Aspect Help

Using Auto-Sequenced Fields

Setting up Auto-Sequenced Fields

Let's take an example of starting a new inspection.  One of the first things we need to do is set up our auto-sequenced fields.  Today we're using two cameras: a FLIR infrared camera, and a Sony point-and-shoot for the equipment photos. The FLIR camera is configured to take a daylight photo along with the infrared photo.  Also, since this is the first time we've inspected this site we'll be running around putting barcodes on everything.  Here are the steps we need to take to set up our auto-sequenced fields:

1. With the FLIR camera, the easiest thing to do is snap the first picture of a piece of equipment and determine the filenames of the two images--infrared and daylight.  Once we've examined the picture we determine the IR filename is FLIR4290.jpg and the daylight photo is FLIR4291.jpg.
2. Enter FLIR4290.jpg into the IR auto-sequenced field in the ribbon bar.
3. Enter FLIR4291.jpg into the Daylight auto-sequenced field in the ribbon bar.
4. Toggle the link button to the right of the infrared and daylight text boxes to a lit state.  This means that the infrared camera takes both pictures at the same time and increments each image number by 2.  If not linked, the image numbers will advance by 1 each time they're used.
5. Take a picture of the equipment with the Sony point-and-shoot.  After taking the picture, we determine that the image number is DCIM7898.jpg.
6. Enter DCIM7898.jpg into the Photo auto-sequenced field.
7. For barcodes this is a bit easier.  Just look at the first barcode on the roll and enter that number into the Barcode auto-sequenced field.  For this example let's say that's 349812.

Filling Auto-Sequenced Fields

1. For the component reading we just took, press Fill IR Data and Equipment/Component Defaults or press F8.  Ignoring some of the other things that happen at the moment, we see that the Infrared Image number fills in with FLIR4290.jpg and the Daylight Image number fills in with FLIR4291.jpg.  The equipment barcode field also fills in with 349812.
2. Notice now that the on-deck auto-sequenced fields have updated their numbers:

However, the Photo number did not change.  That's because the two buttons Fill IR Data and Equipment/Component Defaults and Fill Only Equipment/Component Defaults do not automatically fill in the image number for the equipment photo.  To auto-fill that number, you must click the Set button (the green circle with the check mark) next to the equipment image filename text box.

For more information, see the topic on Setting Default Values.

In all detail areas where sequenced images are used (locations, equipment, components, and problems), you can hold down the Ctrl key while incrementing or decrementing the image number.  Doing so will simultaneously increment or decrement the on-deck auto-sequenced number associated with that field.  This is useful for example if you fill in defaults for a component reading, take a picture, then realize you need to take the picture again.  By advancing the image numbers in the component reading while holding down the Ctrl key, you'll also prepare the on-deck values for the next image sequence.

Any sequenced field that has a Set button (a green circle with a check mark) can also pull from an auto-sequenced field by clicking it.  If the field has nothing in it, it will be set from the appropriate on-deck auto-sequenced field.  It is also possible to override an existing value by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on the Set button.  Whatever exists in the field will be overwritten by the next on-deck sequenced value.  Additionally, many of the sequenced file fields can pull from an alternate on-deck field by holding down the Alt key and clicking on the Set button.  For example, visual problem images normally pull from the Photo on-deck auto-sequenced field.  But as an alternative, those fields can pull from the Daylight on-deck auto-sequenced field instead by holding down Alt and clicking the Set button.  Fields that support alternate values can see what they normally pull from and their alternate sources by hovering over the Set button.  A tool tip will pop up explaining the normal and alternate sources for that field.

Undo Auto-Sequenced Fields

After auto-filling the sequenced fields, you can "undo" filling those fields if you want as long as the auto-filled fields contain the most recent auto-sequenced number.  If that's true, when you click the Undo Filled Auto-Sequenced Fields button, the following things take place:

• The text in the auto-filled fields is cleared out.
• The on-deck auto-sequenced fields in the ribbon bar decrement themselves.

In essence, the values in the filled fields get "put back" into the on-deck auto-sequenced fields in the ribbon bar.

Many sequenced fields have an Undo button on them as well.  If you set a value into one of these fields and subsequently undo it, the value will revert to whatever was there before the value was set from an on-deck auto-sequenced field.