P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage: Product Services Group

 Copyright 2002 AIRCOM International Ltd
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P-TN-010-015-
Filter and Flag Usage
Product Services Group
P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage
CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 2
2 DEFINITIONS................................................................................................. 2
2.1 FLAGS ................................................................................................................ 2
2.2 FILTERS .............................................................................................................. 3
2.2.1 Dynamic Filters.............................................................................................. 3
2.2.2 Static Filters................................................................................................... 4
3 DEFINING FLAGS IN ADMINSTRATOR ...................................................... 4
4 EXPORTING AND IMPORTING FLAGS ....................................................... 5

4.1 EXPORTING FLAGS IN ADMINISTRATOR ............................................................ 5
4.2 EXPORTING FLAGS IN ENTERPRISE.................................................................... 6
4.3 IMPORTING FLAGS IN ADMINISTRATOR ............................................................. 6
5 VIEWING AND CHANGING FLAGS FOR SITES AND LINKS..................... 6
5.1.1 Viewing and Changing Flags for Individual Network Elements ................... 6
5.1.2 Viewing and Changing Flags for A Filter of Network Elements ................... 7
5.1.3 Viewing and Changing Flags for Links in CONNECT .................................. 7
6 DEFINING FILTERS ...................................................................................... 8
6.1.1 Using Flags in Filters .................................................................................. 10
7 USES OF FILTERS...................................................................................... 11
7.1 LIMITING THE DISPLAYED LISTS OF NETWORK ELEMENTS .............................. 11
7.2 SPECIFYING WHICH GROUPS OF NETWORK ELEMENTS APPEAR IN THE MAP
VIEW WINDOW ........................................................................................................... 12
7.3 ENABLING THE SIMULTANEOUS MODIFICATION OF MULTIPLE ELEMENTS .... 12
8 MANAGING FILTERS ................................................................................. 13
8.1 REMOVING FILTERS ......................................................................................... 13
8.2 RESTORING FILTERS ........................................................................................ 13
8.3 COMMITTING FILTERS ..................................................................................... 14
9 DISPLAYING FILTERS ............................................................................... 14
10 SUMMARY................................................................................................... 14
10.1 FLAGS .............................................................................................................. 15
10.2 FILTERS ............................................................................................................ 15
APPENDIX A - TABLE OF FIGURES .............................................................. 15
APPENDIX B - TABLE OF FAQS .................................................................... 17
P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage 1

COMMERCIAL-IN-CONFIDENCE
1 INTRODUCTION
This document presents a practical guide to using filters and flags in
ENTERPRISE. This document exists in addition to the ENTERPRISE, ASSET
and CONNECT User Reference Guides but can be used as a standalone
document. This document describes the use of filters and flags in Version 4.1 of
ENTERPRISE.
2 DEFINITIONS
2.1 FLAGS
Flags are primarily used to enable the administrator or project manager to
administrate and oversee the progression of the network from initial design to
rollout and beyond. Within the network, flags can be defined to show whether a
Property or site is Proposed, Under Development or Operational.
It is strongly advised that flags be set up as early in the project as possible.

Changing, deleting, adding or renaming flags later on in the project may cause
problems.
Flags are:
• Created separately from filters
• Assigned to any filter or defined on individual sites or links
• Committed immediately to the main database, rather than being Applied

then Committed
• Only able to be created and Committed when all users are logged out
One flag exists in every new database, which relates to a network element's
Candidate status. This flag cannot be deleted or modified. All other flags have
to be created.
Examples of flag groups and flags that you might want for sites or Properties
could include:
Flag Group Flags
Status Planned, Completed, Approved, On Hold

System GSM/900, DCS/1800, GSM and DCS, TETRA, UMTS
Vendor Equipment Siemens, Nokia, Ericsson
Phase Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4
You might also want to create flags to use on links so that planners or project
managers can follow the progress of each link as it is established. Examples of
flags that you might use for links are:
• Hop length
2 P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage

