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Using a Favorites Template Account to Make Designing Easier

Su Subburaj
Su Subburaj
  • Updated
Designers often find themselves using the same brands, models and components across Projects. Carefully developing your Designs with consistency, using the same items and detailed information across Projects, will significantly improve Design time, communication, and accuracy. Creating a robust inventory of Favorite Devices and Tasks in SiteOwl makes this easier.
 
 
If you're unfamiliar with Favorites, please complete this short course before you begin: SiteOwl Favorites
 
As you've learned, a Favorite can be a single Device or Task, or a group of them used together. For example, a Favorite Device can be a single door or it can be a group of items, including a card reader, door contact, request to exit, and door strike. Whether a single item or a group, each item should include as much detail and universally applicable information as possible. You've also learned that Favorites are associated with a specific Account and can be used only in that Account's Projects unless imported to another Account.
 

So, what if you'd like a set of Favorites that can be used in Projects for any Account? 

You can do this by creating a Favorites Template Account, which is simply an Account that's used solely for the purpose of storing a set of Favorites. You can create as many Favorites Template Accounts as you need and they can be based on the criteria of your choosing, such as System Type or Manufacturer. Naming the Template Account according to the type of Favorites it includes will make it easy to recognize when using the option to Import Favorites to a newly created Account. Below are a 2 examples of how a Favorites Template Account could be created based on System Type: 

Example 1:  Video Surveillance

  1. Create a new Account named Video Surveillance Favorites.
  2. In the Plan Library, add a Blank Plan for this Account.
  3. In Design Projects, create a new Project named Video Surveillance Favorites Template. 
  4. Edit the Project and create Favorites for all the Devices, Tasks and groups of items that are typically used in this type of Project. Ensure that all items include rich details like Part Number, Manufacturer, and Description. 
Examples of the Favorites you might create in this Account:
  1. Bullet Camera
  2. Dome Camera with Pendant Mount and Cable (Primary Device + 2 Secondaries)
  3. PTZ Camera with Pole Mount, POE Injector, Cable, and PTZ Preset Programming (Primary Device + 4 Secondaries including 1 Task)

Example 2: Access Control

  1. Create a new Account and name it Access Control.
  2. In the Plan Library, add a Blank Plan for this Account.
  3. In Design Projects, create a new Project named Access Control Favorites Template. 
  4. Edit the Project and create Favorites for all the Devices, Tasks and groups of items that are typically used in this type of Project. Ensure that all items include rich details like Part Number, Manufacturer, and Description.
Examples of the Favorites you might create in this Account:
  1. Single Door 
  2. Single Door with Card Reader, Door Contact, Request-to-Exit, Door Strike (Primary Device +  4 Secondaries)
  3. Double Door with Card Reader, 2x Door Contacts, 2x Panic Devices, 2x Hinges (electrified), and Door Programming (Primary Device + 7 Secondaries including 1 Task)
Once these Favorites Template Accounts are established, they'll be available for importing when creating a new Account. And if needed, you can always create new Favorites for an Account either individually or using the Export / Import feature in the Project Devices list.
 
Idea For detailed instruction on creating Favorites and using Export/Import to copy Favorites from one Account to another, please review the short course: SiteOwl Favorites

 

 
 
 

 

 

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