick the button and then pick the label you would like to fix. The label will be “captured” and you will be able to move it to whereever you would like without changing the symbol itself. Once you have it where you want it click and the label will be “released”

Section 6: Inserting Customers (Houses) on the map & in the Data Base

In QUIC-T customers are represented by HOUSE symbols on the map. To add a customer to the map select the INSERT HOUSE BUTTON. You will be prompted to pick the point on the map where you want the symbol to go. You will then be prompted for information regarding that house, i.e. house number, pair, ped, route, township, etc. Enter the information at each prompt and hit return. Once all of the information has been entered the house will appear on the map. Not all of the information you entered will be visible with the house symbol.

Once the symbol is on the map, the next step is to enter the customer data into the database. Just like entering cable data into the database you must first query the house. Select the QUERY HOUSE BUTTON. When prompted left click on the symbol you just inserted. When the symbol is highlighted (dashed lines) right click. A message box will let you know that this customer is not in the database and ask if you want to add them, select YES. You will then be presented with a form to enter in your customer data. Notice that the customer ID is already entered and that you are unable to edit that data. That number is the ID that was assigned, by QUIC-T, to the symbol when you inserted it on the map. That number is the link between that symbol and the customer data in the database.

Enter the customer data on the form, when working with more than one exchange be sure to enter the exchange name on the form. Once all of the information is entered select the UPDATE CUSTOMER RECORD BUTTON at the bottom of the form. When the record is created you will receive a message that all of the information has been updated. Fig.8

figure 8Fig.8- Update Successful

If later you need to edit the customer information, MAP IN or LOCATE the customer and query the house. Make the changes to the form and select the UPDATE CUSTOMER RECORD BUTTON. If a customer is disconnected query the house and select the DISCONNECT CUSTOMER BUTTON. This will remove the customer name and the 4-digit phone number, but leaves all the other information in the record. When a new customer moves in the equipment information does not need to be re-entered.

In the event a house is inserted into the map in the wrong location, and a record has already been created for the customer there is a button to move the house. QUIC-T uses real world coordinates to locate customer houses on the map, therefore if a house must be moved on the map the coordinates must change also. To accomplish this first move the house symbol on the map to its new location. Next select the MOVE CUSTOMER BUTTON. You will be asked to enter the customer phone number. Once that is done a form similar to the Customer Data Form will appear. Notice the button in the lower left corner, NEW COORDS. Select the NEW COORDS button; you will be prompted to pick the center point of the house in its new location. Once this is done the form will reappear, select the UPDATE CUSTOMER RECORD BUTTON and the new coordinates are added to the database. If the house is moved and this step is not taken, LOCATE will not bring up the correct area of the map after the house is moved.

Section 7: Locating a Customer on the Map.

We have mentioned LOCATE a few times earlier. This is fast way to find a customer on map without having to load the map and search manually. To locate a customer select the LOCATE BUTTON. The form allows you to locate by phone number or by pair number. To locate by phone number, follow these steps. Enter the Prefix and 4-digit number and select the FIND PHONE NUMBER BUTTON; the form will be populated with the information in the database for that customer. Next select the LOCATE CUSTOMER ON MAP BUTTON. This will automatically MAP IN and zoom to the customer house on the map, including 1 square mile surrounding the house. At this point the house can be edited or manipulated as if you had gone through the steps of MAPPING IN.

To locate by Pair Number follow these steps. Enter the pair number in the proper field and select the FIND PAIR NUMBER BUTTON; the form will be populated with the information in the database for that customer. Next select the LOCATE CUSTOMER ON MAP BUTTON. This will automatically MAP IN and zoom to the customer house on the map, including 1 square mile surrounding the house. At this point the house can be edited or manipulated as if you had gone through the steps of MAPPING IN.

Section 8: Labeling and Leaders

Once there are houses, and cables with records in the database these can be easily labeled without having to re-type the information. First MAP IN the area of the map that contain the objects you wish to label.

To label a cable, select the LABEL CABLE BUTTON. You will be prompted to pick the cable you wish to label. Next pick the point on the map where you want the label to appear. When prompted enter the scale factor of the area of the map you are working in. The label will be pulled from the information entered into the database for that cable. Once the label is on the map, it can be moved by selecting the label and click/drag the center grip.

When labeling cables it is useful to add a leader to the label to connect it to the proper cable; this is accomplished by selecting the LEADER BUTTON. You will be prompted to pick the point on the cable where you want the donut to be placed (the donut is an ACAD symbol used to mark areas of a drawing, here the donut appears as a small dot). Next you will be asked to pick the starting point of the leader, this should be the point farthest from the donut. Next draw a line under one of the lines in the cable label, and pick the stopping point. A line will automatically connect the donut to the line underlining the label.

Another label that can be placed on a map is a cable length. Select the INSERT CABLE SPAN BUTTON and pick the point on the map where you want the dimension label to appear. Next enter the length of the cable (be sure to add the ‘ after the length) and hit enter. The dimension will appear on the map. Leaders can also be used on dimension labels.

To label a house, select the LABEL HOUSE BUTTON. You will be prompted to pick the house you wish to label. Next pick the point on the map where you want the label to appear. When prompted enter the scale factor of the area of the map you are working in. The label will be pulled from the information entered into the database for that customer.
Once the label is on the map you may move it by selecting the label and click/drag the center grip.

Section 9: Inserting Roads and Easements

Occasionally you may need to insert a new road or mark the Right of Way Easement.