Commercial-in-Confidence
• Link LOS Status

• Band
• Antenna Diameter
• Media
All flags and flag groups are created in the ENTERPRISE Administrator.
FAQ 1 - Who Should Create and Modify Flags?
As flags are a powerful engineering element, access to creating, modifying or

deleting them should be restricted to administrators and project managers.
Engineers requiring additional flags to be created should first discuss the
requirement with their administrator. Flags are used for project management
and can create numerous problems if created too late or removed at any time
throughout the engineering cycle. Removal of flags can impact on filters that
have been defined leading to false information or even loss of data.
2.2 FILTERS
Filters are a highly important concept, and a very useful feature in
ENTERPRISE. Filters provide a logical grouping of elements according to their
properties and/or functions. They offer a powerful way of dividing up the
network into more manageable sections for analysis, diagnosis and display.
That is, they allow the user to view only relevant information and hide
unwanted information from display so it is easier to concentrate on selected
areas of data or work. Filters can display:
• All sites
• Sub groups of sites
• Geographical regions
• Site properties
• Functional properties
• Logical groupings of sites
Filters can:
• Only be Applied and used if information or data has already been entered
into the database
• Be either static or dynamic
• Reduce the amount of information needing to be calculated thus reducing

computation and analysis time
2.2.1 Dynamic Filters

Dynamic filters are those that select sites and Properties based on criteria such
as:
• Object type
• A flag's setting

• The cell layers that are assigned
• Geographical location (using a polygon)
Such filters are termed dynamic because the list of items that are included will
automatically be updated whenever a change is made to any of the parameters
forming the filter definition criteria.
2.2.2 Static Filters

Static filters are simple lists of objects specified by name. These filters are fixed
lists, which can only be changed by the user adding or deleting names from the
list. Static filters are useful for taking a fixed “snapshot” of the system at a
specific point.
Both types of filter are defined, modified or removed through the Filter Wizard.
The wizard is accessed from the Site Database.
3 DEFINING FLAGS IN ADMINSTRATOR

You create and edit flags and flag groups in the Flag Administrator. To open
the Flag Administrator:
1. In Administrator, from the Utilities menu, click Flag Administrator.
2. Select the project in which you want to create or edit flags or flag groups.
3. Click OK. The Flag Administrator dialog box appears. For example:
Figure 1 Flag Adminstrator
Tip : Ensure that all users are logged out of ENTERPRISE before you begin,
otherwise you will not be able to commit your changes. Users must be logged
out to enable flag creation and will only be able to see new flags after logging
back in.

4. In the Groups pane, (on the left-hand side) click the Add button.
5. Type in the name of the Group and press OK.
The name of the Group will appear in the left-hand pane.

6. Ensure that the new group is selected, and in the Flags pane, click Add to
add the first flag.
• Tip : All new and existing items will be set to have the first flag in each
group. Therefore it is recommended that you name your first flag
something that indicates a default value. For example, "—" or "Not Yet
Known".
7. Type in the flag name and click OK and then repeat to add all the required
flags for the group.
8. When all flags have been added, click Commit Changes. All your changes
are written directly to the permanent database.
The flag groups and flags will be loaded next time the project is opened and can
be accessed through the:
• Site Database
• Filter Wizard
• Global Editor
FAQ 2 - What Happens If I Change Flags at a Later Stage in the Project?
If you add further flag groups or flags, this does not affect existing network
elements other than to add the first default flag of any new group to them.
If at a later stage in a project, you delete a flag that is not used from a flag
group, it will not affect existing network elements. If you delete a flag that is in
use for a network element, the flag for the element will default to the first flag
in the group.
Ideally, all flag groups and flags should be created at the start of a project.
4 EXPORTING AND IMPORTING FLAGS

4.1 EXPORTING FLAGS IN ADMINISTRATOR
In the Flag Administrator, you can export all flags (except candidate status flags
used in TARGET) and flag groups as a .txt file, and also load .txt files
containing flags and flag groups. This means you can use a set of flags in
another project.
To export flags:


2. Select the project from which you want to export flags.
3. Click OK.
4. In the Flag Administrator, click Export Flags.
5. Select a location and type a name for the file.
6. Click Save.
4.2 EXPORTING FLAGS IN ENTERPRISE

You can also export flags from ENTERPRISE in NEPTUNE or PLANET/EET
formats. To do this:
1. From the File menu, point to Export then Project Data, then click
PLANET/EET or NEPTUNE.
2. Ensure you select the Flags checkbox and browse to a location and
enter a filename where the data will be saved.
3. In the case of PLANET/EET, ensure you select the correct version of
the tool.
4. Click Export to epxort the flags in the format you chose.
4.3 IMPORTING FLAGS IN ADMINISTRATOR