To Draw a new road select the DRAW ROAD BUTTON, the first prompt is to determine he width of he road, the default is 66’. Select the starting point for the road and draw the road as you would a cable, left click to change direction and right click to end the road.

Once the road has been drawn select the EXPLODE ROAD BUTTON (Explode is an ACAD command for breaking a complex line into simpler segments). Select the new road and hit the return key.

To add the Right of Way Easement select the RIGHT OF WAY BUTTON, at the prompt select one side of the new road. Move the cross hairs to the side of the road slightly and hit the return key. A green line will appear on that side of the road. Repeat the process for the other side of the road.

Section 10: Inserting Other Symbols

QUIC-T comes with many symbols that can be inserted to the map for as landmarks or labels.

Symbols such as Bridges, Culverts, Splices, and even Ponds come standard with QUIC-T. To insert one of these symbols select the lower right corner of one of the icons with a black arrow in it. Choose the symbol you wish to insert from the fly-out menu, and follow the prompts in the command line.

QUIC-T also has symbols to label state and interstate highways. To insert one of these symbols pick the desired symbol from the fly-out menu and pick the point where you want the symbol to appear. Next enter the scale factor and the highway number, finally set the angle you wish the symbol to appear on the map.

The INSERT ARROW is used to show a change in cable size at a PED. To insert an arrow select the INSERT ARROW BUTTON and set the scale factor for the arrow. Next pick the point where you want the arrow to appear (HINT: Use OSNAP End Point to find the end of the line or cable.). Set the rotation to match the direction of the cable and hit the return key.

Section 11: Inserting a Hunt Table

For Customers who have several extensions in one location, a Hunt Table can provide information about those extensions without the need for multiple customer symbols clumped together.

To use the Hunt Table select the INSERT HUNT TABLE Button. Fill in the form that appears (fig 9.5). Once the fields have been filled for 1 extension select the ADD TO TABLE button on the form. Continue this until all of the extensions have been entered. (Cont.)

Once all of the extensions have been entered select the DRAW TABLE ON MAP Button. Pick the area on the map where the upper left corner of the table will be. Fill in the Customer name and pick the place on the map where you wish that to appear.

You will be asked if you would like to create new records for the entries on the table, if you select YES a new record will be created with a unique ID will be created with the same coordinates as the main Customer Record. You will also have the option to have the new records share the same name as the main record or use the Extension name as the name for the new record.

If while entering data to the table you need to edit an entry, select the entry and then the EDIT Button on the form. Make the changes and then select the UPDATE TABLE Button, or select the REMOVE RECORD Button to remove the extension from the table.

figure 9.5fig 9.5

Section 12: Mapping Out

Once you have made your changes to the map, either by adding to the map, deleting from the map or modifying the map in any way you will need to MAP OUT to save those changes.

If you add something to the map (Draw new Cable) QUIC-T sees that as a new object. However if you modify an existing object on the map (Move a Ped) QUIC-T sees that as a queried object. Query in this case is not the same as querying a cable or customer rather it deals with objects on the map that were previously saved.

When you modify an object on the map you will be asked if you want to add the object(s) to the Save Set. Fig 10. If you wish the change to be permanent select “YES”, otherwise select “NO”

figure 10Fig 10.

When you are ready to MAP OUT select the button you all of the objects that you “added to the Selection Set” are ready to be saved. You will be prompted to select the map you wish to save the changes to. Fig 11.

VERY IMPORTANT!
If you have more than one map in be sure to only select the map the changes should me made in. If you have Exchange A-EXC.dwg and Exchange B-EXC.dwg
Both mapped in, and you only want to save the changes to Exchange B-EXC.dwg, be sure to only select that map.

figure 11Fig 11.

For Modified objects select the check box on the left. Select the OK button.
The modified object will disappear from the map; this is confirmation that it was saved. To see the object in it’s modified state select the MAP IN button and draw a crossing window around the area where the object should be.

If you have added objects to the map, you will not be prompted to add them to the Save Set, this is done automatically. Once you are ready to save your changes select the MAP OUT button and you will see the prompt box in Fig. 11. Select the check box on the right and the map to which you want the save to be done on. Select OK. This time you are taken back to the map. Draw a crossing window around the new objects and select ENTER. Don’t worry if you select objects that have not been modified or that are not new, QUIC-T will ignore these during the save process, it will not duplicate them.
Once the save is complete the saved objects will disappear from the map. To view them select the MAP IN button and draw a crossing window around the area where the object should be.

You can make several changes at a time before “Mapping Out” and you can save new objects and modified objects at the same time.

SECTION 13: Attach/Detach XREFS

Occasionally you may need to “see” another exchange for reference, i.e. drawing Fiber across exchange boundaries. Using an XREF is a good way to add an exchange to a session without having to Map IN.

Select the XREF Button from the tool bar then select the exchange you wish to view. The entire exchange will be added to the workspace. This reference cannot be Mapped In, edited, or queried.

When you are done with the reference select the XREF button again to remove the referenced exchange. Then Map Out your changes. (See section XII.)

Be sure to remove the reference before Mapping Out

SECTION 14: Detaching Maps

Once your changes have been made and “Mapped Out” you can detach the drawing.

Select the DETACH MAP button, you will be asked if you have mapped out all of your changes. If you have, select “Yes”, if not select “Cancel”. Once you select “Yes” QUIC-T will remove the maps and all of the objects from Model Space. You can now MAP VIEW and MAP IN another map.