You can load a .txt file containing flags, but this will overwrite all existing flags
you may have in that project. To do this:
2. Select the project from which you want to export flag and click OK.
3. Click Load Flags.
4. Click Yes to overwrite any existing flags with the flags you will be
loading.
5. Select the required .txt file and click Open.
6. When prompted as to whether the flags are in the Link Planet format,
click No if you are loading a file that you previously exported using the
Flag Administrator.
The groups and flags are loaded into the project, overwriting existing flag
groups and flags.
5 VIEWING AND CHANGING FLAGS FOR SITES

AND LINKS
5.1.1 Viewing and Changing Flags for Individual Network Elements
When the Flags have been created and saved to the database, you will see the
created flag groups and flags on the Status tab of the Site Database, against
each network element and Property.
To see if an item has a flag:

1. In ENTERPRISE, from the Site Database window, click the

required item.
2. Click the Info button to expand the Site Database window.
3. Click the Status tab to view the groups of flags and to see which
flags are associated with the element.
4. If required, edit the flags for the item by clicking the flag and
selecting a new one from the drop down menu that appears. Click
Apply then, if there is a requirement for other users to see the
amendment, Commit. The site is updated to that flag.
You can use these flags to define filters which select, for example, all sites and
properties whose Status flag group is set to the flag Planned.
Figure 2 Flags Shown in the Site Database
If amending more than one site the Commit All button can be used to commit
all changes.
5.1.2 Viewing and Changing Flags for A Filter of Network Elements

Using the Global Editor, you can also change flags for a number of network
elements at once if you have set up a filter that contains them all. For
information on how to do this, see page 12.
5.1.3 Viewing and Changing Flags for Links in CONNECT

All flags that you define in the Administrator apply to Properties, MSCs, BSCs,
sites and, if you have CONNECT installed, links.
To view or change flags for individual links:
1. In CONNECT, from the Database menu, click Links.
2. Select the link whose flag you want to change.

3. Click the General tab and then the Status tab.
4. This shows the current Flag Groups and Flag settings. The flag showing for
each group is the first flag defined in that group:
Note : If no flags have been created then there will be no selection within the
General tab.
5. Click the flag that you want to change and from the menu that appears,
choose one of the other flags.
6. Click Apply and then Commit if required.
To change the flag settings for multiple links simultaneously, use the Global
Editor, as described on page 12.
6 DEFINING FILTERS
To create a new Filter:
1. From the Database menu, click Filters…:
The Filters window appears displaying any existing filter folders and filters
that have already been defined. If none have, the window looks like this:

2. Select the Filter Database folder (or if other folders exist, the required
folder) and click the Add button.
3. In the Filter Wizard that opens, name the Filter then click Next.
The Filter Wizard now displays a list of available attributes, which can be
selected to define the filter.
4. Select an element type to be included in the filter, by highlighting it in the

Available Attributes pane and clicking the right arrow button, so it appears
in the Selected Attributes pane. For example, you can select only Cell Sites
and move it into the right-hand pane, to show only sites, omitting any
MSCs and BSCs. You could also expand Cell Sites, revealing the groups of
flags already set up for the project and select the required group as an
attribute for the filtering criteria for the sites in the database.
5. When you have added all the element types and criteria to the Selected
Attributes pane, choose OR as the logical operator, meaning that a value
will be returned if any of the attributes are present. If you have two items
beneath the operator, you can change it to AND, meaning that a value will
only be returned if all of the attributes are present.
6. Click Next and define the exact rule for the element type or criterion by
highlighting it in the Selected Attributes pane, and if applicable, selecting a
rule definition (for example Equals). You can also negate the rule definition
(for example, Not Equal To), by selecting the Not checkbox. To choose
which values you want to filter on, click the Values button, and select those
required.
7. Click Next and in the final window, choose the type of filter you require
from Dynamic or Static to determine whether the filter inclusions should
adapt to changes in the relevant parameters, or remain unaffected and static
(be controlled only by the user). Using the Static filter option may seem
simpler to begin with, but as the network and volume of sites expands,
Dynamic filters will probably prove to be more powerful and easier to use.
8. Click Finish to complete the filter and Click Commit All to commit the
filter.

6.1.1 Using Flags in Filters

Flags represent one significant way of filtering. In the example shown here,
three flag groups have been selected, and will be used as attributes for the
filtering criteria:
Figure 3 Choosing Flags in the Filter Wizard
In Step 3 of the Filter Wizard, the user has set the definitive rules.
Figure 4 Setting Rules for the Filter
In the case of flag groups, highlighting the group and clicking on the Values
button allows you to choose the the individual flag(s) that you want to filter on:

Figure 5 Selecting Flag Values for Filtering
7 USES OF FILTERS
There are a variety of ways in which filters can be useful:
• Limiting the displayed lists of network elements
• Specifying which group(s) of network elements appear in the Map View

window
• On any wizard to control which sites or links various actions are applied to
• Limiting which sites or links to include on the different reports in ASSET
• Enabling the simultaneous modification of multiple elements in the Global

Editor
7.1 LIMITING THE DISPLAYED LISTS OF NETWORK ELEMENTS

These pictures show how you can display a filter in the Site Database to limit
the number of sites shown:

Figure 6 Site Database displaying default ‘All’ Filter and a filter of sites
7.2 SPECIFYING WHICH GROUPS OF NETWORK ELEMENTS

APPEAR IN THE MAP VIEW WINDOW
Filters can be used to determine which group(s) of network elements appear in
the Map View window. This is done by selecting the desired filter(s) in the list
of data types:
You can also customize the display characteristics of each filter’s sites or links.
7.3 ENABLING THE SIMULTANEOUS MODIFICATION OF MULTIPLE

ELEMENTS
If you have various sites or Properties that you need to modify in the same way,
you can set up a filter that contains them all then changing the attributes of the
filter in one easy step using the Global Editor. For example, follow these steps
to apply a particular flag value to a filter of items.
1. In the expanded Site Database, click the Global Edit button.
2. In the Global Editor, in the Filter box, select the filter to be used.
3. Select the checkbox for the flag group and choose the flag that you want to
apply to the items in the filter and click Apply.

Figure 7 Changing a flag using a filter in the Global Editor
4. Confirm that the changes have been applied in the Site Database. If there is
a requirement for other users to see the changes, also click Commit. Other
users will have to log out and log in to be able to view the changes.
8 MANAGING FILTERS
You can edit, remove and restore filters easily from the Filters Database.
8.1 REMOVING FILTERS

When removed, filters are moved to the wastebasket. To make this filter
unavailable to other users, delete it from the wastebasket. Until this is done the
filter is still available to others and can be restored.
If another user has made changes to the filter prior to another user removing the
filter, the user attempting to remove the filter will be advised that changes have
been made. Removal will not be possible at that time.
When the filter has been deleted from the Wastebasket then it cannot be
restored.
8.2 RESTORING FILTERS

To restore a filter that you have removed to the wastebasket:

1. Click the Wastebasket icon on the ENTERPRISE toolbar.

2. Select the filter shown in the Wastebasket and click Restore.
The filter is then restored to the Site Database filter list.
8.3 COMMITTING FILTERS
When a filter is first defined, it is only held in the database of the user who
created it and no other users have access to it. If the filter is to be used and seen
by all, then the filter has to be committed using the Filter Database.
Users will be required to log out and then back in to see any changes that have
been made.
9 DISPLAYING FILTERS
As well as appearing in the Site Database window, when you have defined a
filter, it appears in the list of data types that you can display in the Map View
window. As with other items in the list of data types, you can double-click a
filter to change its display properties. You can customise such things as symbol
size and colour, hexagon type and outline, and which textual elements to
display.
The Map View window is able to display more than one filter at a time – by
changing the properties of the display, you can distinguish between different
filters.
All filters defined in the Filter Wizard are available to be applied to a large
number of features within ENTERPRISE. Examples being:
• BSIC Planner
• Carrier Assignment
• Cell Reporter
• Cost Matrix Wizard
• Create Coverage/Interference
• Exporting data
• Frequency Plan Report Generator
• Interference Table Wizard
• Link Reporter
• Neighbour Data
• Site Reporter
• Traffic Analysis
This list is not definitive and subject to the applications installed there are many
more.
10 SUMMARY
Flags and Filters are extremely useful tools for both the project manager and
users. If defined correctly and comprehensively:

• Various stages of network development can be displayed and monitored by

using flags and filters
• The display of information is made clearer
• Less time is spent in data processing
10.1 FLAGS
Flags are used for project management. They enable the user and project
manager to monitor the progression of the network. Flags can be used in
conjunction with filters to display only the required information.
It is suggested that you finalize your flag groups and flags at the start of the
project as if you remove flags later, this might impact on existing data. When
creating flags, all other users should be logged out.
In ASSET, there is a default flag setting of Candidate Status, all new sites are
automatically assigned to this flag.
Flags may be imported from PLANET/EET R2C and NEPTUNE. The flags
that have already been created in the database will be overwritten by the
imported flags.
10.2 FILTERS
Filters are extremely powerful tools for the user and can be used to display only
particular information for the planner or user to work on. Filters may be used in
conjunction with flags. Filters must be applied and then committed for other
users to be able to see the changes. All users are required to log out and then log
in to see them.
Filters may be dynamic or static. Dynamic filters automatically update any

changes to sites that fulfil the criteria defined when establishing the filter. Static
filters need to be updated manually by the user.
Filters can be displayed in the Map View window, in the Site Database and in
the Links Database in CONNECT.
Once created, filters can be applied to a large number of features within the
ENTERPRISE suite.
Appendix A - Table of Figures
Figure 1 Flag Adminstrator ...........................................................................................4

Figure 2 Flags Shown in the Site Database ...................................................................7
Figure 3 Choosing Flags in the Filter Wizard .............................................................10
Figure 4 Setting Rules for the Filter ............................................................................10
Figure 5 Selecting Flag Values for Filtering ...............................................................11

Figure 6 Site Database displaying default ‘All’ Filter and a filter of sites ..................12
Figure 7 Changing a flag using a filter in the Global Editor .......................................13

Appendix B - Table of FAQs
FAQ 1 - Who Should Create and Modify Flags? ..........................................................3

FAQ 2 - What Happens If I Change Flags at a Later Stage in the Project? ..................5


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 Copyright 2002 AIRCOM International Ltd

4 EXPORTING AND IMPORTING FLAGS ....................................................... 5

APPENDIX B - TABLE OF FAQS .................................................................... 17

P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage 1

It is strongly advised that flags be set up as early in the project as possible.

• Created separately from filters

• Assigned to any filter or defined on individual sites or links

• Committed immediately to the main database, rather than being Applied

Status Planned, Completed, Approved, On Hold

2 P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage

• Link LOS Status

FAQ 1 - Who Should Create and Modify Flags?

As flags are a powerful engineering element, access to creating, modifying or

• Be either static or dynamic

• Reduce the amount of information needing to be calculated thus reducing

2.2.1 Dynamic Filters

P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage 3

• The cell layers that are assigned

• Geographical location (using a polygon)

2.2.2 Static Filters

3 DEFINING FLAGS IN ADMINSTRATOR

Figure 1 Flag Adminstrator

4 P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage

The name of the Group will appear in the left-hand pane.

FAQ 2 - What Happens If I Change Flags at a Later Stage in the Project?

4 EXPORTING AND IMPORTING FLAGS

P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage 5

1. In Administrator, from the Utilities menu, click Flag Administrator.

4.2 EXPORTING FLAGS IN ENTERPRISE

4.3 IMPORTING FLAGS IN ADMINISTRATOR

5 VIEWING AND CHANGING FLAGS FOR SITES

To see if an item has a flag:

6 P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage

1. In ENTERPRISE, from the Site Database window, click the

Figure 2 Flags Shown in the Site Database

5.1.2 Viewing and Changing Flags for A Filter of Network Elements

5.1.3 Viewing and Changing Flags for Links in CONNECT

To view or change flags for individual links:

1. In CONNECT, from the Database menu, click Links.

2. Select the link whose flag you want to change.

P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage 7

3. Click the General tab and then the Status tab.

6. Click Apply and then Commit if required.

1. From the Database menu, click Filters…:

8 P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage

4. Select an element type to be included in the filter, by highlighting it in the

P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage 9

6.1.1 Using Flags in Filters

Figure 3 Choosing Flags in the Filter Wizard

Figure 4 Setting Rules for the Filter

10 P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage

Figure 5 Selecting Flag Values for Filtering

• Limiting the displayed lists of network elements

• Specifying which group(s) of network elements appear in the Map View

• Limiting which sites or links to include on the different reports in ASSET

• Enabling the simultaneous modification of multiple elements in the Global

7.1 LIMITING THE DISPLAYED LISTS OF NETWORK ELEMENTS

P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage 11

7.2 SPECIFYING WHICH GROUPS OF NETWORK ELEMENTS

7.3 ENABLING THE SIMULTANEOUS MODIFICATION OF MULTIPLE

1. In the expanded Site Database, click the Global Edit button.

12 P-TN-010-015-Filter and Flag Usage

Figure 7 Changing a flag using a filter in the Global Editor